Timor Leste Land of the Sleeping Crocodile – the tale of the boy and the sleeping crocodile is told often in this country also known as East Timor.
It is used to explain the island’s crocodile-like shape and why the Timorese have a special affinity with the large reptile that is said to inhabit the creeks and pools along much of the south coast of the country.
I did not see any crocodiles on my trip to Timor Leste, but I did see some great dive sites along the north coast of the island.
A quick look at the map will tell you why there just has to be some great diving because just to the north are the remote islands of Alor and Wetar, the most easterly of the chain of islands called the Lesser Sundas, which form the southern boundary of the huge Indonesian archipelago.
Further north still are the deep basins of the Banda Sea, and as the rich Indonesian Throughflow surges its way south it passes through the Ombai Strait between Alor, Wetar and Timor Leste.
Swept by these rich currents, the north coast of Timor Leste is fertile and largely undiscovered scuba diving territory.
There are only two dive operators in the country, both based in the capital Dili, and most diving is focused either on the coastal sites within driving distance or around the island of Atauro.
SportDiving magazine in Australia recently published my article on diving the coastal sites of Timor Leste called Land of the Sleeping Crocodile which you can download on the link provided.
If you are interested in learning more about the Land of the Sleeping Crocodile check out the Complete Guide to Diving Timor Leste and also the Complete Guide to Diving Atauro Island.