Dili Municipality dive sites

Atauro is approximately 27 km north of Dili. Local ferry services and speedboats make the crossing in 1 to 2.5 hours depending on the vessel. Several dive resorts on Atauro can arrange private boat transfers. There is no airport on the island.

A Conservation International marine survey recorded an average of 253 reef fish species per site, which was the highest overall diversity of coral fish ever documented per area surveyed globally. The deep waters of the Wetar and Ombai Straits surrounding Atauro create upwelling conditions that support this extraordinary biodiversity.

The deep strait between Atauro and mainland Timor serves as a migration corridor for blue whales, humpback whales, pilot whales, and orcas, particularly between September and December. Year-round, pods of spinner dolphins and bottlenose dolphins frequent the waters. Sightings are often possible from dive boats between dives.