Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Named after the largest living lizard in the world, Komodo National Park is one of the best diving destinations in Asia. It has solid spots for drift, wall, and muck diving. Take the plunge and be amazed by underwater landscapes, luscious coral gardens, and curious marine creatures.Geography of Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Geography of Komodo National Park, Indonesia
North of Komodo National Park
Castle Rock
Castle Rock is one of the most iconic Komodo National Park diving sites. It features a submerged seamount covered in colorful soft corals and sea fans that will guide your 131-foot (40-meter) descent. At approximately 9.8 to 13.12 feet (three to four meters), you’ll get a glimpse of what’s to come as you encounter the tip of the rock. Here you will find shelter from the strong currents and are likely to be greeted by batfish, schooling barracudas, jacks, and mackerel.
The raging water flow subsides as you go deeper into the open waters and is coupled with excellent visibility. This way, you have a chance to take a closer look at the luscious vegetation and say hello to adorable pygmy seahorses that reside in the underwater landform. If you’re lucky, you can even spot dolphins and manta rays out in the blue.
Golden Passage
Also known as Darat Passage, this spot is a drift dive site with a maximum depth of 65.61 feet (20 meters). The descent starts in the shallow eastern bay which leads to a current that will carry you westward. As you cruise through the waters, you’ll come across a mesmerizing coral garden, as well as diverse breathtaking landscapes. The various rock formations and overhangs serve as nice resting spaces for sharks and smaller marine life, and hide trevallies that wish to feed peacefully close to the reef.
When the current isn’t so strong, we suggest grabbing the opportunity to inspect the nooks and crannies of rocks and corals. Shy creatures usually camouflage themselves from sight but are true spectacles when you see them up close. The dive ends when you reach the other side of a channel, where you’ll be met with bright corals and lively sea creatures.
Center of Komodo National Park
Batu Bolong
The area of Batu Bolong is kept off the list of fishing zones in Indonesia due to strong currents and its natural topography. While the site contributes nothing to the archipelago’s seafood yield, it is one of the main drivers of tourism in the park. Roughly translated as “hollow rock”, this 98.42-foot (30-meter) dive is prized for its steep walls and slopes enveloped in a kaleidoscope of corals and sponges.
Its waters are teeming with a variety of marine life like Napoleon wrasse, hawksbill turtles, surgeonfish, and whitetip reef sharks. During slack tide, the descent is fairly easy, and you can spiral around the rocks all the way up to a pinnacle breaking the surface. Be prepared to encounter mini whirlpools at about 16 to 19 feet (five to six meters), and take your time to explore the rocky reef’s immense biodiversity.
Tatawa Besar
Boasting one of the most colorful coral gardens in all of Komodo, Tatawa Besar is a pristine dive spot that never fails to make people feel reluctant to resurface. Its maximum depth is about 82 feet (25 meters), but you don’t really need to go very deep to have a memorable experience. At just 16 to 59 feet (5 to 18 meters), you’ll already be surrounded by a plethora of lively sea creatures including cuttlefish, batfishes, and oriental sweetlips. But if you want to catch a drift, you need to be at least 49.21 feet (15 meters) below the surface.
The drift dive begins at the northwest tip of Tatawa Island, where you will be carried over to the western side by a medium-strength current. Coupled with excellent visibility, the undercurrent is a free ticket to get a good view of the coral garden. Orange to reddish hard and soft corals are the star of the show as they pop out in the open blue so vividly. You’ll also see a number of encrusted boulders here and there, and by the end of it, a field of staghorn corals that seem to stretch endlessly into deeper waters.
South of Komodo National Park
Yellow Wall
Yellow Wall is located in the southeastern corner of Loh Dasami Bay, and is one of the best dive sites that doubles as a snorkeling destination. Its main attraction is a huge wall colored by clusters of yellow cucumbers and vibrant orange and yellow soft corals (hence its name). While the dive can go as deep as 131 feet (40 meters), there is already an abundance of marine life on the shallow end of its waters.
Fork-tailed basslets, butterflyfish, and clown triggerfish are among the first sea creatures you’ll encounter together with nudibranchs and coral polyps. Meanwhile, white tip sharks, turtles, and red snapper appear as you move further away from the surface. It’s suggested you try taking the plunge at sunset when the ambiance heightens the colors on the wall, but a whole new sight unfolds come nightfall. Meek invertebrates—like decorator crabs, cleaner shrimps, slipper lobsters, and Spanish dancers—all come out of hiding to meet intrepid divers, proving that this tourist spot is more than just your typical wall dive.
Secret Garden
Secret Garden is a gem near Padar Island that offers a variety of experiences. Its topography is a mix of different landscapes harboring all kinds of marine life, ranging from humble critters to glorious macro species. As you brave the 65-foot (20-meter) dive, you’ll come across a wall stretching 45.93 to 91.86 feet (14 to 28 meters) where reef fish prey on smaller glassfish. Try not to get too relaxed though as white tip sharks take residence in the small cave carved on the same wall.
This dive site is blessed with a sloping patch reef that boasts a remarkable assortment of corals and sponges. Flat corals, pinnacle corals, sponge vases, and purple tubes paint a picturesque scene while housing unique marine life. You’ll meet sea creatures like the rare ghost pipefish, cuttlefish, blue ribbon eels, and more. On the other hand, its sandy slope is frequented by blue-spotted stingrays, peacock mantis shrimps, and green sea turtles.
Marine Life
- Batfishes - These creatures aren’t the best swimmers and use their pectoral and pelvic fins to walk on the seafloor or on top of rocks and corals.
- Whitetip Reef Sharks - Unlike its relatives, whitetip reef sharks don’t need to constantly swim around to breathe. Instead, they pump water over their gills as they lie still on the bottom of the sea or inside caves.
- Omura’s Whales - Very little is known about this species of whale, which is why it’s a big deal when someone spots one in the blue. They closely resemble fin whales, but are distinguished by unique asymmetrical black and white streaks on their heads and jaws.
- Dugongs - These sea mammals are believed to have inspired tales of mermaids and sirens. They subsist on a vegetarian diet and are able to stay underwater for up to six minutes before needing to resurface.
Other Attractions
- Komodo Island - Visiting Komodo National Park wouldn’t be complete without seeing Komodo dragons up-close. This island is the biggest in the park and is the original habitat of the prized reptile..
- Pink Beach - The hue in this one-of-a-kind beach is all thanks to an organism called Foraminifera, which releases red pigment on the coral reefs. It is a wonderful place for snorkelers and novice sea explorers to get acquainted with what lies under the sea.
- Gili Laba - When you’re ready to explore above-ground attractions, Gili Laba offers the most breathtaking views on dry land. The trek is for thrill-seekers ready to climb multiple peaks to reach breathtaking views.
- Komodo Tourism Village - This hotspot immerses you in the culture of Komodo by giving you a glimpse of the natives’ everyday lives. It’s also a great place to buy little trinkets, like Komodo dragon wooden sculptures, which make awesome souvenirs.
How to Get to There
The quickest way to get to Komodo National Park by air is to book a flight from Bali. Labuan Bajo has its own airport and you can choose from a number of airports like Indonesian Air Transport (IAT) and Trans Nusa Airlines (TGN), which offer flights to Labuan Bajo on a daily basis.
By Sea
A more budget friendly route is to travel by sea. Ferry services are available from Bali to Labuan Bajo every two weeks and are definitely cheaper than riding a plane. The downside to this plan is that it would take you much longer to arrive at your destination, clocking in at around 36 hours just to get to the gateway of the park. Still, if you’re adventurous and love the thrill of sailing choppy waters, a seabound route would appeal to you.
Getting Around
An important thing to remember when visiting Komodo National Park is that getting around can be a challenge. The tourist spot is archipelagic in nature, so buses and private car rentals can only take you so far. And while there are local boat services, it’s best to plan your itinerary carefully to avoid wasting time when hopping from one island to the next.
Best Time to Visit
With respect to climate, the best time to visit Komodo National Park would be anytime between July and August when the average temperature is 86°F (30°C). If you’re not sensitive to heat or rainfall, you can go ahead and enjoy Komodo’s dive sites anytime you want. Water temperatures usually range from 80.6 to 86°F (27 to 30°C), making for a perfect scuba diving environment all year round.
Required Trainings & Certifications
Miscellaneous Information
The Indonesian Rupiah (Rp) is the official currency used in Komodo National Park. There are ATM machines available in the capital cities of Indonesia, but they become scarcer when you’re exploring remote areas. The majority of the establishments in the park also operate on a cash-only basis, so you should have your dollars exchanged before your trip or visit a local money changer the moment you arrive.
Language
Some natives can speak a bit of English, but Bahasa Indonesia is the official language in the archipelago. Locals are also fluent in countless other local languages that belong to what is called the Austro-Polynesian language family.
Time Zone
The islands of Komodo National Park are eight hours ahead of the universal coordinated time (UTC/GMT+8:00)
Driving Side
Indonesia practices driving on the left-hand side of the road. That means traffic moves on the left lane and fast drivers are supposed to overtake on the right. It is not advised for you drive around the archipelago if you have no experience manning a vehicle in Southeast Asian traffic. Indonesian roads can get very narrow, making it all the more difficult to follow traffic rules and regulations.
Calling Code
To call a local number in Indonesia, dial your country’s exit code followed by +62, the local number (for landline only), plus the unique 7 to 11 digits of the recipient.
ISO 3166 code
Due to the geographic location of the park, the ISO 3166 code for Komodo National Park can either be ID-NB or ID-NT.
Internet TLD
The Internet country code top-level domain assigned to Indonesia is .id.