Diving

Fact Sheet about diving in Nusa Tenggara (FAQ)

he most important facts like dive conditions and climate, a list of dive operators (for places where there are more than 10 dive centers I have listed dive centers not anymore), dive safety (addresses of the hyperbaric chambers), and how to get to Nusa Tenggara on one page and ready to print.

On this page: diving facts about Komodo, Flores, Alor
Look at my website about dive sites in Komodo, Flores, Alor
Click here to look at underwater photos taken in Nusa Tenggara (Komodo, Flores)
Indonesian dive terms

How to get to the islands of Nusa Tenggara

Maps of Indonesia: Collection of maps / Overview map Indonesia (keyword Indonesia)
Maps of Nusa Tenggara: map of Nusatenggara / map west Nusa Tenggara / east Nusa Tenggara / Google maps
Articles about Nusa Tenggara: www.indonesiaphoto.com

Alor, Pantar, Lembata

You find more information about Alor on the website of the regional government of Alor www.alor-island.com

Dive conditions

Dive operators around Alor

La P’tite Kepa Divers (www.alor-diving-kepa.com) based on Kepa Island close to Alor
Alor Dive (www.alor-dive.com) based in Kalabahi
Alami Alor Dive Resort (www.alamialor.com) based in the Bay of Kalabahi
Eco Dive Resort Alor (www.alor-divers.com) based on northern Pantar
Dive Alor Dive (www.divealor.com) based in Kupang (Timor)

There are also some liveaboard boats which make a 1 or 2 week tour around Nusa Tenggara and also visit Alor.

In general Indonesia has two yearly seasons of monsoon winds: the southeast monsoon (dry) and the northwest monsoon (rain). The dry season usually runs from May through September and the rainy season from November through March. Exception are the Moluccas (Maluku) where seasons are reversed. Map with weather in Indonesia - weather now - weather records and average in Kupang (Timor!).

Places to stay

The dive resorts also offer accomodation.

Flores

Dive conditions in Flores

Weather averages in Maumere - weather map Indonesia

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Best time to travel
Highest temperatures (°C)	30	30	31	31	32	31	31	31	33	33	33	32
Lowest temperatures (°C)	24	24	24	24	23	23	22	21	23	24	25	25
Daily hours of sunshine	4	5	6	7	9	9	9	9	10	10	8	6
Rainy days	24	23	14	13	6	5	1	2	1	4	11	18
Humidity (%)	86	86	83	80	74	74	69	69	69	70	74	81
Water temperatures (°C)	29	29	29	29	29	29	27	27	27	28	30	30

Dive operators and liveaboards

Most of the diving around Flores is done by liveaboard boats starting either from Labuan Bajo or Maumere (Flores). However you can also stay in Labuan Bajo or Maumere and dive from there.

Labuan Bajo:

Sorry - but there are so many dive operators and liveaboards that I have decided not to list them anymore, it has become too much hassle to update all the information.

Maumere:

Ankermi Happy Dive in Watumita (about 30km east from Maumere) / Sea World Club in Maumere / Budi Sun resort

Places to stay

There is a large choce of accommodations in Labuan Bajo from backpackers joints to large hotels.

In Maumere you can stay at any of the above mentioned dive operators. There are also small resorts along the coast, but some accomodations are simple bamboo huts.

Komodo and Rinca (including Padar, Banta, Motong)

Dive conditions in Komodo

Weather averages in Bima (Sumbawa) - weather map Indonesia

weather now in Bima (Sumbawa)	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Best time to travel
Highest temperatures (°C)	32	32	32	32	33	32	32	33	34	35	34	33
Lowest temperatures (°C)	24	24	23	23	22	21	20	20	21	23	24	24
Daily hours of sunshine	5	4	6	6	8	8	8	9	9	9	7	5
Rainy days	28	24	22	19	7	6	2	1	2	9	18	24
Precipitation (mm)	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Humidity (%)	85	84	82	82	78	77	75	70	68	69	76	81

• Diving all year around possible, best time is late March to early May and late September to early November
• Sometimes some dive areas are inaccessible due to rough seas
• Water 26°C or less in the south, 27° to 28° in the north
• Visibility is mostly good (up to 20m) but can be as bad as 5m
• Currents are strong most of the time

Dive operators and liveaboards in Komodo

There are no dive operators on the Komodo islands themselves, but several in Labuan Bajo (Flores - see above). Most of the diving is done by liveaboard boats starting either from Sape (Sumbawa), Labuan Bajo or Maumere (Flores) or Kalabahi (Alor). Some liveaboards start in Bali or Lombok, but this means less time in Komodo itself. Probably all tours include a visit to the Komodo dragons.

DIVE OPERATORS IN LABUAN BAJO:

Please check out the part of fact sheet about Flores (above)

Places to stay

There are several cheap accomodations in Labuan Bajo (Flores) and there are camping areas in the Komodo National Park and some bungalows.

Dive safety

Phone DAN (Divers Alert Network) outside Australia +61-8-8212 9242

Hyperbaric chambers (or recompression chamber) in Bali and Java:

Bali: Sanglah General Hospital (in Indonesian language) USUP Sanglah Denpasar JI. Diponegoro, Denpasar 80114 Bali, Indonesia: Phone 62-361-227911 through -15 ext. 232 (hyperbaric medical department) Fax 62-361-22426 Run by Dr. Antonius Natasamudra and Dr. Etty Herawati

Jakarta: Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut (Navy Hospital) in Jl. Bendungan Hilir No.17, Central Jakarta (see text in italian with some addresses - list of help)

For more information about hyperbaric chambers look at the Indonesia page or the dive safety page.

More Information about scuba diving in south-east Asia