Dive Sites of Maumere in Flores
Diving in Flores gives you the perfect chance to add new, small fish and aquatic animals to your knowledge base since it is known for its endemic species. Although the combined effects of dynamite fishing and the earthquake and tsunami of 1992 caused damage to certain areas including Maumere, the regeneration of the reefs here is cause for celebration.
Space was cleared by these natural phenomena, which has allowed new corals to flourish and bring an even greater diversity to the sites. Once considered among Indonesia's finest, the dive sites Maumere in Flores are well on their way to a full recovery and provide some excellent and interesting diving.
At South Pangahbatang you may have some current to deal with as you descend over the mass of large leather corals which are present in numbers along the sloping wall that plateaus at around 28 m. Soft corals abound here too in impressive sizes and spectacular colours. The sight is enough to take your breath away but faces competition in this regard from the finning you may be doing to combat the current.
Just above the sandy floor you may catch sight of any number of sharks and eagle rays lazily hanging in the current, and garden eels easing themselves into the bottom holes as you pass above. All the while colour will surround you in the shallows where you may find mantis shrimps, several leaffish and other small interesting animals. When air dictates, you will emerge from this dive, perhaps a little drained, but certainly energised by this excellent Flores diving site.
Wai Terang - Just off the coast of mainland Flores you will find this Japanese World War II freighter lying on its side from a depth of 25 m up to about 12 m. The coral growth on this wreck has improved considerably over the years and now the old ship plays host to a fair number of hard and soft corals harbouring small fish life.
One thing you should try to avoid is kicking up the silt here since a careless hand or leg in poor visibility could bring your skin into contact with one of the many resident lionfish, a sensation worse than a nip. Eels, cuttlefish and anthias are among the other pleasures to be had on what is a very rewarding wreck if not one that allows too much penetration.
Diving Season
The best diving conditions in Flores are from April to December.
Flores Diving Reef Basics
Depth: 12 - 28m
Visibility: 8 - 30m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 25 - 30°C
Experience Level: Intermediate - advanced
PADI Course Compatibility: Great for wreck diving and drift diving
Distance: ~800 km east of Bali (40 hours), 350 km west of West Timor (18 hours), 1,600 km south east of Irian Jaya (80 hours)
Access: Indonesia liveaboard
Other dive sites that can be dived as part of a Flores liveaboard cruise:
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