Ambon and Alor: discover something new on every dive!

Ambon and Alor are two destinations each with their own unique diving opportunities. An Ambon liveaboard offers some of the most spectacular muck or critter diving you can find. Located in the Maluku region some 300 km South-West of Misool, the Bay is a dream for any diver interested in black sand, a fantastic world of Rhinopias, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, different species of unusual Octopus, Mandarin fish, or the Ambon Scorpionfish. The elusive, fantastic-looking Psychedelic Frogfish has so far only been found in Ambon Bay. For photographers interested in extraordinary underwater life, the dive sites along the Bay’s Northern shore are the place to dive.

Diver & Reef, Alor, Indonesia

Outside of Ambon Bay, you find colourful reef diving. Since our cruises start or finish in Ambon, you can combine world-class critter diving with a passage cruise to other beautiful parts of Indonesia.

Alor is a destination that can be nicely combined with Ambon on one of our Banda Sea crossings or the ending of a cruise through the Forgotten Islands. It is one of the outlying islands of the Eastern Lesser Sunda Islands, a short distance North of Timor Leste. Access to Alor is possible via Kalabahi airport. Kalabahi Bay offers several black sand critter dive sites, whereas the Pantar Strait offers plenty of wide-angle opportunities.

One of the most famous sites for Alor diving is Clown Valley, with one of the highest concentrations of anemones in the world. Situated on a slope filled with boulders, the anemones are everywhere, in all colours and shapes, and so are the Clown Fish. The water here can be cold – Mola Molas (Sunfish) have been spotted at Clown Valley!

Whale, Alor, Indonesia

Dolphins and pilot whales are regularly seen from Dewi Nusantara or our dive tenders. The straits between Alor and the islands to the west towards Solor are tidal, with large masses of water being pushed through them daily. Alor has a high concentration of cetaceans, and the area is part of the annual migration of giant marine mammals, such as blue whales, through Indonesia. Alor offers fantastic opportunities to hunt for great macro photos and whale-watching at sunset.

Join our expert team on our Alor liveaboard to see the wonders and joy that Indonesia has to offer. You can also browse our full list of Indonesia cruise itineraries.