Pindito 12D11N

Embark on an exhilarating 12-day, 11-night voyage through the mesmerizing waters of Indonesia, setting sail from Maumere to Alor aboard the prestigious Pindito Liveaboard. This extraordinary expedition promises a seamless blend of adventure, relaxation, and unparalleled underwater exploration as we navigate through some of the most pristine and biodiverse marine environments in the world. From the vibrant coral reefs of Maumere Bay to the untouched dive sites of Alor, each day unfolds a new chapter of discovery, offering divers and nature enthusiasts an opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of marine life that thrives beneath the surface.

As we journey from Maumere to Alor, guests aboard the Pindito are treated to the ultimate liveaboard experience, where luxury meets adventure in perfect harmony. Indulge in the comfort of our spacious cabins, savor gourmet cuisine prepared by our expert chefs, and relax on the sun-drenched decks as we cruise through crystal-clear waters. Meanwhile, beneath the waves, dive enthusiasts are transported to a world of wonder, encountering majestic manta rays, colorful reef fish, and a dazzling array of coral formations. With expert guidance from our experienced crew and the freedom to explore some of Indonesia’s most coveted dive sites, the Maumere to Alor expedition with Pindito Liveaboard promises an unforgettable journey through paradise.

Dives: Approximately 38 dives in total

Experience: Open Water – No minimum logged dives required.

Alor & Kumba – On the island of Kumba there is a spectacular volcano that contributes to some of the most gorgeous sunsets and sea vistas in this exotic destination. The surrounding waters harbor food-rich currents and cool waters (70-75 degrees), fantastic conditions for encounters with larger marine animals. White-tip and grey reef sharks, giant groupers, mantas, mola-mola, and whale sharks can be spotted around Kumba Island. In Alor you can see young free-diving goggle-fishermen as they free-dive bare-footed, peering through homemade goggles to check their bamboo fish traps (sustainable small-scale fishing). Giant barrel sponges, fragile finger corals, huge boulder corals, flowing schools of glassfish, sweetlips, emperor angelfish, countless cleaning stations, and on-and-on paint the underwater landscape of Alor as you swim along her pristine reefs at 50-60 feet.

On Alor you will have a chance to visit a local village. Here there are still a lot of local rituals, that are practiced regularly. Visit the local market, where the people sell everything from fresh exotic fruits, seafood, spices, handicrafts, and clothing. The locals are very friendly and like having visitors come to their islands.

Buaya, Ternate & Pura – These small islands are situated in the Pantar Strait between Alor and Pantar. The water here at some dive spots like “The Bullet” or “Sharks Gallore” can get really cool (70-72F). We highly recommended that our divers use a 5-7mm wetsuit here and for some, a hoody provides welcome warmth. But with the cool waters comes the likelihood of pelagics and riotous marine-life richness. There are also a couple of beautiful critter spots with mating mandarin fish, cryptic crawling Ambon scorpionfish, pensive Pegasus sea moths, secretive seahorses, and unusual crustaceans. One of the highlights of these dives is the bamboo shark sitings, a species found in very few other places in the world. Above water, you can see whales and dolphins and with a little luck you can spot pilot whales and whale sharks.

Pantar & Marisa – Around these small islands you should also keep your eyes open for octopus. Moving along the seabed move “close and slow” as you scan for mimic octopus, wonderpus, and the blue-ringed octopus. Also look for various scorpionfish species including Rhinopius. Then look for flying gurnards sneaking around the black sand landscape. Nestled in small sea fans, hydroids, or crinoids you can spot ghost pipefish, skeleton shrimps, decorator crabs, commensal shrimps, and angling frogfish. The black sand provides welcome contrast for the vivid colors of the otherwise cryptic critters and it guarantees images that “pop”!

Kawula – Kawula offers the perfect habitat for muck critters. The visibility may be limited to 25ft, but these sites are meccas for frogfish, seahorses, rare scorpionfish, pipefish, and commensal crustaceans.

Adonara – Many colorful species of corals and textured sponges adorn these lovely reefs. The 3-D structure forms a rich habitat for a diverse fauna of coral reef species. Adonara sites are also notable places to see and film pygmy seahorses clinging to the gorgonian sea fans whose polyps and coloration the pygmies have evolved to match perfectly. You will also see schools of snappers, sweet lips, and giant trevallies along the drop-offs. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, manta rays, reef sharks, and other pelagics as you approach reef points and buttress edges.

Maumere – You will finish this cruise with dives in “Muck Central”… Maumere (on the island of Flores). Pindito is the original pioneer of this sleepy Indonesian fishing port that teems with cryptic odd-balls including frogfishes, Ambon Scorpionfishes, leaf-fishes, mercurial schools of venomous catfishes, mandarin fishes, seahorses, giant pen shells in black coral hedges under the town pier, bunches of purple tunicates, harlequin shrimps and so on. This is an awesome place for you to film cool critters. And here you can fill up the final bits of digital memory in your reserve and you can create memories that will fuel your imagination for years to come.