Diving & Travel Guide to Flores Island

About Flores Island

Flores Island is a dramatic and geologically active island stretching over 350 kilometers in eastern Indonesia, serving as both a gateway to Komodo National Park and a world-class diving destination in its own right. The island's northern coast along the Flores Sea features spectacular wall dives, vibrant coral reefs, and the famous Maumere Bay, which was once considered one of the most biodiverse marine environments in the Coral Triangle before volcanic eruptions reshaped its underwater landscape. The western end of Flores around Labuan Bajo provides access to Komodo's legendary sites, while the eastern reaches near Larantuka offer uncrowded channel diving between the islands of Solor and Adonara with exceptional chances of encountering whale sharks and migrating cetaceans. Riung's Seventeen Islands Marine Park in the central north provides a remote and pristine alternative to the busier Komodo region, with healthy reefs and dramatic volcanic formations. Beneath the surface, Flores delivers an incredible variety of diving experiences, from muck diving on volcanic slopes teeming with rare critters to deep walls patrolled by pelagics, all set against a backdrop of active volcanoes, traditional fishing villages, and the otherworldly tri-colored crater lakes of Kelimutu. For divers seeking a less-traveled path through eastern Indonesia, Flores offers extraordinary rewards with a fraction of the crowds found at more famous destinations. Geologically, Flores is part of the Sunda Arc, and its rugged landscape is dotted with no fewer than 14 active volcanoes, which contribute to the nutrient-rich volcanic soil both above and below the waterline. This fertility translates into exceptional coral growth and a high density of marine life in areas where the reefs have remained undisturbed.

Highlights

• ✓Maumere Bay's recovering reefs with exceptional biodiversity and critter diving
• ✓Riung 17 Islands Marine Park – pristine and uncrowded volcanic reefs
• ✓Whale shark and cetacean encounters in the Larantuka and Solor channels
• ✓Gateway to Komodo National Park via Labuan Bajo
• ✓The iconic Kelimutu tri-colored crater lakes for topside exploration
• ✓Authentic cultural experiences in traditional Ngada and Lio villages

Getting There

Flores is served by several small airports along its length, with the most important being Komodo International Airport (LBJ) in Labuan Bajo at the western end and Frans Seda Airport (MOF) in Maumere at the eastern end. Both airports receive daily flights from Bali, Jakarta, and Kupang via regional carriers. Overland travel between the two ends of the island takes approximately 10-12 hours on winding mountain roads, passing through spectacular scenery including the Kelimutu crater lakes. Inter-island ferries connect Flores to Solor, Adonara, and Lembata to the east, providing access to some of Indonesia's most remote diving.