Scuba diving in Komodo is on most divers’ bucket lists, and for good motive. This biodiversity hotspot hosts an abundance of gorgeous coral, reef fish, and a excessive probability of encountering gorgeous manta rays.
Komodo has been a agency favorite for our Ladies that Scuba Journeys, so we’ve positively realized a factor or two about diving in Komodo Nationwide Park. Right here’s the whole lot you want to know to plan the ULTIMATE Komodo scuba journey!
Komodo – The Fundamentals
Komodo is positioned in Indonesia, roughly 520km to the east of ever-popular Bali. You’ll discover the unimaginable diving of Komodo Nationwide Park tucked between the bigger islands of Flores and Sumbawa.
Labuan Bajo, positioned on Flores island, is the gateway to diving Komodo. This small city has change into a thriving vacationer hub and is extremely properly related. Home flights arrive commonly from Bali, Jakarta, and lots of different Indonesian locations.
There are numerous land-based dive operators based mostly in Labuan Bajo and the encircling space providing day-boat journeys to the favored dive websites. Nonetheless, to actually see the very best that Komodo has to supply, you’ll need to hop onto a liveaboard. We’ll dig into the group’s favorite land-based and liveaboard operators later!
What can I see diving in Komodo?
Diving in Komodo Nationwide Park affords up among the greatest underwater sights on this planet. As a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, it’s an excellent space of pure magnificence, and far of the marine setting is protected by the Nationwide Park’s boundaries. This makes it a haven for marine wildlife, with an enormous biodiversity of reef-building corals, invertebrates, marine mammals, fish species, and extra!
Anticipate to see gorgeous constructions of wholesome coral, turtles, reef sharks, pelagic fish, and an abundance of reef fish. There’s a great probability you’ll discover napoleon wrasse and groupers that are virtually as massive as you! Manta rays are sometimes encountered when diving in Komodo, with various websites performing as cleansing or feeding stations. When you’re fortunate, you might also come throughout dolphins.
In addition to stunning reefscapes and megafauna, Komodo is a haven for macro-lovers, too. Be looking out for smaller critters such because the elusive flamboyant cuttlefish, pygmy seahorse, Coleman’s shrimp, mandarin fish (head out for a sundown dive to identify these), zebra crabs, blue ringed octopus, frogfish, ornate ghost pipefish, and lots of extra.
Native guides are sometimes wizards at recognizing these tiny wildlife wonders, so in the event you’re into macro, be sure that to let your divemaster know! Moreover, many of those macro critters will solely be discovered on evening dives, so evening diving in Komodo is to not be missed.
What are the circumstances like?
Diving in Komodo affords unimaginable circumstances all through many of the 12 months. Visibility is usually 15-30m (49-98ft), however this will range relying on the season. November-April is the wet season, which can doubtless imply decrease visibility. Nonetheless, the increase of vitamins within the water means chances are you’ll be extra more likely to see manta rays and different pelagics.
Between Might-October, the dry season brings higher visibility. You’ll have a wider alternative of liveaboards throughout this time, too. It’s the low season in Raja Ampat and lots of boats return to Komodo throughout this time. From June-August, nevertheless, Komodo Nationwide Park receives essentially the most vacationers (each divers and non-divers). When you favor quieter dive websites and land excursions, you would possibly need to keep away from these peak months.
Water temperatures in Komodo vary from 24–29°C (75–84°F) relying on the location and season. You’ll discover cooler water and thermoclines within the south and in deeper areas.
Depths range from website to website, however a lot of Komodo’s greatest dive websites have deeper areas which you wouldn’t need to miss. Because of this, we suggest at the very least Superior Open Water certification to benefit from diving in Komodo. For our Ladies that Scuba Journeys, we suggest company have a minimal of fifty dives, and that is typically the case for liveaboards within the space too.
What about these currents in Komodo?
If there’s one phrase you’ve most likely heard related to diving in Komodo, it’s present. For thrill-seeking divers which will conjure up pleasure, however others could also be extra hesitant. In our expertise, currents typically convey alongside the enjoyable creatures and make for some extremely memorable dives.
When you don’t fancy the full-throttle expertise that Komodo’s currents can generally convey, attempt planning across the moon cycles. Currents are stronger round full and new moon, so timing your journey between these phases can supply extra light dives. And naturally, in the event you’re that thrill-seeking diver we talked about earlier, the alternative suggestion applies!
Want some recommendation on coping with currents? Listed here are a number of quick-tips, and we additionally suggest testing our full information:
- Pay shut consideration to briefings. Some Komodo dive websites must be dived in a selected technique to keep protected within the currents.
- Comply with guides intently underwater. They know the circumstances and websites, and people circumstances can change in a short time. You’ll need to be shut sufficient to see their alerts if the dive plan wants to vary.
- Carry a DSMB. Dive operators will typically implement this as a rule. When you get carried away on the floor, you’ll need to be seen from far-off, and a DSMB will assist massively. Our Ladies that Scuba DSMB is extremely seen.
- Contemplate a PLB. If that DSMB isn’t sufficient to get you present in a sticky scenario, a PLB or different location machine could possibly be life-saving.
- Respect the necessities. We already talked about minimal certification necessities and logged dive necessities, nevertheless it’s value repeating right here. The necessities are there to your security and to your enjoyment. You won’t take pleasure in Komodo the best way it’s best to in the event you’re fighting buoyancy whenever you’ve solely obtained 20 dives beneath your belt.
That are the very best dive websites in Komodo Nationwide Park?
There are such a lot of unimaginable dive websites to select from, it’s onerous to say that are actually the very best dive websites in Komodo. Hold a watch out for these highlights in your itineraries:
Batu Bolong
The wild currents hanging this tiny rock within the ocean usher in an unbelievable wealth of marine life. Zig-zagging up the protected aspect of a plummeting wall, you’ll be spoilt for alternative deciding whether or not to look at pelagics showing from the blue, or the myriad of critters and fish on the wall. The shallows at Batu Bolong are actually like a scene from an aquarium – it’s typically aptly nicknamed “fish soup”.
Fortress Rock
One in every of Komodo’s most well-known dive spots – and rightly so, it’s like a fish and coral explosion down there!
Pinnacles rise from a shelf 20-24m (65-79ft) deep and attain virtually to the floor, providing an unforgettable view. This additionally provides the location its Fortress title. Whitetip and blacktip reef sharks patrol the realm, and through the suitable season, you might also be visited by eagle and manta rays.
Crystal Rock
When you’re a present lover, diving within the break up at Crystal Rock won’t disappoint. Discover a spot, settle in (as greatest you’ll be able to when the present is pumping), and watch the sharks, trevallies, tuna, and jacks seem. In calmer circumstances, you’ll be able to keep across the protected aspect of the location. Right here, you’ll take pleasure in being surrounded by sweetlips, snappers, and surgeonfish.
Manta Alley
You’ll see plenty of mentions of Manta Level within the central space of the park, and rightly so. Nonetheless, in the event you’d favor the prospect of a quieter encounter with much less dive boats, we suggest Manta Alley within the south. With each feeding and cleansing stations in shut proximity, there’s a excessive probability of manta magic being made. When there’s a little bit of present you’ve gotten the prospect of seeing as much as 30-40 mantas without delay! Being within the south of the park the temperature generally is a little colder (25-27ºC/77-81ºF), so chances are you’ll need to pack your 5mm wetsuit.
Cauldron (Shotgun)
That is one other one for the adrenaline junkies. The famed “Shotgun” is a part of Cauldron dive website. If the present is robust, you’ll fly alongside the location on an exhilarating experience and be shotgunned out into the cauldron space. After the experience of your life, the present typically settles down into a mild drift throughout a gorgeous coral backyard with an abundance of anthias and glassfish.
Ought to I dive Komodo from a liveaboard or land based mostly resort?
So, must you expertise diving in Komodo from land, or from a liveaboard? We’re enormous advocates of liveaboard diving, and we at all times go for liveaboards for our Ladies that Scuba Journeys to Komodo!
Liveaboards
A liveaboard is actually one of the simplest ways to see a bigger space of the marine park and to maximise your dive time. When you’re on a price range or brief on time, there are 3-day liveaboard routes which head to the standout websites of the park. To see the true range of what Komodo has to supply, although, we’d suggest a 7 and even 10-day itinerary.
When you’re on the lookout for one thing actually distinctive, hunt down itineraries which begin in Labuan Bajo and finish in Bima. You’ll hit some macro-diving hotspots, together with the muck wonders to be discovered diving across the lively volcanoes of Sangeang Island.
One in every of our favorite liveaboards is the gorgeous Amira. Like many Indonesian liveaboards, the boat is a gorgeous conventional Phinisi. We’ve skilled glorious service from heat and attentive crew, luxurious touches, and naturally, unimaginable diving.
One other luxurious favorite liveaboard in Komodo is the Scubaspa Zen. Very like their boats within the Maldives, the Scubaspa combines unimaginable diving with excellent amenities on board. With an on board spa, company can select from dive solely, dive & spa, or spa-only packages, making this the perfect expertise to share with a non-diving journey accomplice.
Looking for a extra budget-friendly liveaboard in Komodo? The Ladies that Scuba group extremely suggest Mimic from Wunderpus liveaboards. You’ll expertise the identical world-class diving, simply from a stripped-back setting – you’ll even be sleeping on deck! With a most of 6 company, you’ll you’ll want to have attentive service and personalised diving. Their extra luxurious boat, Wunderpus, can also be properly regarded.
Land-Based mostly
When you’d favor to discover Komodo Nationwide Park from land, Scuba Junkie Komodo Seaside Resort is massively fashionable with the Ladies that Scuba group. The attractive seaside setting is an hour’s boat experience from Labuan Bajo, and the situation provides their speedboats a head begin on attending to the favored websites earlier than lots of the different day-boat operators. Scuba Junkie’s liveaboard, KLM Eliya, additionally comes extremely really useful.
On the lookout for someplace to spend an evening in Labuan Bajo earlier than boarding your boat? We’ve beloved Seaesta Lodge & Hostel. There are non-public rooms or hostel dorms out there, pleasant employees, and a surprising view out to the Nationwide Park. For a extra luxurious keep, our Ladies that Scuba Journeys company have loved resting and enjoyable at AYANA Komodo earlier than the thrills of diving in Komodo.
If you wish to begin or end your journey on an additional particular keep, try the gorgeous over water bungalows of TA’AKTANA Resort & Spa.
Issues to do on land in Komodo
While our favorite wonders are beneath the waves, there are some land excursions you received’t need to miss in Komodo. These could also be in your liveaboard itinerary, or may be simply booked from one of many many vacationer places of work in Labuan Bajo.
Dragon Trekking
What’s a visit to Komodo Nationwide Park with out seeing the well-known Komodo dragons? You may encounter them with a information on both Komodo Island, or from the extra lately renovated customer centre on Rinca.
You’ll hike across the lush greenery whereas looking for these stunning lizards, whose poison may be deadly with one chew. Don’t fear, although. Your information shall be with you always, carrying round a big wood persist with keep off any inquisitive dragons.
Padar Hike
Mountaineering to the highest of the Padar viewpoint affords a surprising vista, with views overlooking pink, white, and black sand seashores. For essentially the most epic view, head up at sundown.
Be warned, although – it may possibly get extraordinarily busy throughout peak season (June-August), with many individuals queueing to succeed in the head.
Bat Watching
Kalong Island is among the solely locations on earth the place you’ll be able to see this pure phenomenon. Hundreds upon hundreds of bats migrate out from the mangroves into the evening sky round 6pm on summer season evenings. This Nationwide Geographic-esque show lasts for round half-hour, and is greatest loved from a liveaboard high deck with a chilly Bintang in hand.
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