Pantar Strait, Alor Archipelago

Indonesia has many famous diving sites.  For professional divers, Pantar Strait Marine Park is one of the most beautiful in the country and comparable only with that of the Caribbean Sea near Central America.  This Marine Park has its own unique characteristics and beauty. 

This strait is located between Alor and Pantar islands in the Alor Archipelago, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).  This narrow strait has a number of small and beautiful islands such as Kepa, Pura, Ternate, Buaya and Tereweng islands.  The waters have a strong current and its sound is as loud as a waterfall.  At unpredictable times, a cold current comes, killing small and medium size fish near the beach.

There are at least 26 diving sites around Kepa, Pura, Ternate, and Tanjung Matap islands, and Papa Jahe beach (Alor)- including the famous Shark Close.  At this site, divers can play with groups of friendly sharks.  In the waters around Papa Jahe, you can also go diving at night.

Everyday there is a flight from Kupang to Alor by Transnusa (Transnusa Alor: 0386-21039) and four times a week by Merpati (Merpati Alor: 0386-21041).  From Kupang, the official flight schedule is in the morning from 06.00-07.00.  When the weather is bad, the flight is usually postponed to the afternoon or even canceled.

Twice a week, there is a motorboat from and to Kupang and once a week from and to Atapupu on Timor Island.  In addition, twice a month, the Pelni ship (Pelni Alor: 0386-21195) comes from Kupang, Ende, Lombok, Makasar and Bali and arrives at Kalabahi Port in Alor.For divers, Pantar Strait is paradise on Earth. Experienced diving service agencies such as Dive Alor (www.divealor.com) and Alor Dive (www.alordive.com) are available.  In addition to diving, snorkeling is also fun. You can walk around and enjoy the quiet and clean beaches on Kepa Island and Alor Kecil while waiting for groups of dolphins to pass through, or enjoy the underwater current to hear the sound of waterfall.

for more information visit  http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/90/pantar-strait-alor-archipelago