DIVING IN KOMODO

by Moa Thim Virenhem

Diving in Komodo in Indonesia. Dive and experience one of the world's best diving sites.

Diving in Komodo in Indonesia is for you who dreamed of exploring pristine, exotic areas filled with rare wildlife and breathtaking landscapes? A diving trip to Komodo in Indonesia is really something for you then.

After a few relaxing days in Bali with the family, I took a short flight over to the island of Flores and Labuan Bajo. Labuan Bajo is originally a fishing village located on the western part of this large island. It is today the main gateway for exploring Komodo National Park.

It's a small airport and it's quick to get my luggage. Just outside the doors to the arrival hall, I am met by taxi drivers and they want to offer me a ride. I had booked with Scuba Junkie and they already had a driver ready for me. He was standing there with a big smile and my name on a sign.

The drive to their office in Labuan Bajo lasted no more than 15 minutes and I quickly glimpsed the ocean and a magical view out over Komodo National Park. I was dropped off at the office to drop off my bags, fill up my water bottle and get information about when the boat out to the Tripst leaves. Since I landed fairly early, I had time to go out for a small lunch before the transfer. Outside, I found a small local restaurant nearby and ate Nasi Campur, a rice dish with lots of different side dishes, tempe (soy), vegetables and eggs, that was it for me.

Birds flying over water during sunset with women enjoying boat trip.

Clownfish swimming near coral reef on clear blue ocean in tropical island destination.

Colorful blue-ringed octopus on coral reef, a popular marine creature for scuba divers.

Climber rescue from sinking boat during maritime emergency.

Colorful coral reef with scuba diver exploring underwater marine life in tropical ocean.

Sunset view of overwater bungalows and pier at a tropical island Tripst in Bali.

Diving instructors exploring underwater coral reef, scuba travel adventure, marine life exploration, diving equipment, ocean exploration.

Scuba divers on boat planning diving trip with dry erase board and underwater maps for diving adventures.

Scuba-travel-tropical-dive-spot-overwater-bungalows.

My top 5 dive sites in Komodo National Park:

BATU BOLONG

This is one of the most spectacular dive sites on Komodo, also known as the "fish soup". The site is an exposed cliff that is extremely current dependent and must be dived at a specific time. Which side we dive on depends entirely on the tide. Clouds of fish surround the coral here which often makes it difficult to see your hand in front of your face – even when we have crystal clear conditions!

This place is truly amazing. As you descend the top, you will be overwhelmed by the amazing range of colors. It's easy to just stay in one spot for the entire dive and just watch the fish life that surrounds you. If you can tear your eyes away from the mass of the school of fish, you can also see amazing macro life in this place! From pygmy seahorses to crazy nudibranchs, from huge moray eels to tiny orangutan crabs.

SIABA KECIL

The beautiful reef is located opposite the sister island of Siaba Besar and has a unique and beautiful topography. The coral reef drops into an incredible overhang where shoals of sweetlips like to gather.

You can choose to dive when the current is strong and enjoy it like a Superman drift or you can aim to dive the site at low tide. Then we can take our time to explore the topography. I love drift but it was great to have a little calmer dive there too. (Yes it was so good I made a request to do that dive twice) Regardless of how you dive the site we end the dive at a fantastic coral garden with a chance to see reef sharks, turtles and it was also here that I saw my first Dugong!

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