KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

The Komodo Islands - Padar - Rinca

On the page of Sumbawa to Komodo you can already find some descriptions of dive sites in the Komodo National Park. This page is a bit more in detail with an update of information on the dive sites I visited in January 2008.

KOMODO

Gili Lawa Darat

This island is just south of "Gili Lawa laut 'location. We explored the bay north of Komodo looking very good looking. Beautiful coral gardens with large amounts of reef fish. In shallow or limited damage to the reef noticeable. We found to our surprise also mandarin fish. The passage between Komodo and Gili Lawa Darat is a narrow passage, and both sides are beautiful bays formed. The panorama is breathtaking. Underwater, however, I was totally surprised. The eastern bay is totally destroyed and they find difficulty with a piece of coral upright. Fields sea urchins grouped on the coral rubble in the shallow end I found a sand area with a very large colony kaakvissen.Hoewel the reef is in poor condition wrong I found at the end of the coral strip a sandy section where two kraboog gobies ( Signigobius biocellatus).

The first time that I own in the wild could observe.

Batu Bolong

The islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca are separated by huge sea channel which link the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. The tides provide a massive displacement that are clearly visible. Tornadoes of swirling water, surging bodies of water make the water look like boiling a whole look.

In the middle of the high flow is Batu Bolong. A dive for 'guts' and one that certainly is not recommended for novice divers. A small island just a few meters in circumference and is situated in the flow diving here must be carefully planned. The guidelines of the dive leader must be strictly followed.

It is important to the sheltered side of the rock to dive and not to venture too far out in order not to be dragged flow. The site is wonderful.

Beautiful undamaged corals in crystal clear water. When one looks at the corner you see a manta rays in the flow just going backwards in an attempt to swim forward. Napoleon wrasses and several shark species, in their feeling pleased.

KARENG Macassar

When the Komodo National Park inland from North to South can be seen in the west, a vast shallow water area with several small islands. Near these islands is one of the best manta diving spots in the world, Kareng Macassar. The flow can also be quite to very strong. This is the field of manta rays in the strong currents where they gather their food. The shallow area here is quite large and the best way to ensure mantas can be seen through the rubber slowly go over the area. Once manta rays observed from the surface water will be there. The ground is sparsely vegetated due to the prevailing currents, and thus to allow divers to a spot on the floor to look at the Manta spectacle to behold.

The slugs dive

On the north side of Macassar Kareng hiding behind the islands is a very quiet bay with beautiful coral growth alternating with areas of high algal growth.

Here we discovered a paradise where slugs. Nembrotha's, Elisidae's, there were numerous Chromodoris found. Among the many beautiful species of algae Polyclad flatworms. Also many juvenile cuttlefish.

Fully protected for flow is a great dive for those who want to see a lot of slugs and / or photographs. The reef slope starts at 3m depth and bodemt to about 15m depth.

Pantah Merah (Pink Beach)

Before the bay inland, near Komodo, where the office of the national park is located will pass Pantah Merah. It is one of the most famous dive sites of Komodo: Pink Beach (Pink Beach). The short stretches of sand do have a pink appearance hence the name of the dive site. Again, the currents are quite strong. Usually the dive started at the north east and then south west to drift with the flow. At the start there is a sandy area with beautiful hard corals. After a while you will reach the highlight of this dive. A large rock full of life. Frogfish, beautiful nudibranchs, schools of snappers and sweetlips.

It's all there. If you feel the current drift let it come back after some time on a sandy area. As is usually the dive ended. I had the pleasure of a very strong current dive to explore the area further. Again beautiful hard corals in good condition with masses smaller rifvisjes.Een not known portion is the opposite of 'Pink Beach' that some boats will be done as a night dive site. The night diving is not as spectacular as the predominant soil is covered with a kind of soft coral. It is not easy to find something.

During the day this is also not a high dive, but the place is known for frequent perception of blue-ringed octopus. Even if I myself, for the second time ever, a copy encounter. On a sea squirt there was one on lookout.

The next day I returned to that same rock and true .... The blue-ringed octopus was still around.

MUCK THE WALL

Not known as a dive site, but through their own exploration discovered this is one of the best muck diving in Komodo. During a dive, I found Ambon scorpionfish against many beautiful nudibranchs, a hunting 'broad club cuttlefish, egg hunting a crab shells that fell upon and consumed. This section of the bay is almost never dived before and here we went to investigate. There is a fairly shallow area is not as spectacular on the north side of the bay. In the Northeast (near the big rock as a large wall near the beach is) we were pleasantly surprised. This is a dive site for experienced divers, photographers and filmmakers in search of the very rare! Highly recommended.

TWIN BOULDERS

When visiting Komodo everyone goes ashore to the Komodo dragon to go see.
When the boats anchored in Komodo Bay pier where they see people build dinghies to shore. Left of the pier a few hundred meters to the beach are two large rocks together. This is a landmark for this dive site. Here too, never dived and went out by yourself out. In the shallow reef area is very badly damaged, but once you have the deeper part (5m +) look up, one is surprised by beautiful large hard corals and numerous fish.
Different types of cardinal perch, butterfly fish and goat fish. But juvenile batfish and angelfish in various stages of development.
We also found hidden under a block of coral coral kathaai (Atelomycterus marmoratus).
The dive site is fully protected and flow is almost nonexistent. It is an easy and relaxing dive with lots of beautiful things.

KOMODO BAY BEACH

Left of the pier, we explored the entire beach strip and had one of the most disappointing dive. Much damage to the coral. A plus is that is evident that protection of the reef and entered into force on the old coral rubble stabbing numerous small coral branches emerge. A reef in full restoration phase.

PADAR

Padar is the smaller island in the group of three islands that the Komodo National Park. It is located between Komodo and Rinca. It is a beautiful island with an impressive mountain terrain. Near Padar were some very interesting dive sites available.

STONE PILLAR

A dive site that is exposed to swell and currents. Impressive rock formations above and below water, it forms a spectacle of canyons and ravines. It is also quite deep and you can consider this as a wall dive. Flow to escape one seeks protection in the deep gorges cut by the rock formations separated. It's a place to see more marine life such as sharks and manta rays. Also with the lower animals there are interesting discoveries. So here I saw for the first time the slug 'Röstånga halgerda. Due to difficult circumstances, this dive site by many 'liveaboards' seldom visited.

Pantai PADAR Kecil

This is the small island located on the south side of the bay of Padar. The exploration dive that we made was rather disappointing and was characterized by poor visibility and few interesting marine life. It is a protected area that is exempt from currents and swell.

BATU PADAR

The beach portion of the bay is lined with a bright blue line, characteristic of a shallow end. Again we went to investigate. This section is mostly a sandy bottom with coral scarce vegetation. Unexpectedly there is a manta swam over. Visibility was not exceptional and the marine life is rather limited. In the very shallow part was the presence of massive numbers of Picasso triggerfish remarkable.

SECRET GARDEN

This is the top dive of Padar in my opinion. Near the eastern tip of the bay are two small islands. The dive site is located on the southwest side of these islands. It is a vast coral field which results in depth to a sandy area. There is also an impressive ridge starting at about 10m depth and culminating into the depths. There are other wonderful range and soft corals can be found. We were also beautiful nudibranchs, many species of reef fish and a manta swam slowly past. For the first time I saw here a juvenile "velvet angelfish" (Chaetodontoplus dimidiatus).

This place is suitable for all diving levels. You can deep (30m +) and go look around in the shallows. Beautiful dive site.

Rinca

On the north side of Rinca, the easternmost island of the Komodo group, there are still several smaller islands. Some of them also have beautiful dive sites.

SEBAYOR Kecil

A beautiful dive site, this reef formed by huge boulders covered with coral formations. The sand is white and the beautiful colors of the vast quantities of small rifvisjes who frolic above the coral reef is a breathtaking spectacle.

It is also a very easy dive site where the reef starts at 5m depth and then slowly at an angle of 45 ° a beautiful reef slope to slide down to 30 meters depth.

Under the white sands to everyone's surprise I found a telescope.

SEBAYOR Besar

Sebayor Besar is slightly larger island located east of Sebayor Kecil. Also sports a reef slope that we explored. Here there is markedly less coral growth and will dive more on a sandy area with very sparse vegetation coral.

WAINILU

Also on Rinca can land the Komodo dragon to go see. Guided tours are organized on Rinca and Komodo both. The rangers on Komodo but get my view less visited than the rangers on Komodo. When visiting Komodo lays the boat to a buoy near the height of the island Wainilu. This island is located on the north side of the little bay that provides access to the national park office. We made several dives near Wainilu. Increasing currents and poor visibility were typical. There is also damage to the coral reef and the great hordes of sea urchins that inhabit the reef is also evidence of this. In the bay itself near the pier, we made a diving well. This exploratory dive was a different experience. The view was worth it with a meter. However, there were masses of juvenile angelfish zesstrepen present. There were also several slugs, but not rare ones.

SOUTH Rinca - Horseshoe Bay

The most outstanding dive sites of "Horseshoe Bay" to the south of Rinca are already described on the page from Sumbawa to Komodo.

During this trip in January 2008, however, we explored some places never dived in "Horseshoe Bay".

NUSA CODE Kecil

On the northwest side of Nusa Kode, the island south of Rinca, a dive site is formed by a smaller island which a channel is formed between Nusa and Nusa Kode Kecil code. The current can be pretty but the supply of nutrient-rich water results in an extremely healthy coral piece with numerous reef fish.

The bottom of the canal is about 20m deep maximum. However, one can not hide from the flow and the dive should get the necessary timeline.

NORTH WEST BAY BEACH IN HORSE SHOE

A very wide beach can be seen in advance of the northwest side of the bay.

As on all the beaches of Rinca Komodo dragons are regularly seen wandering around looking for possible prey. Underwater, this strip of beach is also too barren.

It is a sandy plain stretching about 5 m depth is quite flat over a large territory. We found numerous naked snails belonging to the species and Gymnodoris Chelidonura. An absolute highlight was the sighting of two mimic octopus, which is about 5m apart in a hole in the sand stayed.

BATU DUA

This dive site I visited before and found it was ghost moray eels, nudibranchs and pygmy zeenaaldpaardje. Now back otherwise. There were ghost back to see moray eels.

The variety of nudibranchs is enormous and we found a bubble shell.
This dive site is situated on the opposite side of the rock that forms the northeast side of the dive site "torpedo alley." Prompted I visited during the so-called southern Rinca season in January.
By the predominantly westerly winds south Rinca more protected. The conditions for them to go there are generally rough and boisterous. This was no different.
Visibility under water was compared to the month of August are very different.
Cannibal Rock, torpedo alley allowed themselves to their best side with a visibility of about 25 to 30m under water. In August it is usually limited to 10 to 15m. A big difference.
Another big difference is the presence of strange critters. In August, Cannibal rock and Torpedo Alley real treasure rooms to small strange critters. Of these, however, no trace in January. Large quantities of torpedo rays (torpedo) no trace. We saw a grand total of just one!

During the months of the season (May to October) is generally very rough sea and small fishing boats can not reach beyond the bay. Now in January, this was possible, however, and they were always present. It is really sad to see that diving through some magazines placed in the top ten best diving spots in the world still may be fished by local residents.

FINGER BEACH

On the way to Labuan Bajo on Flores we took the route along the east side of Rinca. A tiny island would be a distinct fauna and flora entertained and I wanted to see it too. We caught our dive on a sandy reef slope. There was also a reasonable flow. Several nice nudibranchs and mantis crabs we saw but really extraordinary animals we took not true. It was not until the end of the dive when we were in a rather sheltered Reef zone prevented the flora and fauna have started to look very special. However, insufficient time to thoroughly delve around. Hopefully I get the chance to do so on the next occasion.