6 reasons to visit East Timor

Diving, whale-watching, trekking, biking, great scenery, stunning mountain driving and beautiful white-sand beaches. East Timor is one of the world's unsung tourism destinations.

Tourist numbers are low compared with other places in the region, with visitors perhaps put off by the country's politically unsettled and impoverished image; which contributes to a dearth of flights into Dili, the capital; which in turn drives prices up and inhibits visitor numbers; which in turn keeps flight prices high; which in turn ... you get the idea.

But slowly, visitors are recognizing the appeal of East Timor.

So, if you want to try something new yet still enjoy the conventional sun, sea and sand with an adventurous twist, Asia's "newest nation" -- it gained independence in May 2002 -- is worth a look
.

1. Spectacular diving

"Oh, Timor dumps all over Thailand for diving," says Greg Duncan, dive instructor and boat skipper at Dive Timor Lorosae. He should know, after previously working for two years on Ko Tao, a diving hub in southern Thailand.

"A lot of places in the region -- off Australia, Malaysia -- are over-dived," he says. "Not here."

On a sunny Sunday morning I join Greg and a group of seven divers on a boat trip to a new site not far from Dili. "These guys are almost certainly the first people ever to dive down there," claims Duncan.

During a 40-minute dive the group sees small sharks, tuna, turtles, mackerel and barracuda -- all along a submerged ridge running off the coast near Tibar.

Another good dive spot is Atauro Island, 20 kilometers by boat from Dili harbor. En route you might see schools of dolphins fishing in the water or racing alongside the water-taxi, while in October and November humpbacks and sometimes sperm whales surface off the coast.

There are more places to dive, however, both east and west of Dili, with untouched coral reefs to explore.

2. Beaches you can call your own

The jewel in the country's crown is Jaco Island, the easternmost point in East Timor, a six-hour drive from Dili through green hills and winding, elevated coastal roads overlooking steep drops to the blue water below.

There are plenty of white-sand beaches close to the capital too, notably Areia Branca (Portuguese for "white sands") and Dollar Beach. These beaches can get crowded at weekends, but there are many other pristine beaches east and west of Dili that are usually empty.

You need to bring supplies if visiting a quieter beach, but if you are not feeling so Alexander Selkirk, Areia Branca has plenty of bars and restaurants near the water, so you can dine on fresh fish washed down with a beer or fresh coconut, after a swim or a cycle.

The south coast is risky, however, with an abundance of large saltwater crocodiles meaning that the good surf there should be avoided.