Atauro Dive Resort

Dive resort · Timor-Leste · Beloi, Atauro Island, Timor-Leste · Official Website

Booking by Tour Leader Club

6 room types · 20 dive sites · house reef

Atauro Dive Resort stands on the beach of the village of Beloi on Atauro Island, 25 km north of Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste. It is the first dive centre on the island, founded by Volker Katzung, a German master instructor with more than twenty-five years of diving behind him who had lived in the country for over a decade and worked out the local dive sites.

Atauro lies at the very centre of the Coral Triangle, between the Indonesian islands of Alor and Wetar. The reefs around the island are reckoned the most biodiverse in the world, and Haruina is the reef directly in front of the resort.

The rooms are bungalows and garden rooms built by local craftspeople from local materials. Because fresh water is scarce on the island, the toilets are dry composting ones. There is no air conditioning and no hot water: the rooms take the sea breeze, and the beds have mosquito nets.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the room rate. The restaurant is on the same property, the menu changes daily, and tea, coffee and drinking water are free around the clock. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and pescatarian options are available, and homemade ice cream on request.

Diving runs off two boats: the nine-metre aluminium Saffy I for fourteen people and the seven-metre fibreglass Saffy II for six. The schedule holds three to four dives a day — two in the morning and two in the afternoon, including a night dive. Night dives are done from shore, on the house reef.

From October to November blue whales, sperm whales and other cetaceans migrate along the north coast of Timor-Leste, and the resort runs daily trips out to them. The rest of the year pilot whales, melon-headed whales and dolphins turn up.

No markup

You pay exactly the rate the resort publishes. On top of that, only the actual bank costs of currency conversion and the international transfer — no commission of ours.

We run the deal

Correspondence with the resort, holding the room, the contract, booking confirmation and all paperwork are on our side. There is nothing for you to arrange yourself.

Card payment

We accept payment by card through Stripe and issue an invoice. The transfer to the resort is our job — you do not have to find a way to pay abroad.

Support all the way

We help you choose the room and dates, work out the dive package, answer questions about flights and gear, and stay in touch until you are home.

The exact amount is confirmed when we hold your booking: it includes the resort's rate at the day's exchange rate plus the actual transfer costs. No hidden fees.

About the resort

Country: Timor-Leste
Location: Beloi, Atauro Island, Timor-Leste
Nearest airport: Dili (DIL), Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport
then by speedboat or ferry to Atauro
Transfer: The resort helps arrange the crossing.
From the Beloi jetty it is about 400 metres on foot to the resort
House reef: true
Dive sites: 20
Dive centre: Its own dive centre, the first on Atauro Island
PADI training up to divemaster

At the resort

The Haruina house reef in front of the resort

Restaurant on site, meals included

Tea, coffee and drinking water around the clock

Locally built bungalows on the beach

Mosquito nets and fans

Dry composting toilets

Hammocks in the shade by the beach

Board games and puzzles

Safety deposit box in the bungalows

Dive and snorkel equipment rental

Bicycle rental

Badminton equipment

Kayaks

Two dive boats

Diving

The Haruina reef right in front of the resort

More than 20 dive sites around the island

Walls, gentle slopes and pinnacles

Visibility of 20–50 m all year round

Three to four dives a day, including a night dive

Night dives from shore on the house reef

Swimming with whales in October and November

PADI courses from a try dive to divemaster

PADI specialties and commercial diving

Two boats — for 14 and for 6 people

The dive sites lie between two minutes and an hour from the resort. The topography runs to dramatic walls, gentle slopes covered in coral gardens and pinnacles. Besides reef fish and corals there is plenty of macro: nudibranchs, shrimps, crabs and pipefish. Hammerheads, reef sharks and mola mola turn up on rare occasions. Night dives are done from shore on the house reef to a maximum of twelve metres: octopus, bobtail squid, crabs, flatworms, dragonets. Night dives on the outer reefs by boat can be arranged too, and torches are rented out. At the northern tip of the island is Akrema corner, often with strong current and a better chance of pelagics; at the southern tip is Britty Rala with small caves, a wall and a slope. Some sites are inside marine protected areas, where a fee of US$2 or US$2.50 per person applies. Dive prices include equipment and an experienced guide — an instructor or a divemaster.

Food

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Restaurant on the resort property

A set daily menu

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options

Pescatarian options

Free tea, coffee and drinking water around the clock

Homemade ice cream on request

Coconuts, soft drinks, beer and cocktails

The restaurant is on the same property as the bungalows. The kitchen picks the menu for the day; dietary requirements are best mentioned in advance. Outside guests are welcome for lunch or dinner, but by booking only.

Things to do

Snorkelling off the beach on the house reef

Swimming with whales in October and November

Dolphin watching

Day hike up Mount Manucoco, about 1,000 m

Trekking to the west and north coasts of the island

Cycling to Beloi and Vila

The Saturday market in Beloi

Kayaking

Badminton

Sunset booze cruise

Hammocks by the beach

The day hike up Manucoco, the highest mountain on Atauro, is done with a guide. The resort runs an evening cruise for its guests: drinks on board and the sunset, weather and sea permitting. Trekking, snorkelling, mountain bikes and kayaks are arranged on request.

Rooms

Bungalow

View: Sea

Beds: Two single beds

A bungalow with a wooden floor and a terrace that looks out on the sunrise and the sound of the waves.

Terrace and balcony Private shower Shared toilet Mosquito net Fan Safety deposit box Wardrobe and desk Seating area and outdoor dining area Linen and towels Board games

Bungalow

View: Sea

Beds: One double bed

A bungalow a few metres from the beach with a sea view.

Terrace and balcony Private shower Shared toilet Mosquito net Fan Safety deposit box Wardrobe and desk Seating area and outdoor dining area Towels Board games

Bungalow

View: Sea

Beds: One double and one single bed

A bungalow with a large terrace and a sea view, well suited to a family with a child.

Large terrace and balcony Private bathroom and shower Shared toilet Mosquito net Fan Safety deposit box Wardrobe and desk Outdoor furniture and dining area Linen and towels Board games

Bungalow

View: Sea

Beds: One double and one single bed

A beachfront bungalow with a sun lounge on the terrace.

Terrace with a sun lounge Private bathroom and shower Shared toilet Mosquito net Fan Safety deposit box Wardrobe and desk Outdoor furniture and dining area Linen and towels Board games

Room

View: Garden and mountains

Beds: One double bed or two single beds

Three rooms with a garden view: two have a double bed, the third has two singles. The shower, common area and veranda are shared.

Veranda Shared shower and toilet Shared common area Mosquito net Fan

Dormitory

View: Garden and mountains

Beds: Two bunk beds for four people

A shared room with two bunk beds, each fitted with a mosquito net, lockers for valuables and a fan. The price is per bed.

Lockers for valuables Mosquito net on every bed Fan Shared bathroom and toilet Outdoor furniture and dining area Barbecue Linen and towels Board games

Rates

Accommodation, per night

Price
Mixed Dormitory Room, per bed	35
Garden rooms	50
Bungalow Damsel	60
Bungalow Grouper	60
Bungalow Wahoo	70
Bungalow Snapper	70

Prices in US dollars; breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

Diving and snorkelling

Price
Shore dive on the house reef	50
Boat dive, east side	60
Night dive	70
Boat dives, west side, for two	180
Boat dives, north or south of the island, for two	140
Snorkelling	20

Prices in US dollars and include equipment and an experienced guide — an instructor or a divemaster. Entry to marine protected areas costs an extra US$2 or US$2.50 per person. PADI courses start from US$100.

Rates and availability can change. Message us — we will confirm current dates and prices.

When to go

Diving works all year and visibility is good throughout, the rainy season included: 20 to 50 metres. The event of the year is the whale migration from October to November, when blue whales, sperm whales and other cetaceans pass along the north coast of Timor-Leste and the resort runs daily trips out to them. In the other months pilot whales, melon-headed whales and dolphins turn up.

Getting there

The resort is in the village of Beloi on Atauro Island, about 400 metres south of the jetty.

Timor-Leste is reached by air from Denpasar (Bali), Darwin and Singapore — Air North, Qantas, Aero Dili and Citilink. Flights land in Dili.

From Dili to Atauro there are speedboats, a ferry and a small plane that can be chartered when available. Every boat leaves Dili around 7–8 in the morning; there is nothing in the afternoon unless arranged privately.

The speedboat leaves Dili at 7:30 daily and returns either at 10:00 or at 15:00. It depends on the weather and costs US$70 per person one way.

The ferries run to a timetable: Laju Laju on Thursdays, Nakroma on Saturdays — out of Dili at 7:30 and back at 15:00 the same day, US$5 one way. The schedule changes, so it is checked with the resort.

Local fishing boats also make the crossing at US$5–10 per person one way.

The resort helps arrange the trip.