East Nusa Tenggara

East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur, NTT) is the eastern extension of Indonesia's chain of Lesser Sunda Islands, stretching from Flores and Komodo National Park in the west to Timor near the border with Timor-Leste in the east. The province is among the driest and most geologically active in Indonesia — volcanic calderas, crater lakes, and rugged coastlines with limited road infrastructure define the landscape. The tidal environment in NTT is shaped by the multi-directional current systems that flow between the Flores Sea to the north, the Savu Sea to the south, and the Banda Sea to the east. The channels around Komodo National Park — particularly the Linta Strait (between Sumbawa and Komodo) and the Molo Strait (between Komodo and Flores) — produce some of the most powerful tidal currents in Southeast Asia, reaching 4 to 8 knots at spring ebb. These currents make Komodo a world-class drift diving destination and a significant navigational challenge for small vessels. Spring tidal range at Labuan Bajo, the main gateway town on western Flores, is approximately 2.5 m. The south coast of Flores, facing the Savu Sea and exposed to the Indian Ocean swell arc, has a larger tidal range — approaching 3.0 m — and more pronounced south-facing exposure. The wet season (November through April) brings northwest to west winds and occasional heavy swell to the north coast; the dry season (May through October) brings the southeast trade wind, which reduces wave exposure on the northern coast. BIG (Badan Informasi Geospasial) publishes the authoritative Indonesian tide tables and nautical charts used by vessels operating in NTT waters.