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Mai Thai Khang (27 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) has been passionate about scuba diving since 2020, but due to the pandemic, he didn't start scuba diving until 2022. Currently, he is on a freediving journey throughout Southeast Asia. The diving experience in Alor is very different from many other places Thai Khang has been to. He learned about Alor by typing "Top diving destination in Indonesia" into Google, and Alor immediately appeared in the top 10.
The diving experience in Alor was very different from many other places Thai Khang had been to.
The water in Alor is crystal clear and blue.
Alor Island is known as the largest island in the Alor archipelago, located on the eastern edge of the group of islands collectively known as the Nusa Tenggara archipelago, which runs along southern Indonesia from west to east and includes larger islands such as Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, and Flores.
Alor boasts a unique, God-given ecosystem unlike any other island. Even just the small pier on the island is a diving spot with a dense coral reef ecosystem covering the pier's pillars in crystal-clear water.
"Although Alor isn't a very well-known destination on the mainstream tourist map, it's a must-try for those who love diving. Because, in my opinion, the coral reefs at Alor are just as beautiful as Komodo," said Thai Khang.
“Alor is truly a very 'local' place compared to all the other diving spots I’ve visited in Southeast Asia. Houses, shops, and accommodations almost exclusively cater to local tourists; there are very few foreign visitors, and not many dive centers here. Alor is an archipelago with only a few islands, of which Pura stands out the most because it is an ancient volcanic island with a unique and healthy coral reef ecosystem on its characteristic black sand beneath the icy, deep blue ocean water,” Thai Khang marveled.
What impressed Thai Khang most about Alor was the local people. Unlike Komodo – a vast archipelago located within a strictly protected national park, primarily for tourism, with fishing prohibited and high daily diving fees – where the islands lack established villages, Alor has small, thriving communities on every island, despite being part of a national park. These people are truly conscious of preserving the coral reefs.
The Magical Pier
Throughout a week of diving with 22 trips, he only saw them using small wooden boats to fish with simple fishing lines or using tools woven from bamboo to make fish traps called "bubu." They would then gently place them on the reef and secure them with rocks, which is very environmentally friendly and beneficial to the coral reef. During the dives, Thai Khang saw many bubu; they would pull them up every 1-2-3 days. Another thing is that there is very little trash in Alor; sometimes a few fishing lines get caught on the reef, but the guides always meticulously remove them, and it's rare to see trash floating on the surface of the sea.
A diverse array of eye-catching marine creatures.
“I had almost no difficulties because I was already familiar with the skills from practicing diving. My advice is to get used to drift diving first. Because the current in Alor is extremely strong, it can easily scare you. Also, you should book your flights spaced out because there will be 6 flights in total for the trip, and any delays can easily lead to being late,” Thai Khang emphasized.
Scuba diving is a specialized activity. All guests must complete a scuba diving course and receive an international certification before registering for diving services. Courses can be taken anywhere, including Vietnam. The biggest advantage of this activity is that you get to explore the ocean floor, witnessing thousands of diverse marine creatures and coral reefs firsthand. However, not everyone has the courage and physical fitness to participate in this service.
"bubu" fish trap
The Alor ecosystem is very similar to Komodo and Raja Ampat (the parts that are still beautiful and not bleached), but the coral reefs at Alor stretch for a much longer distance.
According to Thai Khang, the dive center at Alor will provide all necessary equipment as it's included in the diving package price, and all the necessary skills will be taught. Importantly, the strong currents at Alor mean it's almost exclusively for experienced divers who aren't easily frightened.
Thai Khang's total diving trip to Alor cost 34 million VND. This included 8 nights of accommodation and meals, 22 dives, diving equipment, and airport transfers. This price does not include airfare (approximately 13 million VND from Ho Chi Minh City to Alor) and other expenses such as SIM card, transportation, and a 3-night stay in Bali…
"Alor is one of the rare places on the planet that still retains beautiful and healthy coral reefs. If you have the chance, try scuba diving because the underwater world is magical," Thai Khang said.
The coral reefs are abundant and extensive.
