Alor
South East Asia
Indonesia
£2.50
Alor: The Anemone Capital
Located in the Pantar Strait, the currents here are fierce, but they feed some of the most pristine and densely packed coral reefs on the planet. The region is famous for a legendary site on Pura Island called "Clown Valley" (Apuri). Here, massive volcanic rock formations are entirely carpeted in thousands of anemones. It is a place where you don't just see one or two clownfish; you see entire neighborhoods of them. It is widely considered one of the most colorful underwater landscapes in the world.
Why We Chose This Sticker Design
This design brings the world's most famous reef inhabitant to life. We captured a family of Clownfish (Anemonefish) nestled safely in their host, staring curiously out at the diver. To showcase the incredible biodiversity of Alor's reefs, we detailed the background with vibrant purple and beige anemone tentacles, representing the dense "carpets" of life that define the diving in the Pantar Strait.
Diving Alor
Alor, east of Flores in eastern Indonesia, is remote enough that dive numbers stay low and the reefs show it. The strait between the islands funnels cold, nutrient-rich water through fast currents, producing vividly healthy coral, strong drift dives and a macro list that rivals better-known muck destinations. Water in the cooler months can drop into the low twenties, which surprises divers expecting typical Indonesian warmth. It is often combined with Komodo or the Banda Sea on longer liveaboard itineraries.
- Best time to dive
- April to November
- Difficulty
- Advanced — strong and sometimes unpredictable current
- Water temperature
- 22–29°C — cooler in the upwelling months
- Visibility
- 15–30m
Top dive sites
- •Kal’s Dream — Exposed seamount with serious current and big fish
- •Clown Valley — Vast anemone field packed with anemonefish
- •Mucky Mosque — Black-sand muck diving with rare critters
What you’ll see
Frequently asked questions
How difficult is diving in Alor?
It can be genuinely challenging. The straits generate strong, shifting currents including downcurrents at exposed sites such as Kal’s Dream, and conditions change quickly with the tide. Operators expect Advanced Open Water with real current experience, and dives are timed carefully around slack water. There are gentler muck and reef sites for easier days, but the signature dives are for divers who are comfortable in moving water.
How cold is the water in Alor?
Cooler than most of Indonesia. Upwelling through the straits can pull temperatures down to around 22 to 24°C, particularly between roughly July and September, and thermoclines can be abrupt. A 5mm wetsuit is sensible, and many divers add a hooded vest for the cooler months. It is the same mechanism that makes the diving so productive — the cold water carries the nutrients that feed the reef.
