Explore The Wonders Of Indonesia
Global Conservation Diving & Exploration
Global Conservation invites you to an exclusive diving and exploration experience in the Alor Sea, Indonesia, aboard the majestic Seven Seas liveaboard.
Hidden between Flores, Timor, and the Banda Sea, Alor occupies a privileged position at the meeting point of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Here, immense tidal exchanges transport nutrient-rich water through narrow volcanic channels, creating one of Indonesia’s most productive marine ecosystems.
The result is an extraordinary diversity of underwater habitats packed into a surprisingly compact area. In a single expedition you may dive vibrant hard coral gardens, dramatic walls, submerged pinnacles, black volcanic sand slopes, colorful soft coral reefs and exhilarating drift dives washed by crystal-clear blue water.
Unlike many destinations where long overnight crossings separate the best dive sites, Alor offers exceptional variety within relatively short cruising distances. This gives our expedition team the flexibility to adapt every day according to tides, currents, visibility, and marine life activity, selecting the very best sites under the best possible conditions.
Above the surface, towering volcanic islands rise dramatically from the sea, while traditional fishing villages preserve cultures and customs that have changed little over generations. This combination of spectacular landscapes, vibrant local communities, and world-class diving creates an expedition that is as rewarding above the water as it is below.
Although Alor has become increasingly recognized among experienced divers, it remains one of Indonesia’s least explored regions. Visitor numbers are still remarkably low compared with destinations such as Raja Ampat or Komodo, allowing divers to experience reefs that often feel completely untouched.
For underwater photographers, marine life enthusiasts, and adventurous travelers alike, Alor represents one of the last places where exploration still feels genuine.
A Cultural Journey Beneath and Beyond the Surface
There are very few places left in Indonesia where nature, culture, and exploration remain so deeply connected.
Situated between the Banda Sea and the Indian Ocean, the Alor Archipelago lies at the crossroads of powerful oceanic currents that nourish one of the richest marine ecosystems within the Coral Triangle. This unique geography creates an extraordinary diversity of underwater habitats, from vibrant coral gardens and dramatic volcanic walls to black sand slopes, colorful soft coral forests and exhilarating drift dives.
Every day beneath the surface reveals a different side of Alor. One morning may be spent drifting effortlessly over current-swept ridges surrounded by schools of fusiliers, giant trevallies, and reef sharks, while the afternoon may unfold over black volcanic sand in search of Rhinopias, frogfish, ghost pipefish, pygmy seahorses, mimic octopuses, and countless other rare macro treasures.
Yet Alor’s magic extends far beyond its reefs.
Towering volcanic islands rise directly from the sea, while traditional fishing villages preserve a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for generations. The archipelago is also one of Indonesia’s most culturally diverse regions, home to dozens of ethnic groups and languages. Ancient traditions continue to thrive through colourful ceremonies, storytelling, the famous Lego-Lego dance and beautifully handcrafted ikat textiles, all reflecting a rich cultural heritage passed down through the centuries.
Whenever the itinerary allows, guests may have the opportunity to experience selected cultural encounters, always approached with respect for local communities and their traditions. These moments remind us that conservation is not only about protecting coral reefs, but also about preserving the people, customs and knowledge that have coexisted with these waters for generations.
Beginning and ending in Kalabahi gives us something increasingly rare: the freedom to dive according to tides rather than schedules, revisit exceptional sites when conditions are perfect, and fully immerse ourselves in both the extraordinary underwater world and the rich cultural heritage that make Alor one of Indonesia’s last truly wild frontiers.
This is not simply a crossing.
It is a complete exploration of one of Indonesia’s most remarkable and least explored destinations.
Dr. Dadang Mujino
Dr. Greg Asner
You are invited to an exclusive diving and exploration experience in the Archipelago East of Flores, hosted by Global Conservation aboard the majestic Seven Seas liveaboard. Upon arriving in Maumere from Jakarta or Bali, we will spend eleven days and twelve nights exploring the incredible underwater world of eastern Flores.
Expect vibrant walls and coral reefs teeming with colorful fish, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, and melon-headed whales. The Flores Sea and its surrounding waters are one of the ocean’s last hidden treasures—a rare gem waiting to be discovered.
Led by Dr. Dadang Mujino (Director of GC Indonesia), Dr. Greg Asner (GC Advisor and Head of ASU Global Discovery) and Michael Sutton, President of the Goldman Prize, this incredible journey takes you far from the tourist areas of Raja Ampat, deep into the Indonesian Coral Triangle, accompanied by one of the most experienced crews and a world-class diving and touring vessel—the Seven Seas.
For more on the Seven Seas, see: www.thesevenseas.net
Come dive in the Archipelago East of Flores and remember what it feels like to fall in love with the ocean all over again.
Tentative Itinerary
The itinerary may be adjusted at the discretion of the captain and cruise director based on weather conditions, which can sometimes be unpredictable, as well as the group’s overall experience. The goal is to offer the best possible diving and snorkeling sites according to the group’s interests and skill levels.
Photo ©Ethan Daniels