Considered by many the diving destination of a lifetime, the legendary and remote Komodo Islands are approximately 490 kilometers east of the island paradise of Bali, Indonesia. The park which lies in the center of Indonesia, between Flores and Sumbawa Islands, is most easily accessed by Komodo Liveaboard Safari. An area of legend from the time of Dutch sailors in the 17th century to the present day, Komodo was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1986. Initially, the main purpose of the park was to conserve the habitat of the imposing Komodo dragon, but efforts have now been expanded to include the entire ecosystem, marine and terrestrial. It is finally understood by the scientific and diving communities that this small area of Indonesia is one of the most biologically rich habitats on the planet and great effort should be made to preserve it for future generations of divers.

The biological importance of Komodo has now come to the attention of well travelled divers and established the park as a must see diving destination. The challenging diving conditions of the area and the proliferation of marine life rivals the planets top dive destinations and truly elevates the Komodo Islands National park to another level.  Geologically part of Flores Island, the Komodo and Rinca Islands are separated from Sumbawa Island to the west by the strait of Sape. In the middle of the strait, the sea only drops to a maximum of 300 meters. It is these relatively shallow seas and the obstruction of the many small islands between Flores and the west coast of Komodo that often create raging currents during tidal changes when the higher tidal waters of the Pacific Ocean in the north flow through to the Indian Ocean in the south. In addition, the upwelling’s from the deep surrounding waters bring nutrients and plankton to keep the Komodo waters rich and teeming with life. It is this combination of conditions that has created a diving environment that is spectacular and at times adrenaline filled.

From calm and colorful shallow reefs teeming with thousands of colorful fish and unusual invertebrates, to current swept deep water sea mounts, walls, and  massive pinnacles patrolled by sharks, tuna and other big pelagic’s Komodo has it all for experienced divers looking for their next big challenge.There are few places left on the earth where divers can experience such a bounty of aquatic species and such extraordinary diving conditions. Whale sharks, sunfish,  giant mantas, eagle rays, pygmy seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, clown frogfish, nudibranchs, and the blue-ringed octopus are all at home here among a never ending range of dazzling sponges, sea squirts, tunicates, and corals. Komodo has been declared by many to be a macro enthusiast’s paradise found.

One of the most popular activities on every Indonesia Liveaboards cruise to Komodo is the unique opportunity to walk with the ominous Komodo dragon. An alert and agile carnivore these awesome animals can reach 2.5 meters in length and weigh and an astonishing 125 kilos.  Known to the locals as ‘Ora’ there are about eleven hundred of the world’s largest flesh eating lizard living on Komodo Island and another five hundred on nearby Rinca Island.  Walking through the forests of Komodo is an experience that should not be taken lightly and will not soon be forgotten. World Class Diving and an encounter with one of the world’s last surviving dinosaur descendants all on one amazing diving cruise, what more can you ask for?

When is the best time to dive Komodo? The Komodo Liveaboard diving season is year round, with the best diving conditions from April thru December. It is during these months that the seas are most calm, the visibility is spectacular, and there are massive congregations of large pelagic’s. Diving Komodo is best accomplished on one of our world class Komodo Liveaboards from beautiful Bali or Flores Islands. Be one of the few to explore this legendary and thrilling diving destination. Macro to massive there is no better liveaboard diving anywhere on the planet, Komodo has it all.

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Tags: adventures, bali, diving, indonesia, komodo, liveaboard, scuba