Komodo to Kupang
The route from Komodo continues through East Nusa Tenggara to
Flores, Alor and Kupang. The best feature in this region is its
rugged landscapes, pristine diving, and lack of tourists. East
Nusa Tenggara produces rice, copra, livestock and ikat weavings.
Two distinct groups, Malays and Papuans, inhabit the region.
The island of Flores has crater lakes, deep valleys and 14 active
volcanoes. Maumere's reefs on the north coast were devastated by
an earthquake in 1992 but have recovered nicely.
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Flores Reef |
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Table Coral |
©Denise Nielsen
Tackett & Larry Tackett |
Further east is Alor, a small island inhabited by 50 different
tribes. Each tribe has its own language - a testament to the island's
remoteness and its rugged terrain. The diving is known for strong
currents, pristine reefs and lots of fishes.
Kupang is to the south on the island of Timor. It's easy to get
to and there's good diving nearby. Formerly, Kupang was the center
of the sandalwood trade and attracted Portuguese and Dutch traders
to the area. They, in turn, brought Christianity. Today the area
remains predominately Catholic.
Dive Sites
Maumere Bay
Maumere Bay has black sand and visibility of 15-20m (50-66ft).
At least 1200 species of fishes inhabit the bay and surrounding
reefs, which have regenerated nicely since the 1992 earthquake.
Macro life is excellent. Water temperatures run 25º-30ºC
(80-90ºF). The best time to visit is June through September
when water temperatures run 28º-30ºC (86-90ºF).
Alor
The best diving is in the strait between Alor and Pantar islands.
Dive sites include pinnacles, walls, caverns and Clownfish Alley - a
site carpeted by over a kilometer of anemones and clownfishes.
Expect currents and pristine reefs but not much in the way of big
fishes. Visibility runs 25-50m (80-160ft). Water temperatures are
28º-30ºC (86-90ºF) with thermoclines down to 25ºC
(80ºF).
Kupang
Kupang has sandy slopes, coral walls marked by caverns and overhangs,
and pinnacles. Visibility is 5-15m (15-50ft) with water temperatures
of 24º-27ºC (78-84ºF). Best times to dive here are
late March through May and September to mid-December, but generally
the season is from March until Christmas.
By Denise Nielsen Tackett & Larry Tackett
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