Komodo
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.
