Flores: Maumere Bay – Babi Island Dive Site – Flores Island

Site Overview

Babi Island is a historically significant dive site in Maumere Bay on the north coast of Flores Island, known both for its healthy reef ecosystem and as a memorial to the devastating 1992 earthquake and tsunami that destroyed the island's village. The underwater environment has regenerated impressively since the disaster, with healthy coral slopes and walls now surrounding the island. The site features a fringing reef descending from 2 meters to approximately 26 meters, with extensive hard coral gardens in the shallower sections transitioning to a wall with overhangs at depth. Hawksbill turtles are resident on the reef flat, schools of batfish and sweetlips congregate along the reef edge, and whitetip reef sharks patrol the deeper wall. The wall at 15 to 22 meters features gorgonian sea fans, barrel sponges, and black coral trees, with overhangs harboring lobster, moray eels, and pygmy seahorses. Napoleon wrasse cruise between the bommies, and sand channels harbor blue-spotted stingrays and garden eels. The mild to moderate current flows around the island, delivering nutrients for prolific coral growth. Babi Island is best dived from April through December and is accessible from Maumere by boat in approximately 35 minutes. The island serves as a powerful reminder of the region's geological volatility while showcasing nature's remarkable capacity for recovery. Some rubble from the 1992 tsunami is still visible in the underwater landscape, adding historical depth to the diving experience.