Diving Komodo National Park

Indonesia's Komodo region is best known for its namesake dragons. A chance to see the world's largest lizards is certainly an incentive to visit, but for divers, the real rewards lie in the surrounding waters of the Komodo National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site protects 600-plus square miles of islands, ocean and coral reefs that sit in what marine biologists consider a “sweet spot” for marine biodiversity. Here, waters from the Indian and Pacific Oceans ebb and flow to nurture profuse hard and soft coral growth and sustain extensive marine life populations.

Komodo offers a wide range of diving adventures that includes everything from high-voltage drifts and big animal encounters to walls, shallow reefs and muck dives in sheltered bays. The best way to discover Komodo is aboard a dive liveaboard. Several top-rated boats operate in park waters year-round or on a seasonal basis, But not all itineraries will deliver the same experiences, as there are some distinct differences between the northern and southern areas of the park.

Komodo liveaboard cruises start from the fishing village of Labuan Bajo, which is located on Flores Island just east of the park boundary. It's a short distance from there to the waters of the Lintah Strait, where a group of small islands and pinnacles are washed by tidal currents. The proximity of dive sites in this area allows divers to pack a diversity of underwater experiences into a five-day or one-week itinerary.

One of the most famous dives in this area is at Batu Bolong, a rock pyramid that combines impressive coral growth with large populations of reef and white-tip sharks, turtles and Napoleon wrasses. This site is sometimes called “Fish Soup” in reference to the massive schools of trevally, tuna, and barracuda that swirl around the formation. Another top-rated nearby dive is Tatawa Kecil, which mixes hard coral formations with rock ridges and ledges punctuated by swim-throughs, canyons and small caves. In addition to frequent sightings of sharks and a good chance of manta ray encounters, this site is sometimes visited by dugongs.

Other sites in the Lintah Strait offer a respite from currents. Siaba Besar Island provides sheltered coral reefs and an abundance of hawksbill and green sea turtles. Nearby, the sloping reefs and sandy plains of Sebayur Kecil reward macro enthusiasts with nudibranchs, frogfish, pipefish and pygmy seahorses. The sloping reef at the northwest corner of Tatawa Island is covered in bright orange and red soft corals and some of the region's healthiest stands of hard corals.

Underwater action peaks as divers move farther afield to the northwest corner of the park. At The Cauldron divers are nudged through a colorful coral slope then swept into a submerged crater by the accelerating flow. After a roller coaster-like swim the adventure ends with an exit of the Cauldron into another relaxing coral garden known as the China Shop. Exciting drifts also await at current-washed pinnacles such as Crystal Rock and Castle Rock, where divers may be joined by manta rays, hammerhead sharks and dolphins.

While liveaboards visit northern sites year-round, the months from March to October are the most popular times to enjoy the best sea and water conditions. Water clarity is usually best from July through September.

The waters between the park's two main islands – Komodo and Padar – are often visited by boats on northern itineraries as well as liveaboards transiting to sites in the south. This region offers favorable conditions year-round, with sites suitable for divers of all interests and skill levels. This is also where some liveaboards add shore leave to hike and view the park's famous lizards.

Three favorite dives in this region are clustered around Padar Island, which is known for it's sweeping bays and a mix of white, pink and black sand beaches. Just off the island's shore, an encircling rock formation holds the Secret Garden. This calm-water venue is a favorite with new divers and is equally rewarding for experienced critter hunters and photographers. The site includes both shallow coral reefs and sandy slopes rich in photogenic finds such as mantis shrimp, ribbon eels, dragonets, blue-ringed octopus and nudibranchs.

The Three Sisters are a trio of submerged pinnacles that rise to within 15 to 30 feet of the surface to attract white and black tip reef sharks, mobula and eagle rays and shoals of trevally, great barracuda and blue surgeon fish. With mild to no current to contend with, divers have ample time to seek out cryptic reef dwellers among the nooks and crannies of the pinnacles' faces.

South of Padar Island the area known as Pillerstein delivers some of Komodo's most dramatic underwater topographies, including big walls, protruding rock outcroppings, caves, chimneys and maze-like swim-throughs. The site's proximity to the open waters of the Indian Ocean increases the chances of pelagic sightings. At the same time, macro enthusiasts can search groves of whip coral and sea fans to find delicate spider crabs, elusive hawkfish and diminutive pygmy seahorses.

The southern waters of Komodo combine dramatic underwater landscapes with calm, current-free sites rich in macro life. Trips into this region usually require a seven-plus day liveaboard itinerary, and 10-day trips provide more time to take in the full scope of the region.

The most famous stop on these routes is at the southern tip of Komodo Island. The cleaning stations at Manta Alley and Manta Point are the best places in the park to meet manta rays on a consistent basis. During peak season between October and March, as many as 50 rays have need recorded on these sites. The cleaning stations are located in relatively shallow water, giving divers plenty of time to observe the goings on as small shrimp and fish remove parasites from the waiting rays.

After meeting the mantas, liveaboards may head to the eastern shores of Rinca Island. A can't-miss dive in this area is the Yellow Wall. The site takes its name from the profuse colonies of yellow sea cucumbers and sea stars that cover the face of the wall. Because the vertical face begins at a depth of 15 feet, it is ideal for multi-level profiles with extended safety stops among the profuse marine life found in the shallows.

Southern routes also take in Komodo's best macro and muck diving activities in the waters of Horseshoe Bay. Cannibal Rock is a seamount covered in a profuse population of multi-hued feather stars. These colorful crinoids run the gamut from red, yellow and green to stark white. The site also boasts an abundance of rose-tinted sea apples and large areas of hard corals that hold a treasure trove of macro subjects, including leafy scorpionfish, Coleman shrimp, rare nudibranchs, giant frogfish and diminutive decorator crabs. Nearby Torpedo Alley is Komodo's most acclaimed night dive. After dark, the site's black sand slopes come alive as dive lights reveal prowling octopus, scuttling crustaceans, undulating eels and elusive ghost pipefish.

The most popular season to dive Komodo's southern sites is between November and January.  The months from June to mid-September are considered less desirable as many sites may be exposed to seasonal southerly winds.

Caradonna Adventures represents a number of Indonesia's premiere liveaboards visiting Komodo National Park. Our agents can recommend schedules and routes that best suit your interests, and can arrange all the details of  travel.