THAT WHALE IS A PYGMY ?
Atauro Dive Resort … 2770 € (euros)
October 30 – November 9 ( FULL – contact us for more options)
While sperm whales & smaller whales (such as short-finned pilot & melon-headed whales) … plus, dolphins … can be seen year-round at East Timor, from October to December, the Wetar Strait becomes a passageway for countless migrating pygmy blues & humpbacks. Catch a ride with a blue whale !
EAST TIMOR … ONE OF THE FINAL FRONTIERS
It’s entirely possible that you have never heard of Timor Leste (formerly known as East Timor) … the world’s youngest & perhaps poorest nation. Located southeast of Indonesia’s Flores Island … and due north of Darwin, Australia … it sits directly on an extraordinary channel used by migrating whales.
Until 2012, a bloody civil war & various uprisings, kept researchers & tourists alike, away from the rich waters surrounding this reomote island nation. Since then, the country has enjoyed peace but certainly not prosperity. There is hope that “swimming with whales” and whale watching tourism, managed in a sustainable way, may bring much needed revenue to this nation.
The island of Timor … lying as it does at the end of the archipelago made up largely of Indonesia …. features some of the more stellar aspects of that island chain’s glamor…. but without the infrastructure. No 5-star Bali hotels here. No luxury liveaboards. What you get is spectacular beauty with simple accommodation … and, at this time of year, you get whales, whales and more WHALES.
BLUES, HUMPBACKS, PILOTS & SPERMS
The Wetar Strait between Timor‐Leste and Ataúro Island has only recently been found by scientists to be a migration route for a vast variety of whales journeying between the Antarctic and the warmer waters in Indonesia.. These migratory populations are heading for waters in and around the Banda Sea (Indonesia) to mate and bear their young before heading back to Antarctica and their feeding grounds.
It’s possible, when conditions are right, to see humpbacks, blue whales, sperm whales, beaked whales and also, possibly orcas. We all know there’s never a guarantee with Mother Nature …. but, recent history shows that between October and December the chances are excellent. (The sperm whales, other smaller whale species and most of the dolphins seem to be resident pods, which means you may see them at most any time of the year. Scientific studies are still in their infancy and more is being learned with each passing year.)
You can also add to your “wish list” at Timor multiple sightings of spectacular pods of dolphins and small whales, Including Fraser’s, dolphins, bottle-nose, spinner& spotted dolphins … melon-headed, pygmy killer and pilot whales You might also catch sight of a resident dugong.
In spite of the extreme diversity of marine mammals to be encountered, the blue whales are probably the Number One draw here, due to the fact that, of all the species, they are the most elusive and the most alluring thanks to their status as the largest species on the planet ! Also, interesting to note that the blue whales here are referred to by most as “pygmy blue whales” because they are smaller than other blues around the planet. Don’t let that fool you ! They still reach lengths of up to 24 meters (nearly 79 feet … 26 yards !)
MASSIVE SPONGES … TOWERING FANS … FISH, CRITTERS & PELAGICS
Along with the huge sponges, beautiful coral gardens (hard & soft corals) and a variety of reef fish around Atauro Island, you’ll find macro critters at one end and, at the other end of the spectrum, the bigger stuff like hammerhead sharks, reef sharks, mola mola, mantas … and plenty of pelagic fish such as barracudas, trevallies, tuna & mackerel. Visibility is always excellent and the abundance of fish life and coral is simply overwhelming.
You’ll find some deep wall dives – down to 70-80 meters – where the walls are covered with hard and soft corals. Crevices in the walls are filled with crustaceans and juvenile fish.
There are some good currents which make for super drift dives which require a good diving level to undertake.
CONTACT US WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHER AVAILABLE OPTIONS
ATAURO DIVE RESORT
GETTING THERE, WHAT’S INCLUDED, RATES & ITINERARY
{slider Please note that this trip has a true “expedition character” and the resort is simple and basic. You will be at the end of the world (from our perspective) where everything works on “island time”. Activities are weather dependent and can be changed through group decisions or or by the authorities. ….. See trip details …|dest|closed}
DATES AND RATES:
October 30 – November 19, 2022
€ 2,770 per person (euros)
GETTING THERE:
Take your international flight to Denpasar, Bali where you will probably want to overnight. We can help you to set up the flight from Denpesar to Dili Airport on Timor Leste. Your transfer to Atauro Dive Resort from Dili is included in the package.
ITINERARY:
- you will be travelling with a small group … maximum 10 people with a private boat from the resort.
- the trip includes 7 days of both diving and swimming with whales.
- 2 tanks of diving are scheduled each morning
- afternoons will be spent in the open ocean looking for whale action
WHAT’S INCLUDED
• transfer from / to Dili Airport (Timor‐Leste) with speedboat and land transfers
• 10 nights Atauro Dive Resort
• Garden View rooms with shared facilities (shower/toilets)
• 7 days private boat charter for the group for diving & whale watching full day
• 2 tanks per charter day (up to 14 dives in total) with guide, weights, tanks
• group leader
Tea, coffee, drinking water & other cold drinks are available 24/7 from the restaurant. The daily menu will always provide both meat and vegetarian options … and homemade ice cream, if you request it ! If you have dietary restrictions, please do let us know in advance.
EXTRAS:
• international flights
• flights from Bali Denpasar to Dili and back with Sriwijaya Air ~ 600 € per person
• insurance
• surcharge for beachfront bungalows (“Damsel” and “Grouper” … shared bathrooms) € 45 per person / 10 nights
• surcharge for superior beachfront bungalows (“Snapper” and “Wahoo” with private showers) € 140 per person / 10 nights
• stopover night in Bali …. for example Hilton Garden Inn Bali Airport per room € 85 including breakfast
We highly recommend DiveAssure insurance which also covers force majeure and single missed days of diving due to sickness. Feel free to ask us about it..
Further extensions in Bali or around Indonesia are always possible and we’re happy to assist! {/sliders}
FIND AVAILABILITY … BOOK SPACES