Muck Diving in Alor: Presenting the Macro Critters of the Alor Archipelago in Indonesia
Written in May 2024 by Nautika Dive Alor
Alor's muck diving is underrated. Despite not being as widely recognized as other destinations in Southeast Asia like Lembeh, Ambon, and Anilao, Alor offers world-class muck diving. Thanks to the nutrient-rich waters and volcanic sand of Kalabahi Bay, Alor is a dream spot for many macro underwater photographers seeking to capture footage of rhinopias, nudibranchs, frogfish, seahorses, and much more. Let's take a closer look at some of the muck species resident in Alor.
Top 10 Muck Critters in Alor: What Macro Could You Spot?
If you have a bucket list of muck critters you'd like to see in the Coral Triangle, Alor is the perfect place to check off many of these items. With its diverse range of species and experienced dive guides from Nautika Dive Alor leading the way, you can embark on a thrilling treasure hunt to encounter critters such as:
1- WEEDY AND PADDLE FLAP RHINOPIAS
Yes, you heard it right. This fascinating family of scorpionfish can indeed be spotted lurking in the sands of Kalabahi Bay. Here, we have two species: Rhinopias Frondosa, also known as the Weedy Scorpionfish, and Rhinopias Eschmeyeri, commonly referred to as the Paddle Flap Scorpionfish. The treasure hunt to find these elusive Rhinopias is best undertaken during night dives or specific muck dives.
2- GIANT, PAINTED, OCELLATED, AND WARTY FROGFISH
These masterful camouflaged ambush predators are present across many of our muck and reef dive sites.
Among the diverse types found in Alor are the Giant Frogfish, Painted Frogfish boasting hues such as orange and black, the Ocellated Frogfish, and the Warty Frogfish. Additionally, on rare occasions, we have been fortunate to spot the Hairy Frogfish. Each encounter with a frogfish is an exhilarating experience, whether witnessing the emergence of their lure to capture prey or observing their growth from juvenile to adult stages.
3- BARGIBANTI AND PONTOHI PYGMY SEAHORSE
Among the sea fans of our reef dives in Pura Island and Pantar Island, the tiny Bargibanti Pygmy Seahorse can be found, blending seamlessly with the texture of its habitat. The Bargibanti Pygmy seahorse is the smallest seahorse in the world, making sightings of this elusive creature a highlight for divers visiting Alor.
Other seahorse species, such as the rare Hippocampus Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse, have also been spotted lately in dive sites close to Our Dive Resort. Additionally, Spiny or Thorny Seahorses can frequently be captured on camera during night dives in Kalabahi Bay.
4- HARLEQUIN SHRIMP
With their vibrant appearance and strict diet of sea stars, Harlequin Shrimp are a top encounter for many macro enthusiasts diving in the archipelago. Witnessing them devour a piece of a sea star adds an extra thrill to the experience. These fascinating critters have been spotted in sites like Majid Ampera and Lewalu.
5- COLEMAN SHRIMP
Another shrimp that excites many divers in Alor is Coleman’s Urchin Shrimp. This species doesn't actually feed on the urchin itself; instead, through a symbiotic relationship, they live on the urchin and feed on particles of algae and debris. In this way, these creatures complement each other. These critters are mostly spotted in Kalabahi Bay.
6- NUDIBRANCHS & SEA HARE
Teeming with nudibranchs in various shapes and colors, you won’t get bored spotting these unique creatures across sites during both day and night dives. Some of the nudibranchs spotted by our guests at Nautika Dive Alor include the Phyllodesmium Longicirrum (also referred to by some as the Solar-powered Nudibranch), Spanish Dancer, and Neon Sea Slug. If you take a closer look, you'll also find nudibranch eggs scattered across the dive sites. Check out the last photo in the slide deck if you're curious about what nudibranch eggs look like.
7- MANDARIN FISH
Living mostly among staghorn coral, mandarin fish can be spotted during day dives around Pura Island, such as Red Sand, Abila, and Doluwala. Unlike other destinations where they're only spotted at night, in Alor, sightings occur during the day as well. Mandarin fish stay in their chosen habitat, but because they are shy and tend to hide, spotting one requires patience and keeping a distance to avoid causing distress.
8- BOBTAIL SQUID, BLUE-RINGED, AND WONDERPUS OCTOPUS
Harder to spot as they are highly mobile, members of the cephalopod family are also part of our treasure hunt, with sightings most commonly occurring during night dives in Kalabahi Bay. At dusk, we can often spot bobtail squid, and on rare occasions, we may also come across the blue-ringed octopus, wonderpus, and hairy octopus.
9- GHOST PIPEFISH
The other creatures that get us all excited and are masters of camouflage are the pipefish. With a varied list for our book collection, we can often spot Halimeda Ghost pipefish, Ornate Ghost pipefish, Robust Ghost pipefish, Velvet Ghost Pipefish, and on rare occasions, the Roughsnout Ghost Pipefish. Other species also seen include Banded Pipefish and Mushroom Coral Pipefish.
10- OTHERS
The options in Alor are endless, and other species you might be lucky enough to see include the Spotted Porcelain Crab, Zebra Crab, Decorator Crab, Candy Crab, and Mosaic Boxer Crab. Additionally, you may come across Stargazers, Tiger Shrimps, and Hairy Shrimps, as well as Leaf Scorpionfish and Hairy Squat Lobster. Tell us which species tickles your fancy, and we’ll let you know if we've seen them lately.
Diving Conditions & Dive Sites
The prime location for muck diving is the volcanic sands of Kalabahi Bay. Specific muck dives are conducted at sites like Majid Ampera (Mucky Mosque), Lewalu, SD Point, and Matap. Visibility in the bay typically ranges from 15-20 meters with none to mild currents, though occasional drifts may occur. Water temperatures range from 26-28 degrees Celsius.
Alor's macro diversity extends beyond Kalabahi Bay, with prime sites like Bakalang Jetty in Pantar Island and reef dives in Pura Island such as Red Sand, Doluwala, and Abila offering opportunities to spot the creatures mentioned above and more.
What makes Alor a very special destination is the diversity it provides to divers. Aside from muck diving, Alor is also an outstanding destination for exploring wide-angle pristine coral reefs, dramatic walls, swim-throughs, overhangs, caves, and, if lucky, unexpected pelagic encounters. Learn more about the overall diving experience on our page.
Nautika Dive Alor Dive Facilities
Nautika Dive Alor is a PADI 5 Star Resort conveniently situated at the heart of the Alor Archipelago Marine Protected Area, just a short 10-15 minute boat ride from Kalabahi Bay and an average of 20-30 minutes from the rest of the dive sites.
We offer top-notch facilities for divers, including a dedicated camera room equipped to dry photography gear and review footage. Our two boats are fully equipped with comfort amenities such as towels, snacks, coffee & tea, and are manned by an experienced dive team truly passionate about the ocean, ensuring your dive trip is truly unforgettable.
As an Indonesian-owned operator, Nautika Dive Alor takes pride in empowering the local community. A shining example within our dive team are Bram, the first Alorese Dive Master with over 25 years of local expertise, and Egy, the first Alorese Dive Instructor.
Make Alor your next diving adventure and become part of the Nautika Dive Alor diving family!
PLANNING A TRIP TO ALOR?
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email: dive@nautikadivealor.com
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