Timor-Leste Destination Guide

Explore the undiscovered

Timor-Leste Destination Guide

Explore the undiscovered

From the Editor

Timor-Leste, or East Timor as it is also known, is one of those hidden gems in the diving world that only a select few have heard of – something which is becoming increasingly more difficult to find in this modern era. What’s even more extraordinary is that it is not some distant speck of land somewhere in a remote sea, it is located in Southeast Asia.

Timor itself is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with Australia sitting to the south across the Timor Sea, while to the north are the Ombai Strait, Wetar Strait and the greater Banda Sea, the latter which is becoming increasingly known in diving circles thanks to liveaboards making the trip to the diverse waters.

The territory of Timor-Leste is comprised of the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an enclave on the northwestern side of the island surrounded by Indonesian West Timor. It is the only Asian country to be located completely in the southern hemisphere.

Timor-Leste has a wild, untamed natural beauty, and as a result of differing micro-climates, things change as you travel around, from dry, open savannah vegetation to dense forest cover into the mountains. Monkeys and spotted cuscus (a tree-dwelling marsupial) live in the forests, ruse deer can be found in the highlands, and reptiles including snakes and tokay lizards can also be encountered, along with estuarine crocodiles around the coast and in Lake Ira Lalaro, while sea turtles are common visitors to the beaches to lay their eggs. More than 240 species of bird have been recorded, including some globally threatened species such as yellow-crested cockatoos, black cuckoo doves and several pigeon species.

However, what is really starting to put Timor-Leste on the map are the pristine fringing reefs, abyssal drop-offs and clear tropical waters. Lying within the famed Coral Triangle, Timor-Leste boasts amazing marine life – in fact, Atauro has recently been found to have some of the most bio-diverse waters in the world in terms of reef fish. Researchers discovered a total of 642 species around the island, and saw a maximum of 314 at a single site.

As if that wasn’t enough to tempt you, Timor-Leste is also regarded as a global hotspot for whales and dolphins, which can be spotted year-round, but especially during the migration season, which runs from October to December. Whale species sighted include blue, orca, sperm, short-finned pilot, beaked, melon-headed and pygmy killer, while dolphins seen include common, bottle-nosed, spinners, spotted, Risso’s, rough-toothed and striped.

From the Editor

Timor-Leste, or East Timor as it is also known, is one of those hidden gems in the diving world that only a select few have heard of – something which is becoming increasingly more difficult to find in this modern era. What’s even more extraordinary is that it is not some distant speck of land somewhere in a remote sea, it is located in Southeast Asia.

Timor itself is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with Australia sitting to the south across the Timor Sea, while to the north are the Ombai Strait, Wetar Strait and the greater Banda Sea, the latter which is becoming increasingly known in diving circles thanks to liveaboards making the trip to the diverse waters.

The territory of Timor-Leste is comprised of the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an enclave on the northwestern side of the island surrounded by Indonesian West Timor. It is the only Asian country to be located completely in the southern hemisphere.

Timor-Leste has a wild, untamed natural beauty, and as a result of differing micro-climates, things change as you travel around, from dry, open savannah vegetation to dense forest cover into the mountains. Monkeys and spotted cuscus (a tree-dwelling marsupial) live in the forests, ruse deer can be found in the highlands, and reptiles including snakes and tokay lizards can also be encountered, along with estuarine crocodiles around the coast and in Lake Ira Lalaro, while sea turtles are common visitors to the beaches to lay their eggs. More than 240 species of bird have been recorded, including some globally threatened species such as yellow-crested cockatoos, black cuckoo doves and several pigeon species.

However, what is really starting to put Timor-Leste on the map are the pristine fringing reefs, abyssal drop-offs and clear tropical waters. Lying within the famed Coral Triangle, Timor-Leste boasts amazing marine life – in fact, Atauro has recently been found to have some of the most bio-diverse waters in the world in terms of reef fish. Researchers discovered a total of 642 species around the island, and saw a maximum of 314 at a single site.

As if that wasn’t enough to tempt you, Timor-Leste is also regarded as a global hotspot for whales and dolphins, which can be spotted year-round, but especially during the migration season, which runs from October to December. Whale species sighted include blue, orca, sperm, short-finned pilot, beaked, melon-headed and pygmy killer, while dolphins seen include common, bottle-nosed, spinners, spotted, Risso’s, rough-toothed and striped.

HISTORY OF TIMOR-LESTE

Timor-Leste, which is also known as East Timor, has a rich history, and we dish up a bite-size summary of its colourful past, including its status in the trading networks of the Far East, its role in some of the bloodiest battles of World War Two, and the long-running conflict between separatist groups and the Indonesian military which continued until 1999.

TEN THINGS YOU MUST DO

We provide a handy list of ten things you definitely have to put on your ‘must-do’ list when visiting Timor-Leste, including trekking to the top of Mount Ramelau, getting on your mountain bike to explore off the beaten track, heading off to spot some of the many whale and dolphin species common off the coastline, and of course, diving in the pristine waters of this relatively unknown destination.

USEFUL INFORMATION

A one-stop-shop for all you need to know about Timor-Leste as a traveller, from weather conditions throughout the year, the best ways to get there, visa criteria, details on travelling around the country, and much more.

TOP DIVE SITES

Most of the diving operations and dive sites are located around Dili itself and Atauro Island, and as you can imagine, there are a multitude to choose from, but we have selected some of the top sites that you absolutely have to explore, including Haruina Reef and Wall, the aptly named Big Fish, Akrema Point, Tasi Tolu, and Black Rock.

TOPSIDE ATTRACTIONS

There is far more to Timor-Leste than just diving and snorkelling, and we showcase some of the topside activities that should be on your radar, including hiking through the interior, mountain biking into the hills (though we’d advise against trying the infamous Tour de Timor), marvelling at some of the 240+ species of birdlife seen in the country, or heading out to see blue whales, sperm whales, orca, melon-headed whales and short-finned pilot whales, or various species of dolphin.

FIND A DIVE OPERATOR