Crystal clear water and warm temperatures all year round – perfect for swimming!
Timor-Leste has many stunning beaches, from the more popular such as Areia Branca and Back Beach near Dili to those almost deserted. You’ll love them. For your beach experience drive out along the coast from Dili or take a boat trip to Atauro.
They include pristine tropical paradises along the northern coast such as the white sand beaches to the east near Baucau, on both sides of Com, at Valu and around exquisite Jaco Island. Beautiful silver-grey beaches lie to the west.
Atauro Island also has some untouched gems around its coastline which are perfect for beach walking and relaxation.
In Timor-Leste water temperatures are warm all year round and clarity is very high making swimming irresistible.
Sunrise and sunset are special times and the colours reflecting on the water are often mesmerising.
Located within the famous Coral Triangle, Timor-Leste has some of the most pristine, ecologically diverse and least explored dive sites on the globe.
The marine life is abundant with colourful hard and soft corals as well as a vivid array of reef fish. Open water species such as tuna and mackerel are encountered along with harmless reef and whale sharks, manta rays, turtles and the more elusive dugongs. In more sheltered sites you’ll marvel at the variety of fascinating smaller critters – displaying weird and wonderful shapes and colours.
Reefs run close to the shore along much of Timor-Leste’s northern coast, immediately in front of the capital Dili and around Atauro and Jaco Islands. Sites range from more sheltered and gently sloping fringing reefs to magnificent wall diving with underwater cliffs plunging into the depths. Most of the best dive sites are very accessible – some requiring just a short swim from the beach.
Warm tropical waters provide excellent visibility all year around. The availability of experienced diving companies makes Timor-Leste an epic dive location whether you are a novice or veteran.
Diving Operators
Local Timor-Leste diving companies provide shore and boat dives, PADI courses and overnight dive safaris. Shore dives are offered in close proximity to Dili, at dive sites to the west and east along the northern coast. Atauro Island is another very popular destination for guided diving adventures from Dili and all companies run their own boats. Atauro Dive Resort is located at Beloi on Atauro and Compass Charters has a homestay at Beloi and diving eco-camp at Adara.
