Diving in Alor/Komodo - How strong are the currents?

[ChilliNZ]

Cant comment on Fiji or Galapagos, will be in R4 soon, Sipidan is good diving, very good diving, but also very ..commercialised. Alor and Komodo are wild. My personal preference is for the path less trodden - I particularly liked the vibe at Alor. Komodo is also fascinating from below and topside...just a thought..in NZ you are a direct flight to Faaa. Have you thought about diving FPolynesia? The tuomotos will knock your socks off if its big stuff you are after.

I agree with you on the path less trodden for sure.

I have thought about it but really I'd rather go to Indonesia.. plus if I mention French Polynesia my girlfriend will bring up the night I met her which was me promising to take her to French Polynesia that night - she called me on it and I said I didn't have my credit card..

But good to know!

I don't think I'm afraid of the currents unless they're really bloody down sucking things that I can't get out of but what are the chances of that?

A few other people have said there weren't many currents at Komodo or Alor... now you're saying they're gnarly as fark!

Is it going to be all about trying to avoid the full moon?

---------- Post added June 25th, 2014 at 03:32 PM ----------

I should add that I love drift diving from what I have experienced so far, it's just unpredictable currents I don't really want to experience.

How impossible is it going to be to dive sites like the Cauldron with a full E-M5 set up?

 

[charlier]

Hi all
As I write this short post, my wife and I are visiting Pantar Island, just west of Alor. I agree with other posts that the currents are a bit more unpredictable in Alor. That said, for both areas, the lunar cycle, tides, and winds are key factors. Komodo,Islands can serve up strong and ripping currents. Find a good cruise director that knows the area for a LOB or a resort with good local knowledge. Spatial awareness is a good trait to develop while in Alor or Komodo Isands. Have fun!

---------- Post added June 25th, 2014 at 05:39 PM ----------

Back again from lovely Alor. During the new moon, it's my experience that the currents are mostly a bit more gentle. A inexperienced diver that is game would really enjoy the dives. For our next trip, we will try to plan to visit during a full moon, with morning falling tides. Since we enjoy schooling pelagics and going a bit deep, strong currents usually are associated with bigger fish. Back to Komodo, to us it's very special place, both in the south and northern dive sites. ;~)

 

[boletus1973]

Hi all
As I write this short post, my wife and I are visiting Pantar Island, just west of Alor. I agree with other posts that the currents are a bit more unpredictable in Alor. That said, for both areas, the lunar cycle, tides, and winds are key factors. Komodo,Islands can serve up strong and ripping currents. Find a good cruise director that knows the area for a LOB or a resort with good local knowledge. Spatial awareness is a good trait to develop while in Alor or Komodo Isands. Have fun!

i totally agree.. after over 100dives in komodo and only ten days in alor i think that alor is little more umpredictable.. particularly in the "Narrows" straiths between the islands, between pura and pantar... between pura and alor.... and also between ternate and alor......