We offer day trips visiting dive sites along the coast around 40min to 1.5hr drive from Dili. Prices start from 120 USD. These trips include two shore dives, a dive guide, lunch and refreshments. Trips run for a minimum of two people. (High season Mid Sept-Nov surcharge applies)
Dive Timor Lorosae is the oldest existing dive shop in Timor-Leste and the only PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center (5-Star IDC). Established in 2000, they have operated with a spirit of adventure and exploration. Many of the dive sites in Timor-Leste were discovered, explored, and named by them. Committed to providing exceptional experiences, they continue to seek out new and exciting dive locations to keep divers happy.
However, their priority goes beyond just fun—they emphasize safety and comfort above all. Dive Timor Lorosae has a team of highly qualified professionals and maintains top-quality dive gear, which is regularly serviced by their own certified technicians.
Dive Timor Lorosae (Google Maps)
Enquire for Tour Schedule
As you head further West towards Liquica you come to such dive sites as Bubble Beach, known for its amazing bubble fields and the spectacular dive site The Gravel Pit.
From the start, Dive Timor Lorosae has been dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism as an alternative source of income for the country. They place great importance on educating and training local staff, often taking them scuba diving to help them appreciate the beauty of their own land. Their goal is to make a positive impact on Timor-Leste through diving. They were the first to dive and explore Atauro Island, as well as many of the dive sites along the north coast. Dive Timor Lorosae offers a range of services, including dive trips, dive courses, whale watching, dive insurance, accommodation, and a restaurant.
Local Dive Sites Near Dili:
Seal Rock is a sloping reef with an easy access from the beach on high tide. Lot’s of big barrel sponges and soft corals with a big diversity of reef fish all around. Hawksbill turtles are often passing by, and some huge spiny Lobster are hiding in the shallow area. Because of strong current, it’s better to plan a dive there on slack tide.
Lucky day: Reef sharks, Tuna, Mackerels…
Lens: Wide angle
Depth: 5 – 40
Required skills: Open Water Diver
Snorkeling: yes
Situated right in front of Maubara Church, this dive site is a very smooth slope with a sandy bottom and lot’s of big bommies accessible from the beach any time. A lot of colorful hard and soft corals with fish all around. Nudibranchs, Shrimps and Crabs are hiding along the bottom, and some big pelagic are often cruising around.
Lucky day: Turtle, Tuna, Mackerel…
Lens: Wide angle / Macro
Depth: 5 – 25m
Required skills: Open Water Diver
Snorkeling: yes
Maubra Fort is aptly named as it’s directly in front of the ruins of the old Portuguese Fort at Maubara. This dive site has a sandy bottom with lots of big bommies on an gentle slope, with easy access from the beach any time. The best time to dive it is on slack tide to avoid strong currents. Barracudas are often passing by and some big Spiny Lobster are hiding in the shallows.
Lucky day: Tuna, Spanish Mackerels, Turtles
Lens: Wide angle
Depth: 5 – 40
Required skills: Open Water Diver
Snorkeling: yes
Bubble beach has a sloping sandy bottom with several large bommies, accessible from the beach at any time. The main point of interest is bubbles and warm water coming out of the ground due to some gas pockets underneath.
Huge sponges are a hiding place for lots of Crabs, Shrimps and Nudibranchs. Often spotted on the sand are blue spotted sting rays. An easy dive site for all levels.
Lucky day: Turtles, Whitetip Reef Shark
Lens: Macro
Depth: 5 – 40
Required skills: Discover Scuba diver
Snorkeling: yes
Bubbles at Bubble Beach
Macro at Bubble Beach
Half sandy bottom and half slopping reef, this dive site has an easy access from the beach any time. From Pygmy Pipehorse, Nudibranchs, and Eels in the sand, to massive sea fans with colorful fish on the reef, this place has everything to offer.
Lucky day: Turtle, Tuna, Spanish Mackerels, Seahorse
Lens: Wide angle / Macro
Depth: 5 – 40
Required skills: Open Water Diver
Snorkeling: yes
Outstanding experience with the dive team at Dive Timor Lorosae. Such a highly professional and knowledgeable team that make you feel so welcome and relaxed from the outset. I couldn’t recommend this business more highly. Thank you for an amazing introduction to the coral triangle!!
Great dive center, very professional staff. The installations and equipment are very good.
Instructors are friendly and take safety seriously. Do everything to meet their divers needs.
The location of the dive center is perfect, in the center Dili.
Wow!! Just can’t rate this place enough!! Management and staff are all outstanding!! They are all so professional and passionate with what they do!!
My friends and I went out on their whale watching tour yesterday and were so lucky to find so many sperm whales we didn’t know where to look!! Also had the opportunity to swim with them!! What an experience!! Thank you for a fantastic day!!
This is just one of the great things Dive Timor Lorosae has to offer!!
Dive Timor Lorosae really impressed me with its professionalism. I’ve done previous snorkels in Phuket and Sabah and when Marianne, the British general manager who’s been in Timor Leste for 23 years, asked me to come in the day before to get fitted out, I was surprised. This was the first time an operator made sure I was properly fitted out in a dive short suit, scuba shoes and fins for a snorkeling trip. I really appreciated this focus on doings things properly and safely.
Dive Timor Lorosae has very professional staff as well. My friend and I were assigned Selina as our guide, and we’re so thankful to have Selina taking care of us during our two snorkels off two different spots along the rocky Timorese shores. We’re not super confident in the ocean, but Selina’s chilled, patient and caring personality encouraged us to explore the fantastic anemone garden at the second dive spot (we were tired after the first snorkeling spot and were going to pass on the second snorkeling spot). In the end we were glad we ventured out under the choppy waves because I felt like I was touring an acquarium filled with colourful fishes and anemones. Unforgettable experience.
I highly recommend Dive Timor Lorosae as a well-run, professional and caring outfit for your snorkeling and diving trips in Timor Leste. I’ll love to come back during the whale migration season and take a tour with Marianne and her crew 👍👍.
I did both a snorkelling trip and my whole PADI open-water certification with Dive Timor Lorasae. The whole team was incredible: it was easy to get things booked, get gear fitted and work out a schedule that suited me. Giovanni is a marine biologist who led our snorkel trip, he was so kind and was able to answer all (literally so many!) of our questions with ease, plus point out interesting creatures and facts about life on the reef. Selina was my sucuba instructor for the pool session and my 4 open water dives, in different beautiful locations. She was an incredible instructor, patient, easy to understand, knowledgeable, and so kind. She made scuba diving feel safe and fun, and be an altogether unforgettable experience. East Timor has some amazing reefs and beaches, pristine and with some of the most biodiversity waters in the world – most times we were the only divers there. Delicious lunch (they even made me a vegan option) was served on the days when we went to two different beautiful locations (a couple of hours drive away from Dili) with their van! So happy I got my certificate here, and thank you so much to Selina and the rest of the team for making it possible and such a great experience!
