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Diving Komodo | Indonesia
Zebra crab

Many people visit Komodo just to see the famed Komodo dragon, but for scuba divers the surrounding marine park is regarded as one of the most important diving destinations in Indonesia.

In the north, warm waters flow from the Banda Sea. Below the surface, reefs are extensive and in good condition. To the south, cooler waters flow from the Indian Ocean and deep water up-wellings bring masses of plankton towards the surface. These conditions are perfect for exceptional marine bio-diversity and outstanding scuba diving.

Dive sites vary from famous muck sites like Copycat Copycat, where all the creatures mimic their surroundings, to big open water sites like Pilarsteen. Most famous beyond a shadow of doubt is Cannibal Rock, where there is a wealth of small creatures: pygmy seahorses, rhinopias and Colman's shrimp as well as the little known sea apple.

Komodo dive photo gallery Scuba diving features

Marine Life Pygmy seahorses Colman's shrimp
Sea apples
Tuna
Top dive site Cannibal Rock
Seasons All year
Visibility 10 – 30 metres
Water temperature 25 – 29º C
Deco chambers Manado, Bali
Flights to Bali the join a liveaboard
Dive operators and accommodation numbers of liveaboards are increasing every season.
Liveaboards Divebooker.com
INFORMATION EXPLORE
ENVIRONMENT

A century ago, the island of Komodo was only known to those who followed the travels of British naturalist and explorer, Alfred Wallace. He recognised an invisible line that lies to the east of Bali in the Lombk Channel. Tagged the 'Wallace Line', this refers to the two totally different environments on either side. Islands to the east are tropical – Bali is green and lush – while Komodo to the east of the line, is far drier and arid, yet it is a haven for many unusual creatures both on land and in the sea.

PROS and CONS

Komodo used to be a really unique dive trip – just a couple of liveaboards travelled this way and you were guaranteed almost total solitude. Now there are masses of boats of all types and standards. All the same, this is still a great destination – you just won't be the only person diving these waters – and there is really no other sensible way to see it as land resorts are too far away for easy access across te entire marine park.

SCUBA DIVING

Dive conditions aren't exactly typical of the tropics – the water can be cool and washing machine currents are common. However, by the time you get into to the swing of things you'll quickly discover why the diving is so good. If you're up for the challenge, you won't find much better.

OPINION
We have dived this area more times than we care to count and it is some of the best we have ever done. There is just so much to see, no two dives on a single site are ever the same. The variety of species is incredible – manta rays compete with Colman's shrimp, pygmy seahorses with giant tuna. Fish everywhere, unusual critters hiding in nooks and crannies, pelagics overhead... it is quite amazing.
MAP
Complete reports on this area are in
Diving Southeast Asia.

The digital edition is on iTunes.

Buy the print edition direct from SeaFocus here.

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