Diving in Komodo - Bluewater Dive Travel

Komodo

4.5625
(8 REVIEWS)
Komodo Diving
Manta Ray
Komodo Dragon
Komodo Island Diving

scuba diving in Komodo, Indonesia

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Komodo diving highlights

The Komodo diving scene is world-renowned for its thrilling drift dives, huge schools of fish, healthy and colorful coral reefs, and great manta ray encounters. Some of the things that make Komodo a popular diving destination is its easy access from Bali, the ever-popular tourist hotspot for scuba divers and non-divers alike.  

 

Intro to Komodo National Park diving

Bordered by the Sulawesi and Flores Seas on the north side and the Indian Ocean to the south, Komodo National Park is a marine protected area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of three major islands: Komodo Island, Rinca, and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands many of which offer world-class diving.

Komodo National Park is also home to the endemic Komodo dragon, the world's largest and heaviest dinosaur-like lizard, which can reach up to 10-foot (3-meter) long and can weigh more than 300 lbs (136 kg).

As a scuba diving destination, Komodo offers two distinct dive areas: North Komodo and South Komodo. Even though they are close to one another geographically, these areas are often worlds apart in terms of conditions.

View Location on Google Map or learn the differences between North & South Komodo

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komodo Diving Information 

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In the north of Komodo, the water is generally warm and sparkling blue, as you might expect in such tropical latitudes. In the south, however, upwelling currents deliver chilly, nutrient-rich waters from great depths, creating perfect conditions for plankton growth. Visibility often isn’t great, but most divers agree that the trade-off is well worthwhile, as this living planktonic “soup” supports an incredibly diverse and healthy marine life community.

Despite considerable differences in temperature and visibility, underwater terrain is quite similar between north and south Komodo. Komodo diving typically consisting of drop-offs, pinnacles, fringing reefs, and shallow coral gardens. The destination also attracts many divers eager to see a Komodo Dragon, the world's largest lizard in the wild. This unique carnivore is found nowhere else in the world. Divers returning from Komodo generally have stories of mantas, lots of schooling fish, reef sharks, turtles, a cornucopia of macro subjects and some "brisk" currents. Because of the currents, diving in Komodo is generally not suitable for beginners.  

Read about other great dive locations in Indonesia.

For dive destinations with similar diving to South Komodo, read our guide to diving Derawan Islands or check out our Sipadan dive guide.

Komodo Marine Life & Photography Subjects

  • BIG ANIMALS
  • Komodo Island is among the top sites in the world for diving with manta rays.  Most trips will include manta ray sightings at one or more sites. Pelagics such as dogtooth tuna, giant trevally, barracudas are often seen. Napolean wrasse and bumphead parrotfish sightings are also possible. You may see a few reef sharks, but they are not especially common. Turtles are encountered at many sites.
  • SMALL CRITTERS
  • Frogfish, stargazers, spiny devilfish, leaf scorpionfish, ghost pipefish, cuttlefish, bobtail squid, garden eels, bobbit worms, and pygmy seahorses are all commonly seen. Unique critters like the "Ladybugs" are also found in Komodo.

 

Diving Conditions

Water Temperatures: Water temperatures are usually moderate, but can range from 66f / 19C to 86f / 30C on the same trip. The temperature changes more based on location, than on time of the year. The north side is always warm, but the south side is often colder. South Komodo tends to be warmest and clearest from Nov- Jan.

  • Visibility: averages 15 - 40m (49 - 131 feet)
  • Depth Range: 3 - 40m (10 - 131 feet)

 

Typical Komodo Dive

You are typically dropped off by a tender over the dive site and may need to do a negative entry if over a submerged pinnacle. The tender will do a live pickup when you surface, and an SMB (safety sausage) is absolutely mandatory. Some divers will use reef hooks, on the pinnacle dives so you can stay put and enjoy the view. Downcurrents are possible, especially on steep drop-offs, but they can usually be avoided with proper planning.

Komodo has a well-deserved reputation for strong currents, but there are many sites where the flow is minimal and diving is easy. Some reefs are also suitable for drift dives, allowing you to sail along with the current rather than fighting it. Even at places that are notorious for strong currents, problems can usually be avoided by diving at slack tide—an excellent reason to go with a reputable, experienced dive operator with plenty of local knowledge. 

  

Overview of Komodo ISLAND dive Areas

  • SOUTH KOMODO
  • With colder waters (low 70's F/ 21C) and lower visibility (20ft - 50ft/6m-15m), why would anyone come here? South Komodo has incredibly rich marine life, such as beautiful tiny amphipods, sea apple cucumbers, sponges, colorful soft corals, frogfish, stargazers, electric rays, lots of critters, and much more. Everything here is generally larger, and there is more of it, because of the rich supply of plankton.
  • Top dive areas include Rinca Island’s Horseshoe Bay, home of iconic sites like Cannibal rock and the Great Yellow Wall. The bay is protected from most bad weather, bathed with nutrient-rich currents, and has extremely varied underwater terrain, supporting an amazing variety and density of marine life.
  • Komodo dragons are found on Rinca Island at Horseshow bay, and divers will often go on land for a little while in-between dives to see the dragons. You can actually see them either from land or from the dinghy boat. Divers have even seen them swimming in the dinghies.
  • While South Komodo is mostly about the critters, there is a notable big animal dive site called Manta Alley, which you may have guessed, has Mantas. 
  • NORTH KOMODO
  • North Komodo is warmer and clearer than the South and delivers what can be considered typical Indo-Pacific reef diving. The north has its share of big-fish sites and macro sites. Castle Rock is a favorite submerged pinnacle, full of trevally, mackerel, wide-angle and macro subjects. Even bottlenose dolphins have been known to visit the site.
  • Another submerged pinnacle, called Hard-To-Find reef, has many massive schools of fish, reef sharks, and turtles. On these kinds of sites, you often don't need to swim far, but simply park yourself and watch the show.
 

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komodo Travel Information 

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How to Get THERE

Fly internationally into Bali (DPS), where you can transfer to a short domestic flight to Labuan Bajo (LBJ). Some liveaboards also depart from Bali, sparing you the extra flight. 

 

How to Dive Komodo

Komodo National Park is a terrific liveaboard destination since it will be much easier to cover the whole area (North & South) in one trip. However, there are numerous dive resorts and operators available in the area.  

Find a liveaboard trip to Komodo or browse our other Indonesia liveaboard trips!

Options for Combination Trips

We highly suggest combining a trip to Komodo with a Bali trip. Also, instead of doing only Komodo, you can do a "transition trip" where you start in Komodo and end in Flores (Maumere), or vice-versa. Additionally, Alor with its healthy reefs is another destination to add to the mix.

 You can check out our list of Bali Dive Resorts here...

 

Best Time to Dive KOMODO

For best access to all sites in the park, we would visit Komodo from March to May, and again from September to November.

From mid-May to early September, southeast winds make some southern sites inaccessible, but this is the best time for the northern sites. The converse is also true; from mid-November through January most northern sites are exposed, but conditions in the south are optimal.

 

Topside & Non-Diving Activities 

Land tours of the Komodo Islands are definitely a highlight. Komodo dragons are found on Komodo and Rinca Islands, and most trips provide opportunities to see them between dives. You can view them either from land or from the dinghy—occasionally they’ll even swim out to greet you! A word of caution is in order when around the dragons, however, as they can be aggressive, and even a minor bite may cause a life-threatening infection. Follow your guide’s instructions and you shouldn’t have any problems.

For another unique top-side destination, check out our diving in Galapagos page.

 

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komodo Liveaboard availability

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The rates shown below are per person in USD. Some of the operators quote in EUR and the pricing at the time of booking may vary depending on the latest EUR/USD exchange rate. 

Please contact us for the availability of the following boats: ArenuiMutiara LautMSY AuroraPanunee, Cajoma IVVelocean, and Dragon Dive Komodo.

Not sure a liveaboard is for you? We have a huge choice of Indonesian Dive Resorts.

 

 

Other Useful Information 

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Practical Information

  • Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). A dollar or Euro will get you a lot of them.
  • Electricity: Generally is 220 volts, with 2 round pin plugs (European Standard)
  • Vaccines: Please check the CDC website for updated information on vaccines, health concerns, etc. It is recommended that you are up to date with Typhoid, Tetanus/Diphtheria, Hepatitis and Polio for any trip to the tropics.
  • Visa: Visitors from most countries can receive a 30-day visa ($25) upon arrival to Indonesia. Make sure your passport has a blank page and is valid for 6 months.
  • Language: Bahasa is the language of Indonesia. It is very easy to learn, and we suggest you learn hello, thank you, how are you, and what is your name before your trip.
  • Domestic Flights: As with all domestic Indonesian flights, be prepared for changes or delays.
  • Safety: A surface marker buoy is essential for diving Komodo, and as with all dive travel, evacuation insurance is highly recommended.  

 

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GOT QUESTIONS? READY TO BOOK?

Call us today at +1-310-915-6677 or email us info@bluewaterdivetravel.com

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Reviews (8)

5
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4

Since my previous visit to Flores and Komodo Island, many remarkable changes have taken place. Over the course of ten years, the small town of Labuan Bajo has undergone significant development, now boasting an international hospital, numerous dive centers, a wide array of hotels and restaurants, and an impressive airport.

The diving in Komodo remains as awe-inspiring as I remembered. Expect to encounter stunning coral formations, frequent sightings of sharks, majestic manta rays, and captivating schools of fish. It's important to note that Komodo is primarily geared towards experienced divers, as the currents can be incredibly strong, particularly in North Komodo at sites such as Cauldron, Crystal Rock, and Castle Rock. Divers should exercise caution and feel comfortable navigating challenging conditions.

In terms of diving options, I wholeheartedly recommend choosing a liveaboard experience over day trips. Having personally tried both, I found that liveaboards offer several advantages. First and foremost, liveaboards allow you to be the first divers on the sites, ensuring an uninterrupted and immersive experience. Additionally, liveaboards offer flexibility in adapting to changing conditions, such as selecting alternate dive sites if currents prove too strong. On the other hand, day trips often result in crowded dive sites, as multiple groups arrive simultaneously.

In conclusion, I highly recommend Komodo as an affordable alternative to Raja Ampat. It offers a wealth of underwater wonders and provides a remarkable diving experience. To fully appreciate the destination, I recommend allocating at least five days on land as well. This will allow you to explore the captivating landmarks and natural beauty that Flores Island has to offer.

Visited on 07/2023 - Submitted on 07/11/2023
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My son and I did a dive trip to Komodo in August 2023. The area is amazingly scenic - rugged, arid mountains, beautiful white sand beaches, and crystal clear water. The coral in the area appears to still be very pristine, and the marine life is mind-boggling. We saw sharks, mantas, sting rays, eels, turtles and hundreds of types of colorful fish. The short hike in Komodo Nat'l Park is also a highlight - the dragons are incredible creatures.

We had one crossing (~12-14 hours) that was a bit rough, but otherwise the sailing is pretty smooth.

Would highly recommend this region for avid divers!

Visited on 08/2023 - Submitted on 08/30/2023
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2

I spent 10 days diving Komodo, by liveaboard, in 2011.

Komodo is split between dive sites in the North and the South. While Komodo National Park comprises a big area, there are also lots of liveaboards that operate in the region - and some of the most popular dive sites, especially in the North (i.e. Crystal Rock), did get crowded.

The sites I experienced in North Komodo were dominated by open ocean pinnacles. The diving here is filled with currents, and for experienced divers. But the sites are filled with fish, and some pelagics...and then more fish (photograph below)! In terms of larger animals, we saw lots of turtles, and three large manta rays on a manta focused dive. Unfortunately, we saw only saw few sharks in the North (a couple of whitetips, and a nurse shark). The visibility at the sites in North Komodo was wonderful (40ft+ on every dive). The water in the North is colder, and a 3mm wetsuit was not enough. A 5mm suit, or layered steamer + 3mm suit was enough to keep me warm on these sites.

South Komodo is filled with critters, and aside from Cannibal Rock (which is a truly spectacular site), is also less crowded. Some of the critter highlights from my trip were: candy coral crabs, mating blue ring octopi, and pygmy seahorses. The diving here is easier than North Komodo, and appropriate for a wide range of skill levels. The dives in South Komodo were critter focused, and so the visibility was not a concern. However, on most sites visibility was good (25ft+), with the worst visibility I experienced being approximately 15ft, and still great for macro photography.

Top-side, the main attraction are the Komodo Dragons, which are impressive animals - however, they are a small part of the trip. Komodo is a truly great dive destination. But it is not a top-side destination.

Komodo is almost exclusively a liveaboard destination, and accordingly, is not inexpensive. However, the diving is worth the cost.

Visited on 08/2011 - Submitted on 02/04/2014
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Wonderful liveaboard for a 6 day to Northern and southern Komodo Island. We arrived in Labuan Bajo, Flores Is. after a short flight from Bali. Cedric and his team picked us up at the airport. We left at 1 pm with a late afternoon checkout dive and night dive. Fair warning, the currents can be quite strong in Komodo, depending on the tide and lunar cycle. Cedric really knows the dive sites with respect to the tides, so the dive aires are well planned without other boats present.

The food is good, not spectacular, but the boat is not a white tablecloth/stemware boat. It's in the mid-price range that caters to good divers. The DM's are all excellent, great spotters (not as good as my wife), and safety-oriented. My wife and I are repeat customers and living in Singapore, we have many choices for liveaboards. The Blank Manta is our favorite. FYI, I rarely or never give five-star reviews.

Visited on 04/2014 - Submitted on 03/25/2014
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5

REVIEW: KOMODO IN JANUARY

Most of my life is spent on land, surrounded by the myriad of sounds of the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur and its eclectic mix of 2 million amazing people. When I have time to explore new corners of the world, I often chose to venture below sea level. I have been lucky to be able to dive many different locations around the world and my favorite destination has remained the area in and around Komodo National Park, in Indonesia.

I had previously only experienced this fantastic location during the months of July to September. To an experienced diver of 25 years, this region continued to amaze me with its abundance of healthy reefs. I didn't mind donning a 5mm wetsuit. I thought that it could not get any better than this!!

Three years ago, a close friend asked me to spend a milestone birthday in January on a liveaboard diving in Komodo. That would put us in the waters there at an entirely different time of year. Why not give it a try??
We are just wrapping up that month long celebration and what a surprise to find that I am even more in awe of the wonders of this region!

These four weeks delivered endless dives in warmer, clearer waters than ever before! The fact that there were fewer commercial dive boats was a perk! The reefs were totally breathtaking in their abundance of soft and hard corals and I am certain that I saw every species of fish!

I have been diving in areas where there is so much evidence of destructive human interaction with the sea: dead reefs, fishless waters, 10-30 divers surrounding me at a time with no concern for conservation of the ocean or the culture supporting the region. This trip to Komodo has restored my faith in the fact that there are areas that flourish and thrive!!

One other guest made this Deep South Komodo trip extraordinary. Emma, a bubbly, enthusiastic 13 year old: her excitement at discovering new fish and critters! The thrill of the sea as seen from her perspective warmed my heart and I appreciated every clam, and clown fish and sea cucumber as if it were my first one!! She helped remind me of why I ever started diving!!

There is just one dive I MUST share with you because very few bring me to tears while in the water (and for a time after this dive as well!!): my birthday-friend and I had the amazing luck to witness a manta ray peacefully hanging out at a cleaning station. The manta simply glided between the two of us for 30 minutes. To watch nature at this level made this one my favorite ever in Komodo! I was about one meter away from the manta and I was looking into its eyes. I felt such a surge of emotion as I sensed as if she was communicating with me: that despite all of the negative impact that humans may have on the sea: that there is still hope as this was an example of her everyday life: living peacefully in the waters of Komodo.

I looked across to my dear friend on the other side of the magical creature and I was sure that she too was sharing this once in a lifetime moment with me.

I said a prayer for that manta, as well as all the creatures of the sea: to protect them always.

We had a mix of weather: sunny days and sudden rainstorms that produced the most brilliant rainbows! And indeed! There is a pot of gold at the end of those rainbows: experiencing Deep South Komodo aboard a liveaboard in January!!

I can't wait to come back again soon!!
Sheri Tibbles

Visited on 01/2014 - Submitted on 06/06/2014

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