Bubu fish traps

Bamboo fish traps of Alor.

The bubu fish traps, woven of bamboo and rattan, are set in the corals in waters around 5 meters deep.

The fishermen do not use lines and buoys but just remember where they dropped them in and swim down to retrieve them after 3 days.

A small door in the side of the trap is opened and the fish pulled out.

It is an effective method for catching dinner in these islands around Alor.

A lot of water is squeezing between these islands so a stiff current is always encountered when the tides are changing especially during a full moon.

A few dive shops operate in this area but arrangements have to be made in advance.

It is quite a bit more expensive than the dive ghettos of Thailand or the Philippines where there is a huge clientele coming and going every week therefore bringing down the costs.

In the waters around Alor it takes a bit of work and planning.

The volume principle simply does not apply.

There are very few tourists or divers so it would not pay to keep a shop open all the time.

To just drop in and expect to dive would not be a good idea because there might not be anyone there to take you out.

If you are experienced and have your own gear and a portable compressor it would be possible to charter a local boat and go out for as many days or weeks as you liked.