KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

The islands Komodo - Padar - Rinca

On the page of Sumbawa to Komodo You can already find some descriptions of dive sites within the Komodo National Park. This page is a little further in detail with an update of information on the sites that I visited in January 2008.

KOMODO

GILI LAWA Darat

This island is located just south of 'Gili Lawa laut'. We explored the north bay of Komodo who looked quite nice. Beautiful coral reef garden with large quantities. In shallow or limited damage to the reef noticeable. We found there to our surprise also mandarin fish. The passage between Komodo and Gili Lawa Darat is a narrow passage and there are beautiful bays formed. Both sides 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 group on the coral rubble and in the shallow end I found a sand area with a very large colony kaakvissen.Hoewel the reef in poor condition wrong I found at the end of the coral strip a sandy area, there are two kraboog gobies ( Signigobius biocellatus).

The very first time I could see them myself. In nature

Batu Bolong

The islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca are separated by vast sea channels that form the connection between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. The tides provide a massive displacement that is clearly visible here. Tornadoes of swirling water, opstuwend bodies of water do the water surface like a boiling whole look.

In the midst of this great flow Batu Bolong. Lies A dive for 'dare' and one that is certainly not suitable for novice divers. A small island just a few tens of meters in circumference is surrounded by the flow and diving should be carefully planned here. The guidelines of the dive leader must be followed strictly.

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

Beautiful unspoiled coral in crystal clear water. When one looks at the corners it looks mantas in the flow just go back to swim forward. In an attempt Napoleon wrasse and several shark species feel it in their element.

Kareng Macassar

When the Komodo National Park inland from north to south in the west one sees a large shallow water area with some 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 playground of the mantas where they gather their food in the strong current. The shallow area here is quite large and the best way to be sure to see the mantas by the dinghy slowly pass over the area. Once manta rays observed from the surface will be there to water. The soil is sparse vegetation, because of the prevailing currents, and thus allows divers to the bottom of it to behold. Manta the spectacle a place

THE SLUGS dive site

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

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

Fully protected for flow, this is a great dive site for many slugs who want to see and / or photograph. The reef slope starts at 3m depth and bodemt out at about 15m depth.

Pantah Merah (Pink Beach)

Before one inland bay, near Komodo, where the office of the national park is located one passes Pantah Merah. It is one of the most famous dive sites of Komodo: Pink Beach (pink beach). Indeed, the short stretches of sand have a pink appearance from which the name of the dive site. Currents can be quite strong here too. Usually this dive started on the northeast side than to southwestern to drift with the current. 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 formation full of life. Frogfish, beautiful nudibranchs, schools of snappers and sweetlips.

It's all there present. If you feel the flow leaves drift leads after some time back on a sandy area. There is usually terminated the dive. I had the pleasure in a very strong current dive to explore. Further portion Again beautiful hard corals in good condition with masses of smaller rifvisjes.Een not so known part is the other side of 'Pink Beach' which is done as a night dive site. By some boats However, night diving is not as spectacular as the soil is predominantly 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 regular observation of blue-ringed octopus. I could have come across a copy for the 2nd time ever. Itself, In a 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 discovered by own exploration is one of the best muck dive sites in Komodo. During a dive I found ambon scorpionfish against various beautiful nudibranchs, a hunting 'broadclub' sepia, hunting egg shells and a crab raided verorberden. In this part of the bay is almost never dived here and so we were exploring. There is a fairly shallow not as spectacular area on the north side of the bay. In the north (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 videographers looking for the extremely rare! An absolute must.

TWIN BOULDERS

When you visit Komodo everyone goes ashore to the Komodo dragon to go and see.
When the boats anchored in Komodo bay they see the pier where dinghies construction to bring people. Ashore Links from this pier a few hundred meters are on the beach two large boulders together. This is the landmark for this dive site. Again, never dived before and we went out to explore themselves. In the shallow reef area is very badly damaged but once one the deeper part (5m +) looking up, one is surprised by big beautiful hard corals and numerous fish.
Different types of cardinalfish, butterfly fish and goat fish. But juvenile batfish and emperor fish in different stages of development.
We also found hidden under a coral block a coral greater spotted dogfish (Atelomycterus marmoratus).
The dive site is fully protected and flow is almost nonexistent. It is an easy and relaxing dive with many beautiful things.

KOMODO BAY BEACH

To the left of the pier we explored the entire beach strip and had one of the most disappointing diving. Much damage to the coral. Plus point is that noticeable is that protection of the reef became operational and the old rubble stabbing numerous small coral branches on the head. A reef in full repair phase.

PADAR

Padar is the smaller island in the group of three islands that form the Komodo National Park. It is located between Komodo and Rinca. It is a beautiful island with impressive mountain relief. Close Padar were also found. Some very interesting dive sites

PILLAR STONE

A dive site that is exposed to swell and currents. Impressive rock formations are there under and above water a spectacle of canyons and ravines. It is also quite deep and one can consider this as a wall dive. To escape flow one seeks protection in the deep gorges cut separating the rock formations. It is a place to see such as sharks and manta rays. Larger marine life Even with the lower animals are interesting discoveries. So I saw here for the first time the slug 'Rostanga halgerda. Due to difficult circumstances, this dive site rarely visited by many 'liveaboards'.

PANTAI PADAR Kecil

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

BATU PADAR

The beach part of the bay is lined with a bright blue line, characteristic of a shallow area. Again we went exploring. This section is mainly a sandy bottom with coral sparse vegetation. Quite unexpectedly swam a manta over. The visibility was not exceptional and the underwater life rather limited. In the very shallow end was the presence of huge numbers of Picasso triggerfish very striking.

SECRET GARDEN

This is the top dive site 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 the islands. It is a vast field coral that juts into the deep to a sandy area. There is also an impressive ridge starting at about 10m depth and that leads to the depths. There are wonderful range and other soft corals are reflected. We found there 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 +) go and look around in the shallow end. Beautiful dive site.

RINCA

On the north side of Rinca, the eastern island of Komodo group 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 huge amounts of small reef fish that frolic above the coral reef is a breathtaking spectacle.

It is also a very easy dive site where the reef starts at 5m depth to glide up to 30 meters depth. Then slowly at an angle of 45 ° a beautiful reef slope off

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

SEBAYOR Besar

Sebayor Besar is slightly larger island located east of Sebayor Kecil. Again back a reef slope that we explored. Here, however, there is remarkably less coral growth and is the dive more over a sandy area with very sparse vegetation coral.

WAINILU

Also on Rinca one can go and see. Ashore to the Komodo dragon Guided tours are organized on both Komodo and Rinca. However, the rangers to Rinca get in my opinion less visit the park rangers on Komodo. When visiting Rinca the boat stops near a buoy at the height of the island Wainilu. This island is located on the north side of the small bay that provides access to the national park office. We made near Wainilu different dives. Always flow and poor visibility were typical. There is also damage to the coral reef and the major hurdles sea urchins that inhabit the reef are also evidence of this. In the bay itself near the pier we also made a dive. This exploration dive was an experience. The view was with difficulty a meter. There were, however, here masses juvenile zesstrepen emperor fish present. There were also several slugs but not rare.

SOUTH RINCA - Horseshoe Bay

The most extraordinary dive sites of 'horseshoe bay' on the south side of Rinca are already described on pages from Sumbawa to Komodo.

However, during this trip in January 2008 we explored some places never dived in 'horseshoe bay.

NUSA CODE Kecil

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

The bottom of the channel is about 20m deep maximum. One can not, however, hide the flow and the dive must therefore take given the necessary planning.

NORTH BEACH IN HORSESHOE BAY

A very wide sandy anticipation can be seen in the north-west side of the bay.

As on all the beaches of Rinca one sees regularly Komodo dragons roam around looking for a possible prey. Underwater, this beach strip also too bare.

It is a stretched sandy plain about 5 m depth that relatively flat extending over a large area. We found large number of naked snails belonging to the species and Gymnodoris Chelidonura. An absolute highlight was the sighting of two mimic octopus who stayed at about 5m apart in a hole in the sand.

BATU DUA

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

The variety of nudibranchs is huge and we also found a bubble shell.
This dive site is situated on the other side of the rock that forms the northeast side of the dive site 'Torpedo alley. "On the advice I visited South Rinca during the so-called low season in January.
The predominantly westerly winds south Rinca more protected. The conditions to switch to sail are generally rough and boisterous. This was no different.
Underwater visibility was compared to the month of August, however, quite different.
Cannibal rock, torpedo alley showed their best side is with a view of about 25 to 30m underwater. In August, this is usually limited to 10 to 15m. A big difference.
However, another big difference is the presence of strange critters. In August were Cannibal rock and Torpedo alley real treasure rooms to small weird critters. Of them, however, in January no trace. The large amounts torpedo rays (torpedo) no longer track. We saw only a grand total!

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

FINGER BEACH

On the way back to Labuan Bajo on Flores we took the route along the east side of Rinca. A very small island there would be a separate fauna and flora to variation and that I also wanted to see you. We caught our dive on a sandy reef slope. There was also a reasonable flow. Several beautiful slugs and mantis lobsters we saw but really exceptional animals we took not true. It was only at the end of the dive when we came in a rather sheltered Reef zone that the flora and fauna there began to look very special. Insufficient time to thoroughly delve around. Hopefully I get the chance to do so at the next opportunity.