East of Flores
Unspoiled, remote, yet bewitchingly accessible aboard The Seven Seas, about 2 dozen islands East of Flores are now recognized as one of Asia's top ten dive destinations. Muck diving is a must here as is diving with the huge shoals of reef fish who live on the pristine coral reefs. Marvel at the wondrous walls and grand coral gardens that are home to a huge array of marine life. Get into the action at South Pantar with its current-swept and soft-coral covered rock formations where large pelagics are on the hunt.
On land, the area is mountainous as a result of volcanic activity, which makes for stunning scenery. The waters around the islands hold a great diversity in marine life, due to its variety in marine habitats. From dark sandy slopes full of the strangest critters, through lovely coral gardens and into the stronger currents in the narrow straits around Pantar island. Coral reefs are mostly found along the northern coast of the Solor and Alor island group with some coral reefs lining the channels in between major islands. The southern coastline of the islands is lined with rocks that hold great soft corals in selected places. The reefs also include rocky bottoms along the northwest tip of Alor starting in the strait between Alor and Pantar. The small limestone island of Reong lies off the northwest coast of Wetar. Spectacular walls and an interesting critter dive are on the agenda and, if you're adventurous, you have a good chance to see resident saltwater crocodiles at Wetar Island.
The straits in the area play an important role in the exchange of marine life between the Indian and Pacific Ocean. Each year whales and dolphins travel from the Pacific and Indian Oceans through the deep but narrow Nusa Tenggara island chain, which has been identified as an important migration route for numerous whale species as well and great schools of tuna. Massive blue whales also frequently visit here and sometimes spend time resting in Kalebahi Bay in Alor. Coastal communities living along eastern Indonesia's marine migratory routes, especially in the villages of Lamalera and Lamakera, have been hunting whales for centuries. Equipped with simple spears, they take only what their village needs to eat and barter in return for vegetables and rice.
Our trips to the islands East of Flores are fast becoming one of our favorite cruising destinations both above and below the water surface. Every trip we are adding new dive sites and activities to the list of "have to include". We have recently discovered some great new high adrenalin & big fish dives in an area that is still very much unexplored, and where the potential for finding more untouched sites is still very good. In Lembata we have a fantastic new site claimed to be the latest and greatest muck diving area recently discovered in this region. At this site we have found the rare and sought after Rhinopias or "weedy" scorpionfish on every visit to date. Also numerous other rare and unusual forms of marine life are found here, such as frog fish and various species of octopus. Combined with existing critter sites at Maumere, Beang Abeng in Pantar and Ghost Town in Alor we can offer a wide range of sites and custom build an itinerary to suit your interests. We can even take you to swim with a resident three and a half meter saltwater crocodile in Wetar if you are game for something like that...
The area offers without a doubt the most complete all round adventure cruise experience that Indonesia has to offer. From the breathtaking erupting volcano of Komba with a fireworks display at night that has to be seen to be believed, to spectacular tranquil lagoon anchorages surrounded by towering volcanoes. The simple villages and the friendly, welcoming people make cruising in this area a great experience for all who are open to take it in. Below is a trip report by Burt Jones and Maureen Shimlock after an East of Flores cruise on the Seven Seas - and this was BEFORE we found several of our newest sites there!
East of Flores - by Burt Jones and Maureen Shimlock:
We took the group to Maumere on the island of Flores, our gateway to a spectacular dive trip around Alor. We started the trip off with a bang by visiting the actively erupting (about every 5-15 minutes) volcano of Komba. After Komba we worked our way east to Alor, which lies on the southwest corner of the Banda Sea, diving some fabulous walls along the way. The reefs were literally blanketed with purple anthias, and on a couple of sites we had multiple shark sightings. We also found an outstanding new wall during an exploratory dive in Alor. Alor also has some of the better critter sites in Indonesia and we spent time with frogfish, fire urchins and their commensals, and octopi. Village visits were also outstanding, so the trip had a good mix, walls, critters, and culture. One of our shore visits was to the famed traditional whaling village of Lamalera on Lembata Island. This is the only place in Indonesia where the natives still hand harpoon whales by leaping from small boats powered by nothing but sails and muscle.
As we headed back west we dove a new critter site off west Lembata that turned out to be a real find. We photographed two different species Rhinopias, a red skin-flap and brilliant yellow weedy. Other finds included regular reef octopus, fingered dragonets, frogfish, and multiple giant plurobranchs on the night dive. But the real highlight for most of the divers was the "squid ballet" taking place in 10 feet of water. Around 8 large reef squid (12'' long) were mating and laying eggs for the entire day. Actually they had been at it for over a week, as there were hundreds of eggs scattered around the site, hidden in various clumps of acropora corals. The squid were very accepting of the divers and continued their activities while we watched, mesmerized by their dance.
We ended the diving at the island of Pamona just north of Maumere. This site was once one of Flores's best but was heavily damaged, along with every other site in the area, by the '92 tidal wave that nearly washed Maumere off the map. Mark had not dived the site since '91 and was a bit apprehensive about what we would find. Turned out the wall was in very good shape, and at the western point of the island the fish life was outstanding. The divers had one of their best dives of the trip watching schooling snappers and trevally, eagle rays, dog-tooth tuna and 4 grey reef sharks. It was another "Happy Ending"! Most of our clients agreed it was their best trip ever.
Burt Jones and Maureen Shimlock
On the next trip East of Flores, we got a message from our cruise director on day 2, just in the beginning of the cruise: "Yesterday at Shark Point, Lembata - heaps of sharks, Minke whale on the surface, dolphins, mobulas, eagle rays & massive doggies & giant school of bonito on dives. En route to Komba - sperm whale encounter, then great fireworks until 10 pm! Flat calm, now at the Pantar Strait for some action dives here." Another amazing trip that one turned out to be - and these cruises East of Flores are just getting better every time!
Videos
East of Flores, October 2011
by The Argonauts (12:06)
East of Flores, September 2010
by The Argonauts (09:31)
East of Flores
by Linda Johnston (04:11)
Climate information
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Dry season: Rainy season: Air temperature: Water temperature: Best time to dive: |
May - November December - April 27 - 32°C 27°C on average but often colder in the south All year round, site selection based on seasons |
Activities
- Spectacular diving especially for experienced divers
- Beachcombing and Snorkeling
- Exploration by Kayak to small islands with pristine beaches and coastlines
- Fishing for pelagic fish like Spanish mackerel, dogtooth and yellowfin tuna
- Whale & large marine life watching
- A visit to the traditional whaling village of Lamalera in Lembata
- Visit local markets, always an interesting and colorful experience
- Visiting isolated villages with some of the friendliest people in Indonesia
- Traditional performances by the indigenous inhabitants of the islands
- Overland excursion to Kelimutu Lakes National Park in Flores
- Visits to traditional weaving villages and admire / buy local textiles
How to get there
Flights: From Bali to Maumere
Flights also available to Kalabahi via Kupang but less frequent
