drift

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Whale Shark Alley

Whale Shark Alley, off Atauro, isn’t just a name. It’s a promise, often delivered. We’re talking about a serious channel here, dropping sharply from ten metres down to forty, a deep blue highway for the big fellas. During migration season, typically around October to December, the chances of a whale shark encounter spike dramatically. It's not guaranteed, nothing in diving ever is, but we’ve seen them cruise through with mouths agape, filters working overtime. This site suits advanced divers. The current can be fierce, sweeping you along, so good buoyancy and comfort in drift conditions are essential. Even without a whale shark, the sheer volume of fish here is impressive. Schools of beautiful fusiliers shimmer so thick they momentarily block the light, a silver curtain parting to reveal parrotfish and surgeonfish going about their business. Look closely in the nooks and crannies of the channel walls for smaller residents like Diana's Hogfish or the vibrant Sunburst Butterflyfish. We always find ourselves staring into the blue here, a sense of anticipation hanging in the water. It’s a proper deep channel dive, and when the sharks show up, it's pure magic.