Diving Courses in Alor
Our diving courses in Alor are geared towards divers who are looking to improve on their existing skills and experience, or broaden their range of diving capabilities.
Our Dive Courses in Alor
Alor offers diverse diving opportunities but is best suited for advanced divers who are confident in handling currents or interested in learning how to dive in them. For this reason, we primarily offer advanced diving courses. However, novice divers are welcome to reach out to us with special requests.
At Alor Tanapi, dive courses are available upon request and are conducted by professional, certified PADI dive instructors.
We kindly ask that you inquire in advance and let us know which course you’re interested in so we can accommodate your needs.
Our Dive Training
Level 1: Open Water Diver
The Open Water Diver course is your gateway to exploring the vibrant underwater world of Alor, Indonesia. Guided by one of our experienced PADI Instructors, you’ll learn how to scuba dive safely and confidently in the waters around Alor’s reefs and coral slopes.
🛑 Please note: Due to strong tidal currents in the Pantar Strait, this course is only available during calm conditions, which usually occur around the half moon phase. If your travel dates align with this period, you may complete the full course during your stay. For availability and detailed scheduling, please inquire directly with us.
- 2-4 days, theory, confined water sessions and 4 dives, equipment included
- Expect shallow dives (12m/40ft), the maximum allowed depth is 18m/60ft
Prerequisites:
- Able to swim
- Medically fit for diving
- Good physical health
- Min. age: 10 years old.
Level 2: Advanced Open Water Diver
Advance your diving skills: complete 5 Adventure dives, two of which must be a Deep dive (max. 30 meters/100 feet) and an Underwater Navigation dive. For the remaining three dives, choose between underwater photography, buoyancy control, fish identification, and many more.
Prerequisites:
- Level 1: Open Water Diver
- 12 years or older
Enriched Air Nitrox
Enriched air, also known as Nitrox or EANx, contains less nitrogen than regular air. Breathing less nitrogen means you can enjoy longer dives and shorter surface intervals. Learn why Nitrox allows you to make longer dives and how to dive Nitrox safely. Takes 1-2 days to complete the course with an instructor.
Prerequisites:
- Level 1: Open Water Diver
- 12 years old
Drift Diver
Scuba diving in Alor often means diving in currents—perfect for drift diving. From gentle glides over coral reefs to fast-paced drifts along dramatic walls, Alor offers ideal conditions to learn and enjoy this exciting style of diving.
The PADI Drift Diver course teaches you how to manage buoyancy, read currents, and dive safely with a group. Gain confidence and get the most out of Alor’s world-class current-rich dive sites.
During 2 dives in a current, you’ll practice buoyancy control, navigation and buddy communication. Practice using a delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB), float, line, reel, or other drift diving safety equipment. Takes 1-2 days to complete with an instructor.
Prerequisites:
- PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver (or qualifying entry-level certification)
- 12 years or older
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Great buoyancy control is what sets skilled divers apart—especially in Alor, where delicate coral reefs and vibrant marine life call for precision. With the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course, you’ll refine your buoyancy skills to glide effortlessly, improve your finning techniques and learn new ones such as back-finning, reduce air consumption, and hover with ease.
Perfect for Alor’s diverse underwater terrain, this course helps you get closer to marine life without disturbing the environment—whether you’re exploring walls, muck sites, or drift diving in the Pantar Strait.
Prerequisites:
- PADI (Junior) Open Water Divers or higher
- 10 years old
Dive Conditions in Alor
Variety & Flexibility
We try to combine and find the right balance between the number of reef dives and muck dives, if the group has a clear preference for one or the other, we will, of course, be happy to cater to these preferences.
Since we are a small resort, if all the guests from the group wish to modify the schedule according to their preferences, we will try to accommodate the requests when possible.
Temperatures
The average temperatures around Alor are lower than the average found in Indonesia. Although the average is between 26°C to 30°C, thermoclines are common and the water can drop at times to 20°C, sometimes cooler. For this reason we recommend a minimum of a 5 mm long wetsuit, as well as gloves and a hood. If you get cold easily, we recommend a 7 mm long wetsuit.
Currents
Please note: As we are located in an area with strong currents, we are not able to offer any house reef diving. Furthermore, the Pantar Strait is renowned for its unpredictable currents, therefore we recommend having at least 100 dives and feeling comfortable with drift diving if you would like to be able to fully enjoy the range of dive sites that Alor has to offer.
Dive Certification FAQs
What kind of diving can we expect to find in Alor?
Alor diving offers a nice balance between pristine, colorful coral reefs where schools of fish can be encountered, and muck dive sites where the unique critters are usually spotted. The coral sites are mostly bottomless walls or feature a sloping topography where current can vary from mild to strong with good visibility, while in the muck sites you will find a sandy black bottom with little current and average visibility.
What is the water temperature in Alor?
The average temperature is usually between 24-30°C, but it has been known to drop in certain areas to 20°C, in some dive sites you might feel a thermocline of 16°C. We therefore recommend a 5mm wetsuit, gloves and a hood if you get chilly.
What diver certification level is required?
To be able to go fun diving, a minimum certification equivalent to PADI Open Water is necessary. We also recommend having at least 50-100 dives in order to be able to enjoy and feel comfortable in the Alor-Pantar waters.
Can I take a dive course?
Please contact us if you would like to take a course.
What dive equipment do I need?
Tanks, weights and weight belts are included in the dive prices. If you need other equipment such as wetsuit, BCD, regulator, mask, fins, snorkel, dive light, dive computer, etc. please see our rental price list.
Am I allowed to wear gloves?
There is no rule against wearing gloves but we will not allow guests to touch the reef unless for safety reasons. We ask that our guests sign an “Environmental Awareness Statement” on arrival that says they will be responsible divers and respect the marine life, we reserve the right to cancel any unused dives in the event that guests do not follow and respect these rules. If you need to stabilize yourself while shooting photos, we recommend using a pointer with a soft tip (plastic or similar). Buoyancy control is of utmost importance and we’ll be happy to give you advice and help you improve your diving skills at no extra charge if we see there is room for improvement. The ability to drift dive and feel comfortable in strong currents is also required due to the challenging conditions in the Pantar Strait. Please refer to our sustainability page for more information on environmental responsibility.
Diving insurance is mandatory due to our isolated location, the nearest hyperbaric chamber is located in Bali and evacuation costs and chamber expenses are not covered under standard medical insurance. We recommend DAN insurance, you will need to purchase according to your country of residence.
How many dives do we do per day?
We generally offer 3 dives per day due to our remote location, we prefer not to push the limits. In exceptional cases we might offer the possibility of doing a 4th dive for a group, but this is to be discussed prior to the booking.
Book Your Alor Diving Course
We offer dive training in Alor. Check our our rates page for more pricing and more information about how to book your dive course.
Alor Tanapi is a newly built dive resort located on the island of Alor, East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia, approximately 20 kilometres from the main town of Kalabahi.
Our intimate resort offers quality accommodation and diving facilities as well as a personalized service for couples and small groups.
Get in Touch
+62 (0) 812 4402 1697
info@alortanapi.com
Sebanjar, Alor Besar
Nusa Tenggara Timor
INDONESIA
Copyright 2022 Alor Tanapi Dive Resort.