Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste: Pristine Reefs, White Sandy Beaches & Ancient Caves

Huge red gorgonian sea fan at the Dili Rock West dive site in Timor-Leste. Photo by Pierre Constant.

The Southeast Asian nation of Timor-Leste, known in the local Tetum language as Timór Lorosa’e (“where the sun rises”), comprises the eastern part of the island of Timor. Pierre Constant tells of his journey to explore its beautiful reefs and mysterious caves.

Timor-Leste: Off the Beaten Path

Pikachu nudibranch, Timor-Leste. Photo by Brandi Mueller.

Admittedly, I knew almost nothing about Timor-Leste until I started seeing a lot of great images of the diving there on Instagram. I became curious and started following a local dive operator’s Instagram feed, watching them post daily photos of cuttlefish, nudibranchs, peacock mantis shrimp and beautiful reefscapes. Where was this place and how did I not know about it?

Timor-Leste: Land of the Sleeping Crocodile

The juvenile salt-water crocodile was near to death when the small boy found it stranded in a swamp far from the sea. Although greatly afraid, the boy decided to try and save the crocodile and eventually managed to get it back to the sea where it quickly recovered. The two became best friends and went on to travel the world together, with the boy riding on the back of the crocodile as it swam across the seas.