ALOR ISLAND
Alo
r is the largest island in the Alor archipelago located at the eastern-most end of the Lesser Sunda Islands that runs through southern Indonesia, which from the west include such islands as Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, and Flores.
To the east of the island across the Ombai Strait lie the islands of Wetar and Atauro, the latter belonging to East Timor. To the south, across the Strait of Alor, lies the western part of Timor. To the north lies the Banda Sea. To the west lies Pantar and the other islands of the Alor archipelago, and further yet the rest of the Sunda Islands.
"The best" snorkelling and diving in Indonesia can be found in the Alor archipelago. Due to intriguing and often very strong currents it is best to snorkel or dive with someone who knows the area well. Transportation to Alor by TransNusa Trigana Air, from Kupang, Denpasar and Surabaya
Alor Island regency is the least visited and therefore the most unspoiled region of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). Trek to the rim of a volcano on Pantar or dive the straits of Alor and Pantar in a dive destination rated by all to be amongst the best in the world. Ponder on the existence of the Moko drums, which are not found in large numbers anywhere else in Indonesia and can be traced back to the Dongson period in Vietnam around 350 BC and you start to realize that Alor is truly a land lost in time.
Alor diving is known as the best in the world With its smoldering Volcanoes reaching down into crystal clear waters fringed with pristine coral reefs, coconut fringed pure white sandy beaches and traditional villages built half way up mountains, the scenery is as spectacular above as it is below the waterline. Alor Island is so mountainous that it is almost impossible to pass from one side to the other and many of the villages on the island itself can only transport themselves via small wooden ferries. The eight distinct dialects and more than 50 sub-dialects spoken today, testifies to the diversity on Alor.
Geography
Alor has an area of about 2800 km², making it the largest island of the Alor archipelago.
Kalabahi is the only town on the island of Alor, with a metropolitan population of about 60,000. The variety of goods obtainable in Kalabahi is surprising considering its size and location.
Alor is of volcanic origin and has very rugged terrain. The region near Kalabahi is the only flat area. This is why the Dutch placed the capital and the main harbor (Alor-Kecil) of the area here in 1911.
"The best" snorkelling and diving in Indonesia can be found in the Alor archipelago. Due to intriguing and often very strong currents it is best to snorkel or dive with someone who knows the area well. Transportation to Alor by TransNusa Trigana Air, from Kupang, Denpasar and Surabaya.
Economy
The island's infrastructure is only weakly built. The inhabitants practice mainly subsistence agriculture. The government seeks to change this with the help of international organizations. In the villages vanilla, tamarind, almonds and other nuts are cultivated. In the forests sandalwood is cut down for trade.
The latest geological explorations have discovered valuable resources such as gipsum, kaolin, petroleum, natural gas, tin, gold, and diamonds.
Alor's highly-esteemed snorkeling and diving promise an increase in tourism in the future. Depletion of the fisheries has however damaged the coral reefs in recent years.
Religion
Over 168,000 people live on Alor. Three-fourths are protestants, the rest are either Muslims or in a few villages Roman Catholics. Animistic rites and traditions are still strongly practiced.
Language
M
re than 15 different indigenous languages are spoken on Alor, the majority of them classified as Papuan or non-Austronesian. These include Abui, Adang, Hamap, Kabola, Kafoa, Woisika, Kelon, and Kui. In addition, Alorese (Bahasa Alor; ISO 693-3: aol) is a Malayo-Polynesian language which is spoken along the coast of the western and southern Bird's Head of Alor Island and in places on surrounding islands.
Many of the Papuan languages of Alor are endangered and are no longer being actively acquired by children. Some languages have fewer than 1000 speakers remaining. Significant linguistic documentation efforts have been undertaken recently by Leiden University.
The language of daily communication is Alor Malay, a unique Malay variety with some similarities to Kupang Malay. Indonesian is taught in schools and used widely in media.
Transportation
During the dry season, Kalabahi is serviced by flights five times a week from Kupang the provincial capital, using a [ATR42] 46 seat by TransNusa Trigana Air and Kasa 18 seat airplane. These flights are run by Merpati Airlines. Most of them are simply Kupang - Kalabahi - Kupang, but mid-2003 a new flight Kupang - Kalabahi - Kisar - Ambon, returning the next day, was introduced. The two Pelni passenger ships Serimau and Awu also pass through Kalabahi each week. Transport to Alor during the wet season is sometimes disrupted due to high winds and large waves.
LEMBATA ( LOMBLEN ) ISLAND
Pulau 
Lembata (the island of Lembata), formerly known as Pulau Lomblen, is the largest island of the Solor Archipelago, in the Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia. It forms part of the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur. The length of the island is about 80 km from the Southwest to the Northeast and the width is about 30 km from the West to the East. It rises to a height of 1533 m.
To the west lie the other islands in the archipelago, most notably Solor and Adonara, and then the larger island of Flores. To the east is the Alor Strait, which separates this archipelago from the Alor Archipelago. To the south across the Savu Sea lies the island of Timor, while to the north the western branch of the Banda Sea separates it from Buton and the other islands of Southeast Sulawesi.
Geography
The capital city Lewoleba (also known as Labala) is found on the Western part of the island alongside a huge bay facing the Ilê Ape volcano in the North. Ships frequently connect the coastal towns and surrounding islands, but the only bigger harbour exists at Lewoleba in the North of the island. From Lewoleba there are daily connections to Larantuka, Flores, and Waiwerang on the neighbouring island of Adonara.Like the other Lesser Sunda Islands, and indeed much of Indonesia, Lembata is volcanically active. It has three volcanoes, Ililabalekan, Iliwerung, and Lewotolo.
People
he people of Lembata are, like many other inhabitants of Eastern Indonesia, famous for their handmade ikat weavings.The national language, Indonesian, is known by many people of all ages, but like on other islands the national language coexists with many local languages. The most widespread of these is probably Lamaholot (another lingua franca inside the Solor archipelago). Lamaholot is spoken as a native language on Eastern Flores and Western Solor, and is itself divided into ten or more sublanguages (and many more dialects). It is spoken by 150.000 or more people in the region.
On the South coast of Lembata, the village of Lamalera (pop. 2.500) is known for its whale hunting. Lamalera and Lamakera (on the neighbouring island of Solor) are the last two remaining Indonesian whaling communities.
Alor Island Diving & Travel Guides
Alor is a hidden paradise for marine biodiversity. You can meet the best coral formations and 
underwater life in the Alor-Pantar strait.
Diving allows you to appreciate all the richness of underwater world in all types of configuration of the reef, but just with your snorkelling gear, you can enjoy the reef scenery, many types of corals where revolve thousand of fishes.
Snorkelling is possible all around Kepa island, but you can also try magnificent coral garden of Alor Besar, or the excellent spots of Pura, Ternate and Pantar, just a short ride by boat.
Alor is recognized to keep some of the best diving in Asia. Surround by clear water, the visibility can reach more than 40 meters, with a temperature of 28°C.
With its volcanic origin, Alor offers great variety of dive sites, nearly limitless ; some outstanding walls, rock slides, valleys, seamounts, pinnacles, and unspoiled coral reefs.
Alor got a real good health reef : fishermen here are sustai
nable fishing practices (bubu or bamboo traps,...).
The variety and diversity is wide, from small fish to big pelagic sea life, with a rich concentration of invertebrates as well, hard and soft corals.
Some dive sites are renowned for big fishes, sharks, hammerheads, giant groupers, Napoleon wrasse, eagle rays, mola-mola, dog tooth tunas, schools of big eyes jack...
ALOR DIVE SITES
The remote islands of Alor and Pura lie east of Flores and north of Timor. They are not renowned dive destinations and consequently get few visiting liveaboards. However the diving here can be pretty spectacular at the right time of year. A lot of cold water passes through narrow straits between the islands causing strong currents and eddies. They 
also attract big fish that come in to feed such as barracuda, schooling big-eye jacks, dog-toothed tuna, monster groupers, and lots of sharks. There are no resorts here due to its remoteness but that, for many divers, is the attraction of diving Alor.
There are a number of dive sites between the west coast of Alor, around Payar island and up to the smaller islands of Ternate and Buaya. Coral reef profiles are extremely varied with walls, sloping reefs, pinnacles, caves and seamounts. There are both rocky sites with coral cover and true coral reef sites. Highlights are not only the big visitors but great viz, critters and very few other divers.
Kal's Dream
This is probably the most well known dive site in the area. The submerged pinnacle which can only be dived on slack tide are teeming with schools of small fish including anthias and fusiliers. You need to fin down to it since the current is usually quite strong, once there keep a lookout for barracuda and blacktips however they arent guarunteed to show. "The Dream" can be hit or miss, on a good day the viz can be gin-clear, large grey reef sharks and even hammerheads have been known to visit this spot.
Sharks Galore and Clown Valley
These two sites are located on the eastern site of Pura island. Dives are usually started in Sharks Galore where blacktips and grey reef sharks are often spotted, the dive moves south and finishes at Clown Valley which is named after the abundance of anemones and clownfish found here. There are so many of them in fact that they occupy more surface area than any other form of live at this spot.
Mandarin House and the Boardroom
The north side of Pura island offers this healthy reef slope where mandarinfish can be seen dancing in the daylight. Dusk often yields the opportunity to witness them mating. A 50 meter deep wall at the Boardroom just east of Mandarin House offers caves filled with glassfish and schooling jacks and snappers at depth.
Pertamina Pier
This relatively new site is a black sand slope in the harbour that forms a haven for critters. Keep a look out for ghost pipefish, seahorses, hairy crabs and even wonderpuss - a bizarre species of octopuss. Night diving here can be even more interesting!
There are a number of other dive sites in the area including The Arch off Ternate island. This spot has a large underwater arch at 20 to 30 meters covered in whip corals and gorgonians. Small caves can be found while diving arounf Buaya island and sea apples are the highlight diving off neighbouring Pantar island. Many of the other Alor dive sites are great for small critters and macro delights.
La Petite Kepa Island - Alor Diving Travel Guides
LA PETITE KEPA ISLAND HOMESTAY
La P’tite Kepa Homestay is situated on the small magic Kepa island in the middle of Pantar Strait (between Alor and Pantar), just five minutes by boat from Alor Kecil village on the Alor west coast.
This
is the right place to explore the nearby islands. We are right on the nothern part of Pulau KEPA in front of Pulau TERNATE and Pualu BUAYA (crocodile island), with the fantastic scenary of PURA, PANTAR, and ALOR.
The Homestay has been built like a traditionnal village, with 8 Alorese style houses to stay in, made of bamboo and coconut trees, and thach covered.
Some of them have a nice terrace, and the other ones have a 360° view opened first floor, with a room under the roof.
For ecological and functional reasons, houses have separated mandi (indonesian shower-room/toilets) : the ground is hard and porous, the fresh water has to be fetched from Alor Kecil. There is four shared mandi.
Still because of ecological awareness, we use solar pannels to provide electric-light at night-time, and we burn the rubbishes in a home-made incinerator, which neutralize smoke’s acidity.
All the 
meals are made with fresh and seasonal products. We prefer local farming products than imported goods.
We serve Indonesian Alorese food with the ”P’tite Kepa’s” touch, elaborated by our first class cooks Bibi Nene & Mama Maria. For sure you will enjoy the various served recipes of fish, farm chicken or duck, vegetables, salads, toffu, soya cheese, diferent kassava, seasonable fruits, ...
Lunch and dinner are shared all together, and you can get your breakfast in self-service.
DIVING AND SNORKELING
Alor is a hidden paradise for marine biodiversity. You can meet the best coral formations and underwater life in the Alor-Pantar strait.
Diving allows you to appreciate all the richness of underwater world in all types of configuration of the reef, but just with your snorkelling gear, you can enjoy the reef scenery, many types of corals where revolve thousand of fishes.
Snorkelling is possible all around Kepa island, but you can also try magnificent coral garden of Alor Besar, or the excellent spots of Pura, Ternate and Pantar, just a short ride by boat.
GETTING THERE
When you are already in Alor …
From Airport to Alor Kecil (village in front of Kepa) or Kalabahi (main town) :
The road goes to Kalabahi (around 10 km
, 20 min), then to Alor Kecil (another 15 km, 20/30 min) :
* straight to Alor Kecil by chartered bemo (~100'000/150'000 Rp), “ojek” (motorbike taxi) (30'000/50'000 Rp), or Trans Nusa car or the (only one) taxi (50 000 Rp/pers),
* or going to Kalabahi (~25 000 Rp/pers) by air company car, bemo or ojek.
From Kalabahi to Alor Kecil :
* Regular blue bemos (3000 Rp + luggages), or ojek (10'000 Rp) . Main departures in front of the Pelni harbour (passengers used to wait near the shop “Gunung Bromo”).
* Chartered bemo : ~ 50'000 Rp
From Alor Kecil to Kepa :
In Alor Kecil, stop on the beach, 40 m before the pier and the warung “Pesisir”. There is a sign in front of Baba SERE's home. Ask for him, or Bapak MUKSIN. They will accompany you to Kepa (small sailing boat or motor boat), or will arrange it.
If we are not available, other inhabitants will probably propose to accompany you
(usually ~ 5'000 or 10'000 Rp/pers)
Travel around :
From Alor Kecil it is now really easy to rent a motorbike.
Bemo, Jeeps, or even car are available from Kalabahi (with driver). Some guides (english speakers still rare) can accompany you if you wanT.
Go to/from ALOR by AIR
All flights to/from Alor pass in transit in Kupang.
It is now possible to have connection from DENPASAR (BALI) or JAKARTA and SURABAYA (JAVA) to ALOR the same day :
From Jakarta-Surabaya or Denpasar TO ALOR: Monday, Thursday, Sunday
FROM ALOR to Denpasar : Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
FROM ALOR to Surabaya-Jakarta : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
The other days you just have to stay one night in Kupang
Kupang - Alor < > Alor - Kupang
* TRANSNUSA (ATR, 46 seats, 45 mn) (~400 000 Rp) : Monday & Thursday 13:45/14:45, Sunday 16:00/17:00, Tuesday & Saturday 9:20/10:20
* MERPATI (Boeing ~50 seats, 40 mn) (~400 000 Rp) : Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 6:30/7:30
BALI :
Denpasar (Merpati) (600'000-1'000'000 Rp) > everyday
From Bali at 7H if deserve Sumba, leave at 10H if direct to Kupang. From Kupang at 12H.
JAVA :
Surabaya and Jakarta (Merpati, Mandala, Srijaya, Lion, Batavia)
(750 000-1 500 000 Rp to Jakarta > everyday
Alor Island Diving Liveaboard Travel Guides
Diving Alor is an area around the island of Alor and Pantar, and the islands inside the Pantar strait: Pura, Buaya, Ternate, Kumba. These are the prime diving areas.
Alor is good for both beginners and advanced divers. There are cave and cavern filled walls with dramatic topography, in a very quiet fishing village in Pura island. No current here but full of 'OW!'s and 'WOW!'s. Also available is the dive site called 'Kal's dream'. Kal Muller is a famous Hugarian Borned ethnologist who study the tribes in West Papua Indonesia. This is his dream site and what a site it is! 2M long Dog-toothed Tunas patrolled this underwater mount, along with eagle ray
s, silver tip sharks, grey reef sharks, barracudas, and napoleon wrass. This site though, is reserved for advanced divers only as current can get a bit rough at times.
Many critters for the macro divers This location is reputablly one of the best in Asia.
Many of the sites are perfectly vertical coral walls going down to 50~60 meters, with 30+ meters vis being common during the good months (May till November/December)
10 Days 09 Nights Alor Dive Liveaboard
Day 1 : Maumere
Flight from Bali to Maumere. You will be picked 
up by our representative and transfer to your waiting vessel KLM Bulan Purnama. Our first event of this expedition will be a special welcome lunch prepared aboard. As this culinary experience is completed, your vessel will set sail for Lamalera famous of is Whale Hunting Culture, on the far eastern end of Flores before entering the Alor Group of Islands.
Day 2 : Lamalera
Larantaka is a village dedicated to the traditional hunting of sperm whales and other whales. This hunting is carried out from small rowing boats with a small and simple sail. The harpooner literally jumps from the bow digging the harpoon in the whale with his weight. The villagers make good use of every single part of the whale body and their culture is completely impregnated with rites and superstitions. Whale's teeth, harpoons forged by hand and fabrics with marine motives, like whales, manta rays and turtles can be bought directly to the artistic villagers. After a day of exploration of the area of Lamalera, we will set sail again this evening for the Alor Group of Islands.
Day 4 : Komba
Very early in the morning we will drop anchor at a secluded spot and after breakfast a day of relaxation will start. We will plan a comfortable first dive at a selected location to test your diving skills. We will try to visit the best in this area, .Famous for its Sarbete reef and wall.
Day 5 & 6 : Ternate, Reta, Pura, Pantar
We are in a closely clustered area here and many comfortable anchorages can be found. We will try to cover the best of the best and provide only the best stops for a good dive, great beach and potentials for land based explorations.
You could cover quite many dive sites for these two days. In Ternate, dive site named The Arch, a beautiful place where on the wall huge underwater cervices form a large arch at about 20 to 30 meter. There are whip corals and gorgonians growing here. On some of the over 3 meter long whip corals you might find the rare coral shrimp (Pontonides sp.). Another famous dive site is Babylon: good site for nudibranchs encounter. Also, Coral Cliffs, a steep wall with a lot of whip corals, some 3 to 4 meter long. 
Furthermore, in Reta and Pura, there are many famous dive sites called Sharks
Galore Clown Valley and Boardroom: This is a very good dive site for small critters like Mandarin dragonets, scorpionfishes and pegasus sea moths. Another dive site at Pura is north of the Jetty where actually you could still see some bubbles coming out from a volcanic source.
Day 7 : Lamakera and Adonara
The Northern area of these islands will be sheltered for this winds which are presently coming out of the East and we can surely find a comfortable anchorage for relaxed evenings and a day of beaching. A few dive sites called Sea Apple Slopes: This is a good place to find the rare filter-feeding sea cucumbers called sea apple (Pseudocolochirus violaceus). This cucumber is round and of a bright red and purple color with white or yellow stripes and can also be found in the Komodo and Rinca islands. Pan Abang: This is the best place for small animals such as the wonderpus, mimic octopus, Rhinopias, ghostpipefishes, spearing mantis shrimp, frogfish, devil fish, pegasus and colemanshrimp.
Day 8 : Sarbete
Having moved the vessel overnight, we have selected this island as it is starting our track back to maumere slowly. Dives in this area are also excellent.
Day 9 : Pulau Babi
Again by early morning we will be at a comfortable anchorage with a pristine beach and a perfect location for our final dive and beach day.
½ day diving in this area.Dive sites like Paham, Wadang are one of the most famous dive sites in Pulau Babi. In the late evening we will set sail for Maumere
Day 10 : Maumere
By early morning we will be in the harbor of Maumere and prepare for disembarkation and transfer to the airport for your flight to your next destination
For Reservation, Flight confirmation and diving Packages please write to: info@lombokmarine.com
