Whale Shark
(Rhincodon typus)
Maumere Liveaboard Diving
Maumere is the largest town on the island of Flores. It is located at the eastern end of the island, and the port is a commonly-used start and/or finish point for liveaboard cruises which include diving at Komodo, Alor, The Ring of Fire or even as far east as West Papua. Due to its location, Maumere is also home to dozens of world-class dive sites which are suitable for all levels of scuba diver.
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There are several dive centres and resorts within the coastal town of Maumere, but without doubt, the best diving here is experienced by one of the liveaboard ships and yachts which visit. The marine life is healthy and diverse, with a little bit of everything. There are all kinds of dive sites, including deep drop-offs, sloping reefs and even some muck diving. Due to the sparse human population who have been sustenance fishing for generations, the reefs are in good condition and there are thousands of fish and other creatures to see. While not many people come all the way to Maumere just to do day trip dives from a resort or dive centre, it is still well worth a visit. Most diving tourists include it as part of a longer journey, or to get away from the crowds of Bali & Komodo. Great diving can be enjoyed from April through to December, with the first three months of the year still offering good experiences but with less predictable weather and resulting rougher seas.
Diving conditions at Maumere
Depths
12 - 50+ metres
39.4 - 164+ ft
Temperature
25.8 - 31.6 °C
78.4 - 88.9 °F
Currents
Medium to extremely strong
Visibility
8 - 30+ metres
26.2 - 98.4+ ft
Surface
Can be choppy
When to dive at Maumere
Best Times:
April to October
The best time is from April to October because for calm seas. The dry season is April to December.
What type of dive site is Maumere
Muck diving, Reef, Wreck Diving, Drop Offs
Deep drop-offs, sloping reefs, some muck diving and a Japanese shipwreck (Wai Terang) from WW2 that's located in 15 metres of water.
Where is Maumere?
Maumere is the largest city on the island Flores. It is located on the northeast coast of Flores.
How to get to Maumere
Liveaboard Boat, Day Trip Boat
It's possible to do day trips and even 'house reef' dives around Maumere, but the vast majority of divers are on a liveaboard cruise. Some liveaboard itineraries include Maumere in the middle, but most will start or finish at Maumere. This means that you need to fly into Maumere at the start of your cruise or fly out at the end. Being the largest town on the island of Flores, there is an airport in Maumere. The airport’s name is Fransiskus Xaverius Seda, and several domestic flights land and take off there every day of the year. Most flights come in from Bali or Jakarta, but the range of different airlines and destinations would surprise most people.
Who can dive at Maumere
PADI Open Water equivalent or higher. Minimum 20 logged dives.
Although there is no official minimum limit of logged dives' experience or certification, almost everyone who dives at Maumere has at least 20 logged dives and is Advanced or higher. In fact. most divers have plenty of experience. Novice and inexperienced divers can safely enjoy many of the dive sites, but during strong currents and when the sea's surface is choppy they might be better suited to skipping the dive. Therefore, the currents and choppy surface conditions will need some scuba diving experience.
What marine life can you see at Maumere?
Marine life at the dive sites around Maumere is among the most diverse in the world. From the tiny Pygmy Seahorse on Gorgonian sea fans and camouflaged & colourful invertebrates at the muck dives to the majestic Manta Rays and other passing pelagic species, including requiem sharks. This part of the world has more species or marine life than anywhere else, and many are able to be seen by recreational scuba divers. However, you need to spend plenty of time underwater and have keen eyesight.
Summary of Maumere
Maumere is among the best diving locations in the world, especially between April and October when the sea conditions are more suitable. Dive sites include shallow muck dives, drift dives, sloping coral reefs, drop-offs and even wrecks. Inexperienced divers can enjoy diving at Maumere, but due to its remote location and some currents and deep dive sites, most divers have plenty of experience. This is also because most divers visit Maumere as part of a liveaboard cruise, also known as a diving safari.
