Dili · Timor-Leste · Reef · Sand slope
Dili Rock East
A bommie at 16 to 25 m ringed by snappers, trevallies and batfish.
Photo: Andrepiazza · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dili Rock East is one of the most accessible and popular shore dives near Dili: a sloping ridge beside a sandy bottom on the east side of the Dili Rock headland. It is very sheltered from current, the sand suits classes, and a bommie between 16 and 25 m gathers schools of snappers, hunting trevallies, batfish and lionfish.
Also known as DRE.
Where it is and how deep
8.5561° S, 125.4986° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
From the signboard divers head straight out to the north-east, keeping clear of the rocks closer to the headland. Heading west, they reach the coral slope at the base of the rock: a sloping ridge bordering a sandy bottom that runs down to 30 m. The coral is less vivid than at other sites, often under a light layer of silt, so visibility can be hit and miss.
Near the start of the coral a large bommie between 16 and 25 m is surrounded by schools of snappers, hunting trevallies, several batfish and big lionfish. The route then turns north-north-west and follows the coral down and around the headland to a turnaround point, or carries on to Dili Rock West. On the way back, a coral garden between 2 and 5 m on the southern end of the slope leads east to the exit, and octopus and cuttlefish are often found in these shallows.
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair |
Season follows Dili: The dry season runs from May to October and the rainy season from November to April; mid-September to November is the high season, when trip prices carry a surcharge.
Know before you go
- Silt on the coral means visibility can be hit and miss.
- The beach is public and thieves target the area.
Photos from Dili Rock East
Andrepiazza · CC BY-SA 3.0
Andrepiazza · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dive videos
Dili Rock East - Dili, East Timor · Wolfgang Nagele on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is Dili Rock East?+
The site runs from 2 m in the shallows to 40 m; the sandy bottom beside the ridge reaches 30 m and the bommie sits between 16 and 25 m.
Does Dili Rock East have current?+
Very little: the site is very sheltered from current, and dive shops use its sandy bottom for classes.
Sources
- Diving in Timor-Leste — Wikivoyage
- Local Dive Sites Near Dili – Dili Rock East — Dive Timor Lorosae
Photo credits
- Dense school of yellow-striped snapper swimming over a green reef slope by Andrepiazza, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Loose school of silvery snapper in blue water above a reef with a dark sea fan by Andrepiazza, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Banded coral shrimp with red and white stripes and long white antennae on a reef by Andrepiazza, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
More dive sites in Dili
A field of garden eels on the sand at the end of a shallow wall dive.
Reef
A coral slope below the Jesus statue with a resident turtle.
Coral to 15 m, then sand with barrel sponges, fans and whip corals.
A coral wall a few metres off a shaded beach, with grass beds that sometimes draw dugongs.
Sponge-covered pylons with schooling sweetlips, barracuda and batfish in the shade.
Seahorses, spider crabs and coconut octopus on a sandy slope close to Dili.
Similar dives elsewhere
Five hefty giant clams lying in a row on the sand
Panglao's critter slope, five minutes off Alona Beach
A shallow coral bowl between two soft-coral mini walls
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Blue-spotted stingrays on the sand below the jetty slope