Scuba diving in Komodo national park
The Komodo National Park was established in 1980 with the primary goal of safeguarding the Komodo Dragon. The Reef Triangle contains some of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems, and the Komodo Islands are part of it. UNESCO has designated the park as a World Heritage Site and a Reserve of Man and the Biosphere. About 4,000 residents live in the park district and are divided into four permanent communities. The population around the Komodo park has been steadily growing Since the turn of the last century.
Komodo Park is home to a diverse range of land and aquatic life, including endangered species found nowhere else on the planet. The park’s challenge is to protect the park’s flora and fauna from all of the threats they face. They have to deal with hunters in Komodo who use offensive tactics like dynamite, which totally ruins the seabed. The islands have a lot of trash, and the water, particularly during the rainy season, is full of garbage. Komodo Island is home to a diverse range of wildlife; From the Komodo Dragon to the Timor deer, stingrays, whales, dolphins, and turtles.
Diving in Komodo
Komodo Park provides world-class diving with diverse sites, coral reefs, pinnacles, cliffs, caves, and tranquil bays. It’s perfect for macro photographers who are constantly on the lookout for unusual creatures.
There are over 1,000 different fish species, 260 different coral species, 70 different sponge forms, and many red tubipora corals. The island is home to a diverse range of species. The coasts of Komodo are frequented by reef sharks, dugongs, sea turtles, and dolphins; you can see whales with their calves at some times of the year.
The best diving spots in the komodo park
Komodo has it all: pelagic and macro diving, as well as vivid and safe coral reefs. The winds are powerful and erratic, with eddies of cool water rising to the surface and lowering the temperature to 23 degrees Celsius. To do a safe dive without taking chances, you must have a thorough understanding of the island’s currents and waves.
Spots suitable for scuba beginners
Manta Point
Manta Point is a kind of ocean corridor through which manta rays travel to feed. They are perfect scuba diving spots. The boat scans the towels’ surface while snorkelers and scuba divers jump into the water to take on the environment. Diving takes place in a sandy field with no other motivation but to see the manta rays.
Mini wall
You can find the Mini Wall next to Sebayur Kecil. The entry point is the same, but the dive spot is to the left. Around twenty different reef fish species can be found on this plateau. De Beaufort’s flatheads are often found in the sand slides. It’s a fantastic location for some scuba diving activity since it allows you insight into the seabed topography.
Sebayur Kecil
This is an excellent dive spot near Labuan Bajo, it’s in the northwest corner of Sebayur Kecil. A small coral spreads northwestward and extends to greater depths. Sea creatures like the silvertip sharks, orange roughies, and pink salmons can all be seen here in large groups. The ocean current in this location can be very high too, so you’ll need to play safe when diving.
Batu bolong
The northern Komodo’s strong tides lure colossal numbers of fish. Scuba Dive takes place here among colonies of tens of thousands of fishes, including mackerel, tuna, rainbow runners, sweetlips, and other species.
Penggah
Here you will experience a peaceful dive with little water current. The penggah contains beautiful coral and lots of marine life. You’ll notice the coral that covered the whole wall on your first dive in Komodo. But you could experience much cold, Because the temperature clocks at 24 degrees. It’s safer to wear a thicker wetsuit while scuba diving here.
Sabolan
Both Sabolan Kecil and Sabolan Besar have exciting diving opportunities. Huge clusters of coral fish, sea turtles, cuttlefish, and giant gorgonians can all be seen in abundance on the two islands. Inexperienced scuba divers will enjoy this spot because of the low current.
Dive spots for advanced scuba divers
Crystal rock
This is a colorful komodo scuba diving spot. The site’s name is derived from the water’s remarkable clarity. Regular sightings of toadfish and scorpionfish are common here. Tuna and mackerel shoals can be encountered at some times of the year. At low tide, this dive site is a pinnacle that is uncovered. The water currents, like Castle Rock, can be extremely strong. Divers will enjoy some very colorful scuba diving here.
Castle rock
Castle Rock is a massive underwater structure in the sea center. Many pinnacles, ranging in depth from 20 to 24 meters, are just 4 meters below the water’s surface. The visibility is exceptional, and the winds are very high. On the surface, the current is usually much heavier than underwater. Only experienced scuba divers and those used to diving in heavy currents can attempt Castle Rock.
The cauldron
The cauldron is a drift dive between Gili Lawa Laut and Gili Lawa Darat in the channel. Sharks and other coral animals endanger wide colonies of fish, so it’s a perfect place to go if you want to see them. Because of the heavy current, this komodo dive spot is only suitable for experienced scuba divers.
Tengah Kecil
This is a new dive site with a lot of fish colonies and baby sharks. Tengah is best suited to seasoned divers due to the unpredictability of the conditions. About every inch of the coral reef is covered in lush gardens of soft and hard corals. On a good day, even the most seasoned divers would be enthralled by the macro.
Crystal Bommie spot
The seabed of Crystal Bommie is rich in soft corals, and the water is crystal clear. Divers benefit from excellent visibility in the sea. The best time to swim is when the tide is at its lowest point. Hundreds of thousands of anthias and harlequin sweetlips colonies can be found here. Mackerels and Tunas are also regular visitors to this location.
Komodo Best diving seasons and conditions
Diving Season: All year, with the best months being April to November. From January to March is the rainy season. The temperature of the water should be between 19 and 28 degrees Celsius. A 3mm wetsuit should be appropriate for most Komodo dive sites. A 5mm wetsuit is preferred if you get chilled easily. The water temperature across the southern islands of Komodo and Rinca decreases sharply from 24 to 21 degrees Celsius, so a 5mm long wetsuit with a hood and booties is recommended. The visibility ranges from 5 to 30 meters. Depth ranges from 5 to 40 meters.
Currents: They can be very powerful. It is movable undersea conditions. The diving conditions change during the day and are affected by the tides. Intermediate to advanced diving expertise is required here. There are more than 50 dive sites. On a liveaboard dive tour, the recommended duration of stay is 7-11 days.
Diving in Komodo would be exceptional in the right conditions; from June to September, the northern part of the island is well shielded from southeast winds. Alor has very similar features. In April/May and October/November, visibility is good in the north but bad in the south. From December to March, visibility is poor in the north but good in the south. Despite decent weather, the park attracts slightly fewer visitors during the low season months of October to May than during the rest of the year, which is undoubtedly a benefit for those who wish to really experience nature while diving.
Best way to dive in Komodo
Ferry from Komodo or Rinca islands to your dive location
Flores is a remote Indonesian island chain off the coast. Scuba divers and explorers flock to this place. The islands of Komodo, Rinca, and Padar are also open to tourists. The islands are undeveloped and can only be reached by ferry or with a boat rental company’s assistance. The Komodo National Park is a popular snorkeling and diving destination.
Board a lifeboat dive cruise
There are several different types of life-on-board cruises available in Komodo, ranging in price and length. Since the dive spots are still next to the boat, life on board is very realistic. Prices are typically higher, and the vessels are often small and inconvenient to spend many days on.
A dive from Labuan Bajo town
This is a spectacular adventure. Around Labuan Bajo, there is a multitude of dive shops with comparable prices. They do three dives a day, but the operation takes the whole day. The majority of them have a big, spacious boat and depart every day. The groups are small, with no more than four divers per guide, and are arranged according to the divers’ expertise, which is critical for enjoying the dives. Since some centers do not have hotel pick-up, it is safest to stay close by or in hotels that provide free shuttle service.
Diving from the Xpirates dive camp
The Xpirates dive camp is located on Sebayur Island, just on the Komodo National Park coast. It features a small bay with a stunning sunset, several sand rest areas, and a restaurant with panoramic views of the sea. The diving center is based in the same camp and has all of the required facilities for diving in the park.
Prices and other relevant information
You’ll find that the prices of the diving schools in Labuan Bajo are generally the same. A day of three scuba dives costs around IRs 1,650,000 (about 115 dollars); the price covers your onboard feeding and the Komodo national parks’ admission fee.
From Monday to Saturday, you’d pay around 175,000 rupees (about 12.15 dollars)
On Sundays and holidays in Indonesia, you’d pay around 250,000 rupees (approx., 17.30 dollars)
Final thoughts
- Komodo National Park in Indonesia has some of the best diving destinations in the world. Labuan Bajo, on Flores’ island, is the safest place to dive in this nature reserve.
- One of the first dive sites, the Mini wall, is a simple diving area for those who wish to learn how to dive in a 30-meter-deep underwater wall.
- When visiting the Komodo national park for scuba diving, one of the safest things to do is seek guidance from the natives.
- The komodo island is also home to the world’s biggest lizard, the 5-meter-long Komodo dragon. Giant trevally, Napoleon cod, turtles, and barracudas have all been seen on the island.
- The Sebayor Kecil, located in the center of the Komodo National Park, is a perfect scuba diving spot. Sebayor Kecil is situated along a wall surrounded by coral gardens, home to rays, groupers, snappers, barracudas, and turtles. You can see Sharks in abundance at Castle and Crystal Rock.
- Black Beach, Pink Shore, Pink Port, Pink Beach, Tatawa Besar is the best snorkeling spot, with a drift dive through corals and reefs to a maximum depth of 40 meters. Some scuba divers say It’s like diving into an aquarium pool.
- If you are a scuba diver, I recommend a stop in Labuan Bajo when planning a trip to Indonesia. Take a cruise tour in Komodo National Park. And have some scuba diving as well.
