With the island of Timor playing such a strategic role during the Second World War, it's no wonder it's well known for it's historic importance.
During 1944 there was a great battle for the island of Timor which involved the Australians and the Japanese, both of whom had a military presence here. Ships, tanks, jeeps, airplanes and the Japanese even had a submarine in the area.
Just moments from the city of Kupang, in a secluded bay of Semau Island, lies an old Japanese Wartime Wreck in perfect diving depth. Sketches from Jack and Joyce Edmunds(who discovered the wreck with us) show it was most likely a supply ship of some kind.
When we discovered it around 12 years ago it's origins were a total mystery, but since then we have researched it thoroughly and even have uncovered official photographs and literature of it's demise.
It's story even found it's way into the Northern Territory's newspaper in Australia after Jack and Joyce spent tens of hours diving, documenting and researching it's history.
Another dive site, not far away, called "Relic's Reef", an anchorage used by large vessels since the Dutch period and is literally scattered with artifacts.
Discover vast freshwater cave systems or explore a sunken WWII Japanese wreck. Both can be included in your Alor tour program.
In Kupang, due to the geographical nature of Timor and it's surrounding islands, the freshwater cave diving is nothing short of spectacular.
There are numerous large limestone underwater caverns that seemingly stretch for miles beneath the rugged terrain of Timor Island.
Sink holes mark the various locations throughout the countryside where the locals frequent to get water for their animals and to cool off during the summer months. Young children are often found playing in these humid freshwater caverns, swimming and splashing taking respite from the heat of the day.
For the past fifteen years we have been visiting these hidden oasis’s swimming, snorkeling and even diving into the inner most sections of these endless labyrinths.
When we had the chance to explore these passages with the guidance and expertise of a group of dedicated cave divers from South Australia, we jumped at the chance to venture even further.
Cave diving is truly in a realm of it's own with specific rules, strict preparation requirements, communications and total concentration - no mistakes allowed. It seemed some of these underwater caverns went on for eternity, our furthest penetration was 500 meters plus and more caverns were still visible in the distance.
Unique formations of fossilized sea shells and other invertebrate skeletons were lining huge sections of the underwater cave walls, totally intact.
Halo clines are present in nearly every chamber. This is when two types of water with different salinity meet and form an oily juncture similar to a thermo cline where temperature(not salinity) is the differentiating factor. Air Chambers We discovered several separate under ground air chambers along some of the underwater routes.
They are totally cut off from the outside world. This is one of the few places on the planet where true total blackness can be experienced.
We have discovered one species of fish and one species of shrimp inhabiting the outer ponds of some of the cave systems which we assume were introduced by the local villagers.
There is still kilometers of underwater caverns to explore, so come and give us a hand. Day cave diving or snorkeling in theses cave in Kupang can be incorporated into your Alor diving tour.