Dili

Timor-Leste



Occupying 24,000 square kilometers on the eastern half of an island in the Timor Sea between Indonesia and Australia, East Timor has a population of approximately 800,000 people.

Christo Rei

Halfway between the two entries to the parking lot for the Christo Rei statue climb there is a small tree with a rock step stone going to the beach.   The entry is characterized by a good distance of broken coral bottom marked by locally made rock-walled fish traps.  During low tide, one must walk quite some distance before reaching adequate depth.  

To the East of the entry there is a resident Blue Moray eel in one of the coral formations. Also seen: Black tipped reef sharks, blue groper, blue spotted rays, very large slipper crab.

Beware of strong currents beyond the point at the North end of the site. 

A great site only 10 minutes by car from Central Dili. Approximately 6KM East of Dili.  On the beach road almost to the end under the Christo Rei statue overlooking Dili. 

Cristo Rei

The site is covered in many different kinds of coral.  Big schools of bumphead wrasse have been spotted here.  In the 5-10 meter zone there are many giant clams with irridescent colors.  This site is also a great nudibranch zone. 

This side of Christo Rei is a 20 minute drive from Dili center.  You must take the road towards Baucau and once over the first hill there is a turn-off to the left onto a gravel road.  Take the gravel road and drive along the coast for 10 - 15 minutes until you reach the end at a very nice beach.  There are some scrubby trees on the beach that offer some shade where you can gear up. 

The best entry point is in about the middle of the bay in a sandy/sea grass area.  Be careful where you step as that is where Charlie the seahorse was spotted clinging to a blade of sea grass.  The entry is gradual and will then turn to a nice small wall of coral that follows the coast most of the way around the bay. 

Cristo Rei East is also known as Bakside of Cristo Rei.

Cristo Rei East

Pertamina Pier is a great site when the visibility is good.  Since it is close to the mouth of the river, it is advisable not to dive right after a rain. Long shore currents can be rather strong in this area.  Do not dive when a fuel boat is parked for fueling at the end of the pier. Make sure you take a dive knife with you are here are nets and fishing line caught amongst the pillars of the pier. 

The end of the pier is a fantastic place for marine life.  The closely spaced pillars are covered in soft corals hosting all kinds of nudibranchs, eels, lionfish, octopus and harlequin ghost pipefish.  Given the density of animals in this area, the pier is visited by schools of barracuda, trevally and sweetlips hunting for food. 

Drive along the ocean front road in Dili.  Once at the end of the oceanfront you will have to dog leg to the left around the Pertamina fuel facility.  Take the next dirt road to the right and follow it until it goes to the beach. Once on the beach turn right to get access to the pier.  There is a big tree there for shade. The entry is easy with a gradual sand bottom.  To get past the tidal area to the best visibility, you must swim the length of the pier to the end. It is a good distance but worth it.  

Pertamina Pier

Tasi Tolu is a small critter dive site.  It is especially interesting at night when many burrowing crabs, crustaceans and cephalopods come out of the sand to look for food.  The slope is a very gradual sandy bank and one must be carefull to check depth to avoid going too deep. 

It is not uncommon to see rhinopias, sea horses, frogfish and harlequin ghost pipefish.  At night, small octopus and well camouflaged pink soft coral crabs often highlight the dive.  

The site is only 15-20 minutes from the center of Dili.  The turn off is located after having passed the road to the airport and is basically where the ocean is first visible.  You turn to the right on a dirt track and can park your car 10 m from the water.  The entry is a very easy gradual sandy entry. 

Tasi Tolu

Dili Rock is also known as Pedra de Dili.

Dili Rock

Dili Rock West is different than its neighbor Dili Rock in the sense that it does not have areas of sandy bottom. On the contrary, the area is covered in hard and soft corals harboring many fish. In one area just west of the entry point there is a large expanse of the bulbous kind of staghorn or acropora coral which is always teaming with anthias and damselfish. This site is also very popular with anemones and their anemonefish (nemo) hosts.

Dili Rock West is located just past Dili rock dive site ont he northern coast road from Dili to Liquica. Coming from Dili you drive past the airport to an area called Tasi Tolu. After passing a military facility to your left you can start looking for the dirt tracks leading to the shore not far from the rock formation "Dili Rock". Once on the dirt tracks follow them to the West side of the rock. There is a small area you can park in near the statur in the form of a rock that greets people coming to Dili from the West.

The Entry requires a bit of walking on a dead coral shelf. Be careful to watch out for cracks in the rock surface. You will come to a ledge from which you can do a giant stride entry right into the coral reef area.

Dili Rock West

During the day this site is most interesting in the shallow coral reef.  At night though is comes alive with critters.  Octopus, pygmy pipehorses, irridescent bobtail squids, all kinds of crustaceans.  Most critters are small so look below you in the sand and you will see them coming out to hunt for food. 

Sandy Bottom is about 45 minutes West of Dili. You have to look carefully on the left of the road until you get to a quarry.  Once you are at the quarry entrance look for dirt tracks leading to the beach.  You will have to drive through some thickets but will eventually see the beach. 

The entry is a gradual sandy bottom and is a sandy slope to about 25 meters depth.  On the East side of the slope there is a small coral reef in the shallows. 

Sandy Bottom is also known as Gravel Pit.

Sandy Bottom

 This dive site is a bit hidden at 34.8km East of Dili. It is located behind a grove of palm trees.  One must drive slowly once the grove of trees is see form the road because the dirt track leading through the trees to the beach is not well marked. 

Once in the water, the best direction to take is East if you are interested more in corals.  To the West the coral is not as abundant and soon the area is dominated by sandy rubble.  On either side the slope tends to drop off rather quickly to 20-25 meters. 

This site is nudibranch central.  It is rare to dive at this site and not come up wondering if you just discovered a new species of sea slug.  Lots of coral formations and to the East of the site there is lots of coral cover on the slopes. 

An excellent picnic spot for family and non-diving friends as there are several shade trees in the sandy area close to the beach.  Be careful at low tide when the coral is close to the surface and could scratch passing swimmers. 

This site has a relatively long, shallow entry.  It takes some distance to get to deeper water but well worth it.  Try not to come at low tide when some of the coral is very close to the surface and could make getting across it a bit challenging. 

Secret Spot is also known as Secret Garden.

Secret Spot

36.3KM East of Dili. The turn off for Black Rock is right before the small ridge which overlooks Dollar Beach. Turn off the road and follow the tracks between the trees to the water.

There is a wall to the East of the rock with depths up to 20+ meters. There is a gradual decrease in depth going Eastward towards the rock. Once around the rock and on the return to the beach, there is a nice coral garden ranging from 3-5 meters depth.

Two large cracks in the wall on the East side of Black rock hold many fish in small caves in the sides of the wall. Also seen: lobster, nudibranchs (various).

Black Rock is a beautiful dive, but can be very challenging if the currents pick up during the dive. Consult the tide charts before you go. (See Tide Charts at left). Avoid times when the tide is changing especially during neap tides. Avoid diving here if the water looks as if it is "boiling". There can be three different currents acting on this site at the same time, Northward, Eastward and Westward.

The most popular entry is on the East side of the rock in order to circle around the rock to the West and then back to the beach. The first part of the entry is marked with a flat shelf of broken coral. At low tide this can make for a bit of a walk before it starts to get deep.

Black Rock

29.3km West of Dili. Find the Indonesian military graveyard for Indonesian soldiers killed during the 24-year occupation and park near the piles of white rocks.

To the West there are coral gardens with brain coral formations. To the East, the area is marked by a predominantly sandy bottom with large coral formations. The sandy bottom is covered with small holes where hot water and gas caused by geothermal activity are escaping.

A large coral formation to the NE of the entry point holds several Moray eels. The sandy area is often frequented by blue spotted rays.

There are no trees near the entry point but 100 - 120 meters to the West there is a large tree with good cover.

The entry is straight out from the NW corner of the enclosure. Gradual entry on small rocks and sandy bottom.

Occupying 24,000 square kilometers on the eastern half of an island in the Timor Sea between Indonesia and Australia, East Timor has a population of approximately 800,000 people.

Christo Rei

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Christo Rei