Atauro Island reef waters (outside tara bandu no-take zones)

Atauro Island has some of the highest reef-fish diversity in the world and a long tradition of free-dive spearfishing, including the Wawata Topu women spearfishers of Adara. Local operators (e.g. ATKOMA, Barry's Place) offer traditional speargun and big-game fishing. Visitors are asked to fish only outside the community-managed tara bandu conservation zones and to avoid endangered species and small reef fish.

Do not fish inside tara bandu (customary no-take) conservation zones; do not take endangered species or small reef fish; recreational/dive fishing requires a permit (individual or via tourist business) under Decree-Law 6/2004 Art. 75.