There are two main sites along the coast road to the west of Dili as shown on the map below.
Map of Timor Leste Coastal Dive Sites - West of Dili
Diving Timor Leste (East Timor): Coastal Dive Sites West of Dili – Maubara
Maubara Church, west of Dili in Timor Leste
There are actually two sites to dive at the picturesque town of Maubara located about 60km to the west of Dili – the Church and the Fort, with the former being the more popular and the one that I personally dived.
The highlight of the Church dive site are the numerous bommies on the sloping coral slope, which do not seem to be particularly appealing at first in the shallower parts of the slope.
But as you go deeper at around 15m they come to life and positively abound with marine life that is clearly nourished by the strong currents that sweep the site.
My particular favorite was one at about 200m to the north-west from the main entry point, straight down from the car parking area near the church, and at around 19m depth that was simply teeming with life.
Maubara Church Dive Site Image Gallery
Diving Timor Leste: Coastal Dive Sites West of Dili – Bubble Beach
Unfortunately I was unable to dive this site as the area had been fenced off so that access to the beach area, and the entry point for the site near an old Indonesian memorial, was not possible – but I have heard some great things about it…
The “bubbles” are believed to be natural gas leaking up from the deep water gas reserves that hold the key to Timor Leste’s future prosperity, and that is why the area is fenced off pending a proposed gas processing facility being built there.
The dive is supposed to be one of the best in Timor Leste, but as I have not dived it personally, I cannot comment.
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