Silo 1 · Expedition formats
Private group expeditions for 6 to 16 divers across the Alor–Pantar Strait: whole-resort or whole-boat buyouts, group rates, mixed-experience guiding and Kupang–Kalabahi transfers. One organiser, one contact.
One organiser, one thread
Alor is a logistics puzzle. Remote islands, a protected marine park with strict rules, and currents that reward experience. We assemble the whole expedition around your group so one organiser talks to one contact.
Per-diver rates fall as the group grows. Fixed costs — guides, boat fuel, the small low-emission tenders our resort partner runs — spread across more people. The Pantar resort caters to 16 divers, so a party of 12 to 16 can take the whole property and dive 40-plus sites within 30 to 45 minutes.
Guides hold the special MPA certification required on top of standard PADI or SSI credentials — not optional in Alor, and something we verify with each partner before confirming dates.
In and out
Every group package pulls the moving parts into a single quote, including the compliance steps individual travellers often miss.
| Bundled into the group rate | Arranged, billed separately |
|---|---|
| Airport pickup at Kupang or Kalabahi | International and domestic flights |
| Boat and land transfers | DAN or equivalent dive-accident insurance — mandatory |
| Guides certified to guide inside the Alor MPA | Marine park fee and dive permit |
| Tanks, weights, up to 3 guided dives a day | Equipment rental, nitrox |
| Bungalow or liveaboard cabin, all meals | Gratuities, personal extras |
Four shapes
Group size decides whether you share a resort, take it over, or charter the whole boat.
Quoted per group
No citable public price list exists for Alor dive packages, liveaboards or the marine park fee. Send your numbers and month and we return dated options with a per-diver rate.
All dives are no-decompression, with a 60-minute bottom-time limit or a 50-bar turnaround, and no solo diving. Flights, insurance, the marine park fee and permit are billed separately.
Six steps
One organiser, one thread, from first message to boarding.
Start here
We return dated options with a per-diver group rate. Popular September–October dates fill early.
Planning for a spread
Most clubs travel with a spread of logbooks, and Alor rewards planning for that. Groups usually route through Kupang in West Timor or fly into Kalabahi on Alor.
Season shapes the plan: best conditions run April to November, October–November brings the most prevalent currents, and September is the standout month for mola mola. We quote the trip on the diving, not on sightings.
Straight answers
No. Minimum PADI Open Water covers fun diving, and we build mixed dive plans within one trip. Partners recommend 50 to 100 logged dives for comfort in Alor–Pantar's currents, so we route less-experienced members to gentler 15–25 m sites and muck diving while stronger divers tackle the current-swept walls.
The Pantar resort caters to 16 divers, so a party of roughly 12 to 16 can take the whole property; below that you share with other guests at the resort rate. Liveaboard whole-boat charters vary by vessel but usually make sense from about 10 to 16 divers — message us for the current buyout threshold.
Aim for the April–November dry window, with October–November delivering the strongest currents and best big-fish odds, and September best for mola mola. Blue whales and hammerheads are possible, not predictable. Popular resort and liveaboard dates in the September–October pelagic window fill early, so lock a group hold several months ahead.
Yes. DAN or equivalent dive-accident insurance is mandatory for every diver, because the nearest hyperbaric chamber is in Bali and evacuation or chamber costs are not covered by standard medical insurance. We send reminders during booking, but each diver must arrange and carry their own valid policy before the first dive.
Yes. Snorkellers and non-diving companions are welcome on land-based stays and many liveaboard cabins, but note that all marine tourists — divers and snorkellers alike — must attend the MPA briefing, pay the marine park fee and hold a permit. Tell us your non-diver count and we'll price rooms and surface activities accordingly.
Silo 1 · Expedition formats
Next step
Send your group size, preferred month and certification mix and we'll return dated options with a per-diver group rate.
