Regions / Asia / Indonesia / Alami Alor

Alami Alor

$2260 USD / 7 nights

Nitrox $

WIFI Available

Alami Alor Dive Resort is located on the remote Indonesian island known as Alor. The intimate getaway allows a maximum of twelve scuba divers or snorkelers at a time. Upon arrival in Alor, a resort driver transports guests to the resort, which is approximately a one-hour drive.

Alami Alor WEATHER

Guests enjoy relaxing each night in the private, spacious bungalows placed along the waterfront or set back in the forest. Bungalows offer relaxing airconditioned comfort, plus a ceiling fan, wardrobe, computer desk, an open-air bathroom with a rain water shower, and an outdoor seating area. Bungalows can be set up with one or two beds and there are free laundry amenities are provided.

For meals, guests are served family-style at a communal table to enjoy their meals in a social atmosphere. Breakfast is served a la carte with western and Indonesian options. Lunch and dinner are at set times and include authentic Indonesian cuisine prepared by local chefs. Guests with special dietary requirements, such as vegetarian or vegan, are easily accommodated.

With coral walls and slopes to seemingly endless fields of anemones to volcanic cliffs and caves, there is no end to the amazing dive experiences around Alor. Kalabahi Bay has black and white slopes that create a perfect environment for macro muck diving. Dolphins and whales often breach the surface and the boat crew can take side trips before or after a dive to spot some of these majestic marine animals.

The Alor coral reefs are located in the heart of the Coral Triangle and have remained protected by the local people for many years. Southern cold water upwellings rush in after each new and full moon, regulating the water temperature and keeping it fresh with nutrients. The best time to explore these coral reefs is between mid-March and mid-December for both ideal surface and underwater conditions. During this time, visibility can range from fifteen to forty meters.

There are several places to muck dive in the Kalabahi Bay and in the central area of the Pantar Strait. While these sites might seem plain at first look, close exploration reveals unique and colorful bottom-dwelling creatures. The house reef is perfect for underwater photographers and is located just off the platform of the resort’s jetty. At only five meters, divers are surrounded by mandarin fish, cardinal fish, hunting trumpet fish, lobsters, stone fish, and even shy marble shrimp that are hidden away in the volcanic rocks.

All packages at Alami Alor include a private bungalow with one or two beds, three meals a day, coffee, tea, drinking water, homemade cakes and snacks, Wi-Fi in the lounge, round trip airport transfers, a laundry service, and government taxes. Marine Park fees are included in pre-booked dive packages. The complete diver package includes five dive days, three diver per day.

Photos courtesy of Alami Alor Resort.

Dive Conditions

Conditions can make or break your trip. Temperature, visibility and the current vary greatly across this expansive country. Be sure to check the conditions of each destination you’re planning to dive before you leave. Diving is excellent year-round, but the best time is from May to September. Monsoon season is from December to June. Visibility may not be as good during the monsoon, however, certain locations like the Komodo Islands are a diver’s dream during this time due to an influx of mantas.

Most of Indonesia can be dived year-round with March to October being the most popular time of year to dive. This period of time marks the dry season in most parts of the country, with the exception of some dive areas like Ambon and southern Raja Ampat where most rainfall occurs in May/June to October/September due to the southern monsoon. It's best to visit these areas in the months of November to April for optimal dive conditions.

Generally speaking, Indonesia's climate is almost entirely tropical, with May to September as the dry season, and October to April the rainy season, and with heavier rainfall from December through February. However, the opposite might be true for certain dive areas in Indonesia like Raja Ampat and Ambon, and the best time of year to visit Indonesia really depends on where you intend to stay in the country.

The water temperatures remain quite consistent through the country, hovering at 26°-29°C (82°- 85°F) year-round. Typically, you won't need anything more than a 3-5mm wetsuit, or even a skinsuit. However, the diving conditions and difficulty in Indonesia hugely vary, depending on where and when you dive in the country.

Ambon Bay, Maluku – world class muck diving. Critters that can be seen here include rhinopias, frogfish, ghost pipefish, lots of juvenile fish, stonefish, mandarin fish, nudibranchs, harlequin and coleman shrimps, wonderpus, mimic and flamboyant cuttlefish, and even the much-sought-after psychedelic frogfish.

Alor, East Nusa Tenggara – the hidden gem. This off-the-beaten-path dive destination offers a mix of both world-class wide-angle and macro sites. Pristine coral reefs, steep walls, sloping muck sites--the diving in Alor is really diverse and would please the most discerning diver and underwater photographer.

Banda Sea, Maluku – sea snakes and hammerheads. Most of the diving around the Banda Sea involves excellent wall dives, and great macro sites, but the biggest draw is probably the resident sea snakes at Manuk and Gunung Api islands.

Bali – wrecks and mola molas. Unique critters, fascinating wrecks, beautiful walls, colorful corals, excellent muck dives, huge schools of fish, pelagics--Bali has it all. Technical diving and freediving are also possible in Bali with a good number of reputable dive operations.

Derawan Islands, Borneo – manta rays and whalesharks. Derawan is a remote group of islands in East Kalimantan (East Borneo), and is home to one of the three jellyfish lakes known to men, with the other two located in Palau and Misool Island in Raja Ampat.

Komodo, East Nusa Tenggara – drift dives and world class reefs. Komodo National Park is a group of volcanic islands with over 5,700 giant lizards known as Komodo dragons. This UNESCO World Heritage Site also hosts a world-class scuba diving scene. Imagine drift dives with colorful corals in various formations teeming with marine life, big and small. Divers can see big schools of fish pretty much year-round, as well as eagle and manta rays.

Lembeh, North Sulawesi – muck diving capital. Known as the world's capital for muck diving, Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi offers second-to-none macro biodiversity. The number species that you can cross off your list within a week of diving Lembeh is staggering.

Manado and Bunaken, North Sulawesi – wall dives and reefs. Manado Bay offers a mix of great muck and reef sites, treating divers to unique critters like mimic octopus and flamboyant cuttlefish, as well as various seahorses, squid, nudibranchs, and frogfish.

Raja Ampat, West Papua – the holy grail of Indonesia. Alongside Kaimana Regency and Triton Bay in the south, and Cenderawasih Bay in the east, Raja Ampat archipelago makes up a massive area, collectively known as the Bird’s Head Seascape. Divers can visit the Raja Ampat area many times in their lifes and discover something new each time.

Wakatobi, South East Sulawesi – beautiful coral reefs. Wakatobi's reefs are extremely healthy and offer unique large coral formations, various sea fans, and sponges which are overflowing with marine life. The underwater topography is no less unique, featuring various walls, ridges, and overhangs. While it's not the place for large pelagics, eagle rays and reef sharks can typically be seen.