This extraordinary country, situated in the South East of Asia, is made up of a network of 17,508 islands. Komodo Islands also make part of the chain islands of Indonesia. A panoramic view of fascinating islands covered in greenery, light blue skies and the surrounding clear waters of the Komodo Island are a tourist’s destination for an amazing liveaboard experience. With its colorful coral reefs and vibrant, diverse species of fishes, manta rays, sharks and of course Komodo dragons; Komodo Liveaboards are always in top dream lists of many divers.
Komodo National Park
The Komodo National Park was registered in 1980, and it comprises of three volcanic islands: Komodo, Padar, and Rinca. In 1991 Komodo National Park was declared as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park has numerous diving spots that provide exceptional liveaboard diving experience. This park has received very high ratings from liveaboard divers as the most diving enthusiasts get to visit one of the richest diverse marine environments in the world. Komodo National Park is home to over 1000 species of fish, mangroves, manta rays, sharks, dolphins and coral reefs.
Liveaboards visit Komodo all year round. The highest season is considered during the dry season from April to November when the visibility is the highest. The Komodo National Park is divided into two spheres: the North and the South. Towards the northern part, the waters are warm as it is closer to the equator and you can expect everything that corresponds to diving in tropics. In the southern area of the park, the waters are cooler because of ocean currents, however there are exclusive sightings of rich marine life. Let’s have a closer look at what you can expect when going on a livebaoard diving trip to Komodo. Best dive sights and their features!
Northern Part of Komodo National Park
Castle Rock
This is one of the most eminent dive sites in the northern part of Komodo National Park. The current is mildly strong and one can meet grey reef sharks, white tip sharks, and giant trevally. Divers are enabled to witness many types of corals including the Blue Dragon coral.
Manta Point / Karang Makassar
The Karang Makassar (also known as Manta Point) dive site offers the opportunity to dive with numerous manta rays. This site doesn’t have rich coral growth or spectacular underwater scenery, but still it is one of the most interesting dive sites on the Komodo Archipelago, because the main attraction, manta rays, can be seen everywhere at this site. They go closer to the sea surface to feed and closer to the sea bed to be cleaned, so at any depth and at any time mantas can be seen here. The dives at Karang Makassar are mostly nice drift dives, because the exposed location of this site means that there is always a current here.
Batu Bolong
Batu translates to rock and Bolong means hole. This is also one of the very famous liveaboard diving sites in Komodo National Park. The current is considerably strong here and giant tables of coral and colorful sponges greet the driver upon very first sight. Vibrant shades of coral trout, bass and emperors swim by with an occasional sighting of a turtle.
The Cauldron/ Shotgun
This liveaboard diving site has received its name from its bowl-like shape. Lush coral gardens that extend as far as the eye can see with large Gregorian corals. Huge schools of the brittle glassfish in miscellaneous shades embrace the diver. Less advanced divers are not welcome in this region as the current is extremely strong since the slope deepens into a bowl shape. Giant tuna and barracuda greet the divers.
Crystal Rock
Crystal Rock is a sequence of rocks that form a large seamount. The mount is covered in beautiful hues of red, blue and yellow fragmented hard and soft corals. There are stonefish and giant lionfish but fewer schools of fish than Castle Rock.
Toko Toko
The far of the northern site of Komodo National Park is for expert deep divers who are allowed to go till 40 meters. It allows divers to meet sharks and some mantas.
Southern Part of Komodo National Park
Cannibal Rock
This dive site is celebrated for its variety of shrimps, pygmy seahorses, frogfish and schools of red snappers. You just cannot miss this enthralling site.
Yellow Wall
Yellow Wall is a great liveaboard diving site, especially at night. The wall is home to an array of sea creatures such as Lobsters, cleaner shrimps, parrotfishes and decorator crabs.
Manta Alley
As the name gives it away, Manta Alley is the main site for liveaboard divers to find the exotic manta rays. This is the main feeding area of mantas in the months of December to February. Not only mantas but sharks and giant trevallies are seen at this diving site.
Pillarsteen
Its mesmerizing landscape that will take the liveaboard divers through an adventure of underwater caves – something that is simply unforgettable. The encounter with Sharks and turtles is common at Pillarsteen.
Langkoi Rock
This southern liveaboard dive site is for shark lovers. Various categories of sharks such as the hammerhead, grey reefs and whitetip circle the area. The trip is considered incomplete without it!
Manta Season
Manta rays are fascinating flat shaped creatures and are a symbol of elegance. Liveaboard diving with mantas is every diver’s dream. Komodo National Park is famous for giant manta rays that swim in huge groups in its waters. December to February is the peak season of Manta rays and is found in large numbers in the southern part of Komodo National Park’s waters. There are two locations for liveaboard divers to view mantas; in the north, it is Karang Makassar and in the south, it is Manta Alley. The visibility in southern waters is high with the temperature being in between 20-25 degrees centigrade.
Mola Mola Season
The best time to view Mola Mola also known as the sunfish is in the summer months of July and August. They are mostly sighted in the southern part of Komodo National Park around the Nusa Penida diving site. Mola Mola is one of the heavyweight boney fish in the Komodo Island. The rare sightings of Mola Mola make them more popular. They mostly live in the depths and rise to the surface as if to soak themselves in the sunlight, thus earning their name of the sunfish. Only during the summer season, their sightings are very common.
Check our special page dedicated to Liveaboard Diving in Komodo here.
Top Liveaboards
- The best in a budget segment Empress II
- Great money-value option Cheng Ho
- Outstanding Luxury experience Adelaar virtual tour of the boat can be found here
Useful Links:
Partner’s Content – Sharks of Komodo
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