The village (Babi)

Best months: May–Sep

Protected Area

Teluk Maumere

Why dive here

With 163+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue-spotted stingrays, blue whales, seahorses, sperm whales and whale sharks - The village (Babi) offers some of Flores's richest cave diving. Water ranges 28-31°C, warmest May, October, November.

Best timeMay–Sep

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue-Spotted Stingrays, Blue Whales, Seahorses, Sperm Whales and Whale Sharks · 163+ species recorded

Water28-31°C · warmest May, October, November

CharacterCave dive

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Village, off Babi Island, is one of those drift dives we always look forward to. Drop in, and you’re immediately carried along a steep slope, often with a nice push. We’ve had dives here where reef sharks cruise past us from start to finish, a constant presence in the blue. It’s not just the sharks, though; we often see turtles gliding by and big schools of trevally flashing past. The real joy of The Village, for us, is the split personality. While the drift keeps you moving over the corals, the shallow end is a macro playground. We’re always picking out tiny blennies tucked into crevices and spotting Hoeven’s wrasse darting between the branches. We’d suggest you save some air and take your time finning around the coral rocks at the end of the dive. That’s where the Black-banded Gobies and Ambon Pullers hide out. It’s a great site for divers who love the thrill of a drift but also appreciate slowing down for the small stuff. Maximum depth here is a comfortable 16 meters, so there’s plenty of bottom time to enjoy it all.