The Cathedral
The Cathedral (Motolang) lies on the Alor coast south-east of Pura, below a steep rock face. Underwater, huge jumbled boulders give way to a wall densely covered with hard and soft corals and sponges, and a swim-through with a cave sits at about 25–30 m, where a tawny nurse shark has been found resting. Pygmy seahorses, blue-ringed octopus and frogfish are among the smaller finds, and as a southern site it can be cold with strong thermoclines.
Facts
- Region: Alor
- Area: Alor South-West
- Depth: 30 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: moderate
- Type: wall, cave
- Coordinates: -8.3538, 124.3714
- Highlights: jumbled boulders and steep wall, swim-through at 25–30 m, tawny nurse shark, pygmy seahorse, blue-ringed octopus, frogfish, hard and soft coral, sponges, cold thermoclines
- Tips: Wear at least a 5 mm suit; the swim-through is deep, so plan it early in the dive.