Atauro Island
Timor-Leste · Atauro · 10 m
Description
Atauro (Pulau Kambing) is an island two hours north of Dili by boat and holds the richest reef fish diversity ever recorded, with an average of more than two hundred and fifty species per survey site, the highest figure measured anywhere in the world. The reef starts a few metres from shore and drops into very deep water, which is why blue whales and other cetaceans pass through the Ombai Strait between the island and the mainland each spring and autumn. The island has no proper roads, and eco-lodges are run by the villages. Boats run daily in the dry season.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 3 to 8 days (optimal 4 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: June – November
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Shore diving on the world's richest reef fish sites
- Blue whales in the Ombai Strait (April - June, October - December)
- Village-run eco-lodges
- Snorkelling straight off the beach
- Dolphins and pilot whales on the crossing
- Wooden statue carving in Makadade
- Walk over the ridge to Makili
- Boat crossing from Dili
- Night sky with no grid electricity
Getting there
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry