Is the Water Safe to Drink in Labuan Bajo?

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Answer

Drinking Water Safety in Labuan Bajo

Tap water in Labuan Bajo (and throughout Indonesia) is not safe to drink. Always use bottled or filtered water for drinking and brushing teeth.

Source	Safe?	Notes
Tap water	No	Not treated to potable standards; risk of bacteria and parasites
Bottled water (sealed)	Yes	Widely available; check the seal is intact before drinking
Hotel filtered water	Usually yes	Many hotels provide refill stations with filtered water
Ice in restaurants	Usually yes	Reputable restaurants use commercially made ice; avoid ice from unknown sources
Dive boat water	Yes (usually)	Operators provide sealed bottled water or filtered refill stations

Hydration is critical for diving safety — dehydration increases the risk of DCS and reduces physical performance. Tips:

Drink at least 3 litres of water per day when diving in tropical conditions
Bring a reusable water bottle and refill at hotels or dive centres with filtration systems
Avoid excessive alcohol the night before diving — it dehydrates significantly
Electrolyte tablets or sachets help replace minerals lost through sweating