Scuba Diving in Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia
Lesser Sunda Islands, are a group of islands in the middle-south part of Maritime Southeast Asia. Together with the Greater Sunda Islands to the west they make up the Sunda Islands. The Lesser Sunda Islands are part of a volcanic arc, the Sunda Arc, formed by subduction along the Java Trench. KOMODO, the realm of the dragon Komodo is part of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands and forms part of the Komodo National Park. Particularly notable here is the native Komodo dragon. In addition, the island is a popular destination for diving. Administratively, it is part of the East Nusa Tenggara province. Komodo is one of Indonesia’s driest regions. Be sure to include a land visit to see the huge Komodo dragons when you go there. Underwater, Komodo offers just about every type of diving; from current-swept seamounts patrolled by sharks, tuna and other pelagics to calm reefs with teeming schools of fish. Diving is good year-round. Because of strong currents and upwelling the water can be cold. We suggest a 5mm suit and hood. Diving in the NORTH: Best period is during the southeast monsoon, from late March to early Mayand late September to early November. Currents are oftenencountered during this time. Water temperature: 24 – 29C. Visibility: 20 – 25 m. Diving in the SOUTH: Best periodis during the northwest monsoon, mid November to earlyMarch. Water temperature: 21 – 27 C. Visibility: 10 – 15 m. SANGEANG Sangeang is an active volcano whose steep, conical slopes extend up to a nearly 2,000m peak. Lava flows are occasionally visible on its flanks. This island lies between Komodo and Sumbawa island. Sangeang’s black volcanicsands offer underwater photographers a wonderfully contrasting background for fish and other critters, with streams of bubbles rising from the sands here and there due to the volcanic activity. A wealth of sea life can be found in the coral reefs around Sangeang, including nudibranchs andflatworms. ALOR Alor’s friendly inhabitants are the original source of those beautiful Ikat fabrics sold in Bali. Remote and pristine,Alor’s waters offer masses of wirling, schooling fish and acomparable diversity of rare and weird ritters on the reefs. Alor is a macro photographer’s dream.
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