Komodo is an island in eastern Indonesia, part of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, and one of the most distinctive destinations in the country for two specific reasons: the landscape above the water and the diving below it.
The landscape. Komodo is dry, hilly and dramatic, more reminiscent of Africa than the typical tropical Indonesian image. The hills turn yellow in the dry season and green in the wet, and the contrast with the blue water around the islands is one of the things that makes the place visually striking. The main highlight on land is Komodo National Park, a protected area covering several islands where you can hike and, with luck, spot the Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. The dragons themselves are impressive: large, slow but not to be underestimated, and best observed with a guide who knows how to keep the right distance.
The diving. Diving in Komodo is one of the strongest dive destinations in Asia, full stop. The combination of cold and warm currents creates exceptionally rich marine ecosystems, with healthy coral reefs and a marine biodiversity that is hard to match elsewhere in the region.
The reefs are dense and well preserved. Coral gardens stretch across the dive sites, with hundreds of species of fish moving through them at any given moment. Beyond the reefs, the marine life that draws most divers includes manta rays (particularly at Manta Alley), reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays and the occasional dolphin pod passing through.
The dive sites here often involve current. Drift dives are the norm rather than the exception, which means you let the water carry you along the reef while you watch the wildlife pass by. The currents can be strong, so most dive operations require Advanced Open Water certification and some recent diving experience for the more demanding sites.
Beyond the standard reef and drift dives, Komodo also has dramatic underwater topography. Steep walls drop from a few metres of depth straight into the blue, with sponges, gorgonians and hard corals covering the vertical surfaces. The visibility is generally good (15 to 30 metres depending on the season and the site), and the water temperature ranges from 22°C in the south to 28°C in the north, which is why a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit is the standard recommendation.
The most iconic dive sites in Komodo include Batu Bolong (a small pinnacle covered in marine life), Castle Rock and Crystal Rock (two seamounts with strong currents and reef sharks), and Manta Alley (a cleaning station for manta rays in the southern part of the park). Each of these sites delivers a different angle on what the park has to offer, and a week-long liveaboard typically covers all four.
If you are planning a trip to Indonesia and want to combine a unique landscape with serious diving, Komodo is a strong recommendation. The most efficient way to dive the park is on a liveaboard, which gives you access to the more remote sites and the ability to do three or four dives per day without the long boat transfers from Labuan Bajo. For a shorter trip, day-trip diving from Labuan Bajo also works, particularly if you focus on the northern sites of the park.
