Open Water Courses
The island of Flores is one of the most rugged islands of Nusa Tenggara with a collection of 14 active volcanoes. The coasts of Flores are mostly unexplored and practically all the diving is done off the north coast because the south coast is very rough. There are three main diving areas - Maumere on the north Coast, Labuan Bajo on the northwestern coast and west of Flores - the island of Komodo. Maumere is a real muck diving paradise, known for its endemic species and bio-diversity. The islands near - Besar and Babi are surrounded by large corals reefs, beautiful underwater landscape (mostly walls and steep drop offs). Diving around Labuhan Bajo is average and there is some damage to the underwater landscape caused by dynamite fishing. However, it is a good place for snorkeling. Komodo forms part of the Komodo National Park, which is one of the most diverse and rich marine environments in the world, with over 1000 species of fish and 250 species of reef building corals. There are over 50 regularly visited dive sites, which have the range of diving conditions: reefs in pristine conditions, gentle drift dives, walls, swim-throughs, monumental boulders, caves, muck dives. Diving in Flores is best suited for experienced divers.
Among the abundance of dive sites in this area, the best sites are Batu Bolong, Manta Alley, Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, Lighthouse.
Flores is a year-round destination with a typical monsoon climate. The rainy season lasts from December through March. The high season is from April to November. The average air temperature ranges between 25-35C/77-95F. The water temperature ranges from 19C/66F to 30C/86F. The water visibility varies from 10 to 40m/32-114ft. The currents are frequently strong.
What to see
The reefs, walls and slopes are rich with colorful combinations of hard and soft corals. They are recovering from the damage caused by the 1992 tsunami. Divers can explore reef sharks, carpet sharks, whale sharks, manta rays, dugongs, wrasses, green and hawksbill turtles, several species of moray eels as well as ribbon eels, snappers, dolphins, nudibranchs, angelfish, parrotfish and others.