Bali to Komodo Trip Report 2026

An Unforgettable Bluewater Group Adventure

By Trip Leader Anne Rucquoi 

There are dive trips that go according to plan, and then there are trips where the best memories come from the things you never expected to happen.

Our August 2026 Bluewater Travel Bali to Komodo group trip was definitely the latter.

Over 11 days together, we travelled from Bali through Lombok, Moyo, Saleh Bay, Sangeang and Banta before reaching the spectacular waters of Komodo National Park. Along the way, we encountered whale sharks, mantas, sharks, eagle rays and an incredible variety of macro life, while also exploring waterfalls, volcanic islands, beaches and some of Indonesia's most dramatic landscapes.

But what made the trip particularly special was the group itself.

Over those 11 days, a group of divers who had never met before became a real little travel family — sharing underwater encounters, helping each other with cameras and equipment, laughing together on deck, dancing with the crew on the beach, and eventually promising to travel together again.

And yes, I may have pushed just a little bit to get whale sharks added to the itinerary. 🤭

Everyone arrived onboard, settled into their cabins, and we started getting to know each other.

One of the first things we worked out was the dive-group organization, and thankfully everyone was happy with their groups from the start. While we were discussing the itinerary with Coco, our cruise director, I asked about the possibility of making an unexpected detour to Saleh Bay to look for whale sharks.

The whale sharks weren't originally part of our itinerary, but local contacts told us they were being seen regularly, so we decided to give the group the opportunity to make it happen.

It was an easy decision. Everyone wanted to go. So, with a little help from Coco and the crew, we added Saleh Bay to our adventure. Sometimes you just have to ask. 😉

After sailing overnight toward Lombok, we made our first dive at Tanjung Lombok — a beautiful little macro site that I affectionately call Seahorse Bay.

It was a great way to start the diving. Lots of small things to find, plenty of time to get comfortable with our dive buddies, and a chance to make sure everyone's equipment was working perfectly.

We then headed to the Gili Islands for Turtle Heaven and the Bounty Wreck.

The decision was made: whale sharks the day after tomorrow. The plan was to arrive in Saleh Bay very early in the morning, hoping to get in the water before the crowds really built up.

After a longer crossing, we arrived at Moyo Island, where we enjoyed two fantastic dives.

The first dive was one of those dives where you don't know where to look first. Beautiful soft corals, colourful reef fish and plenty of pelagic action kept everyone busy. We chased tuna, giant trevally, bluefin trevally and even encountered sharks.

After diving, we headed ashore for an excursion to the spectacular Mata Jitu Waterfall.

It was a lovely change of pace and one of the things that made this itinerary feel like much more than simply a week of diving.

That evening, we went for an exploratory night dive and were rewarded with a rather unusual sighting: a coral catshark. Not a bad result for an exploratory dive!

And finally, the moment we'd been waiting for. We were up very early and headed out for our whale shark dives in Saleh Bay.

The first dive was a huge success. There were other divers and snorkelers around, but everyone in our group had wonderful interactions with the whale sharks. The atmosphere underwater was incredible, and the excitement continued long after everyone was back onboard.

The second dive was a different story. The whale sharks had disappeared. But interestingly, when I asked the group afterwards whether they would make the same choice again, the answer was a resounding yes. That first encounter had been worth the detour.

We continued on to Satonda, where we visited the famous crater lake and enjoyed a little hike.

It also happened to be Indonesian Independence Day, so we gathered on deck with the crew for a group photo, complete with the Indonesian flag.

And then came one of the most magical moments of the trip. As the sun went down, thousands of bats flew over the boat, sometimes passing incredibly close to us. Everyone stood on deck watching in complete awe.

By this point, several guests were already telling me that the trip was exceeding their expectations. And we still had plenty more to come.

The crossing to Sangeang Volcano was a little rough. Let's just say that sleeping on the upper deck during a bumpy crossing provided some unexpected entertainment. But once we arrived, it was time to dive.

The first two dives were beautiful coral dives. Visibility wasn't at its best, but the reefs were still stunning, with huge amounts of coral and plenty to explore.

During one dive, we even noticed bubbles coming up through the sand — a strange and fascinating little reminder of the volcanic environment beneath us.

Later in the day, we moved into macro and muck diving territory.

Some guests absolutely loved searching for tiny critters, while others were definitely more interested in the big-picture reef experience.

As a group trip leader, this is one of the things I love about travelling with a group: figuring out how to make the experience work for everyone. So Coco and I adjusted the following day's diving accordingly. And the next day had something very different in store.

We spent the day around Banta Island, with three dives before heading ashore for a beautiful beach BBQ in honor of my birthday.

This was one of those evenings that had very little to do with diving and everything to do with the people. Guests and crew were laughing, dancing and enjoying dinner together on the beach.

By now, everyone knew each other well, and the atmosphere onboard had completely changed from that first day. We were no longer a group of strangers who happened to book the same liveaboard. We were a group travelling together and there was no other way I would have wanted to spent my birthday day.

We finally reached Komodo National Park, although strong winds meant that conditions were challenging and some itinerary adjustments were necessary.

And this is where being on a good liveaboard really matters. Rather than letting the weather dictate the experience, the crew adapted the plan and found the best possible diving conditions.

Our morning dive at Batu Monco delivered exactly what we had hoped for: Mantas!

One of our guests wasn't diving that day because of an ear issue, but she was still able to enjoy the encounter by snorkelling with the mantas — a great example of how the crew worked to make sure everyone could enjoy the experience.

Then came Batu Bolong. The current was strong, and one group certainly got a little more excitement than they had bargained for!

But Batu Bolong absolutely delivered. The reef was spectacular, and despite the challenging conditions, everyone came out of the water buzzing.

Our eighth day was one of those days where you almost don't want to get out of the water.

We started with a beautiful drift dive at Tatawa Besar, followed by another spectacular manta dive at Mawan. Both sites had strong currents, but the diving was incredible.

At Tatawa Besar, I had an especially memorable encounter with a very social cuttlefish that seemed determined to get to know me personally. Let's just say it got very close. 🤣

Our final dive was at Secret Garden. Visibility wasn't great, but the ocean still had plenty of surprises for us. Some guests encountered a school of eagle rays, while we also found seahorses, harlequin shrimp, hairy shrimp and other wonderful critters hiding in the reef.

And then, after three dives, we climbed Padar Island. The hike was worth every step. Watching the sun set over Komodo's dramatic landscape from the top of Padar was an unforgettable way to end the day.

And while some guests were still enjoying a night dive afterwards, I was beginning to realize just how quickly the trip was going.

Day 9 brought us back to the surface for one of Komodo's most iconic encounters: the Komodo dragons.

We headed to Rinca Island for an excursion, where everyone had the chance to see these incredible prehistoric-looking animals up close.

It was fascinating to learn more about the dragons and their environment, and the whole group really enjoyed the experience.

Then it was back into the water. We started at Tatawa Kecil, where I had one of those encounters that stays with you forever: Dolphins! I've dreamed of seeing dolphins underwater for years, and suddenly there they were.

Swimming with dolphins had always been one of those bucket-list experiences for me, so being able to share that moment with the group was genuinely a dream come true. 🥹

From there, we continued to Siaba Kecil before finishing the diving day with a night dive at Wainilu.

By this point, we'd had such an incredible variety of experiences that it was almost impossible to believe we still had one more full day ahead of us.

Our penultimate day began with Batu Bolong — and, as usual, it delivered.

This iconic Komodo site never seems to disappoint, with its spectacular reef life, colours and action.

For our final dive, we headed to Karang Makassar, where something rather special happened during the safety stop. The different dive groups gradually came together underwater, until we were all floating in the blue as one big group — laughing, waving at each other and enjoying those final moments in the ocean.

It was the perfect way to say goodbye to an incredible 10 days of diving.

But we weren't quite finished yet. That afternoon, we headed to Pantai Bidadari for one final afternoon together.

There was swimming, dancing, singing, plenty of laughter — and, naturally, a very competitive game of Secret Hitler. 😂

Back onboard that evening, we took our final group pictures, spent time with the crew and settled our bills.

And then came the part nobody was really ready for: the goodbyes. After 11 days together, this wasn't just a group of divers heading their separate ways anymore. There were hugs, emotional farewells and promises to meet again on another trip. It was a beautiful — and slightly heartbreaking — end to an unforgettable adventure.

And suddenly, it was time to leave the boat. Everyone headed off toward their next destinations, but not before plenty of hugs, laughter and more than a few emotional goodbyes.

The group had started as a collection of divers who had never met before. Eleven days later, we had become a little travel family. We had shared early mornings, long crossings, strong currents, incredible dives, unexpected encounters, camera tips, meals, sunsets, beach parties, dancing, laughter and — of course — a few adventures along the way. Everyone told us how much they had loved the trip.

We made a promise: We would travel together again.