Kalimaya Dive Resort

Kalimaya Dive Resort is tucked away in a secluded private bay on the east coast of Sumbawa, offering front-door access to some of Indonesia’s most untouched dive sites in the heart of the Coral Triangle. The remote and peaceful location ensures a serene escape, while the friendly and dedicated team delivers warm Indonesian hospitality with a personal touch. The beachfront bungalows are stylish, spacious, and designed for comfort, complete with modern amenities and panoramic ocean views. Kalimaya Dive Resort is dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences, both underwater and on land, for divers seeking adventure, relaxation, and a connection with nature.

How To Get There

To reach Kalimaya Dive Resort, fly into Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin Airport in Bima (BMU), which is served by regular domestic flights from major Indonesian cities such as Bali and Jakarta. Upon arrival, guests are greeted and transferred to the resort via a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. The scenic journey takes approximately 1.5 hours by road through the beautiful Sumbawa countryside. For guests arriving from nearby towns or staying elsewhere on the island, the resort can arrange convenient point-to-point transfers to ensure a smooth and hassle-free arrival.

Indonesia (Sumbawa) Dive Overview

Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, Kalimaya Dive Resort offers direct access to some of Indonesia’s most diverse and pristine dive sites. From thrilling drift dives around Gili Banta to the vibrant reefs of Sangeang Volcano and the untouched coral gardens just offshore, the area is a paradise for both macro lovers and wide-angle enthusiasts. Divers can encounter everything from pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs to manta rays and schooling fish—all within a short boat ride from the resort. With few other operators in the region, Kalimaya offers an exclusive and uncrowded diving experience in East Sumbawa. 

[Read More: Indonesia Dive Travel Guide]

Accommodation Overview

Kalimaya Dive Resort offers guests a choice of two distinct bungalow categories: Beachfront Bungalows and Hillside Bungalows. Each accommodation is thoughtfully designed to harmonize with the natural surroundings, providing comfort and tranquility. Due to the resort's remote location, stays include a full board meal plan featuring three daily meals, afternoon snacks, and complimentary tea, coffee, and mineral water. The bungalows are equipped with:

• 24-hour electricity
  
• Air conditioning
• Private en-suite bathrooms with open-air showers
  
• Private covered terraces with ocean views
  
• Queen-size or twin beds
  
• Work desk and ample storage space
  
• Hairdryer
  
• Complimentary refillable water bottles
  
• Bathrobes and eco-friendly toiletries
  

Food & Drinks

Kalimaya Dive Resort offers a delicious full-board meal plan, designed to satisfy guests with a variety of flavorful dishes from Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and a few international favorites. The resort’s talented chef and kitchen team are known for creating ever-evolving menus that keep even returning guests delighted. 

Guests can enjoy:

• Breakfast - A cold buffet with cereals, homemade bread, fruit, and muesli, alongside a hot breakfast menu offering eggs any style, bacon, smoothie bowls, pancakes, and more.
• Lunch – A two-course meal with a fresh appetizer and a satisfying main course.
  
• Afternoon Tea (4 PM) – A daily highlight featuring sweet or savory Indonesian-inspired treats such as martabak, fried bananas with chocolate, coconut cake, and chocolate cookie balls.
  
• Dinner – A plated three-course set menu including an appetizer, main course, and dessert.

The resort caters to dietary requirements with advance notice and offers both full-board and all-inclusive meal plan options, ensuring every guest enjoys a delicious and stress-free dining experience.

Dive Information

Kalimaya Dive Resort provides access to over 40 diverse dive sites across five unique regions between Sumbawa and Komodo. As the only dive operator in the area, the resort offers an uncrowded experience and a wide range of dive styles to suit all experience levels. Daily excursions are conducted by speedboat, with most sites reached in under an hour. Standard trips include two morning dives returning in time for lunch, or three dives with a picnic lunch on a remote beach. For those wanting even more time underwater, unlimited house reef diving is available directly from the resort’s private beach.

Gili Banta

Gili Banta is a highlight for wide-angle enthusiasts, particularly those hoping to encounter manta rays. Shallow cleaning stations at just 5 meters depth attract resident mantas year-round. In 2023, a survey by the Marine Megafauna Foundation recorded 26 individuals in the area—18 of which had never been previously identified. In addition to these elegant giants, the region is known for its sloping reefs, colorful coral gardens, and towering underwater walls.

Sangeang Volcano 

Ideal for macro lovers, Sangeang is a black-sand destination famous for "Bubble Reef," where volcanic gas vents create a surreal underwater experience. Dive sites here are typically calm, with minimal current, making them perfect for divers and snorkelers of all levels. The nutrient-rich environment supports a wealth of critters including nudibranchs, octopus, hairy frogfish, and other macro specialties. While larger fish may appear, most divers head here with macro lenses ready.

West Komodo 

This region features current-fed pinnacles, nutrient-rich waters, and a chance to encounter sharks, trevallies, and manta rays. While Komodo is known for strong currents, the dive team selects sites on the leeward side of islands, sheltered from the flow, for safe and accessible conditions. The reefs here are vibrant and healthy, and surface intervals may include sightings of Komodo dragons along the rugged shoreline.

Sumbawa Coastline North

This region offers some of Indonesia’s best muck diving. Just 15 minutes from the resort, divers can discover an impressive variety of macro life, including rhinopias, frogfish, ghost pipefish, flamboyant cuttlefish, and more than 11 species of octopus. Black sand slopes, coral bommies, and sheltered bays create the ideal setting for patient exploration.

Sumbawa Coastline South

Gentle coral bays, overhangs, and sloping reefs characterize this laid-back region. In the January toMarch season, dive operations shift south to take advantage of warmer Indian Ocean waters and improved visibility. Sites like Pulau Kelapa offer fish-rich environments, fascinating topography, and beautiful surface intervals at Tanjung Mariam and Pink Beach.

House Reef 

The house reef stretches across 400 meters of private beachfront and offers easy, anytime access for divers and snorkelers. This sloping reef system is teeming with life, including over 150 nudibranch species, 11 octopus species, six types of frogfish, resident rhinopias, and the occasional large pelagic visitor. It’s an ideal site for off-gassing, macro photography, or casual exploration in calm, shallow waters filled with vibrant coral and reef fish.

Most dive trips are planned as half or full-day excursions, depending on the site. If you’d like to arrange specific dives or customize your itinerary during your stay, please inform the dive team in advance!

Dive Sites

Dive Center Information

Kalimaya Dive Resort, located in East Sumbawa just west of Komodo National Park, offers a unique and authentic dive experience in one of Indonesia’s last untouched spots. Easily accessible via Sape ferry or Bima Airport, the resort prides itself on strong community ties, employing local staff and supporting village projects. With just 10 beachfront bungalows and three speedboats, Kalimaya provides personalized service and exclusive day trips to West Komodo, Gili Banta, and Sangeang Volcano. Designed for adventurers, the resort combines comfortable accommodations with stunning underwater exploration in a peaceful, private setting.

Practical Information 

• Electricity: 220V
• Time zone: UTC +8
• Language: Indonesian and English
• Accept Credit Card?: Yes