Liveaboard Komodo – Dive Sites of the Dragon
Posted on Mar 19, 2009 under Scuba Diving | No CommentConsidered by many the diving destination of a lifetime, the magical and awe inspiring Komodo Islands National Park is approximately 340 nautical miles east of the beautiful island of Bali, Indonesia. The national park is in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between Sumbawa and Flores Islands, and is most easily accessed by Komodo Liveaboard diving from Bali or Labuanbajo. An area of legend from the time of Dutch sailors in the seventeenth 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 magnificent Komodo dragon, but efforts have now been expanded to include the entire biosphere, 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 diverse environments on the planet and great effort should be made to preserve it for future generations.
Komodo Liveaboard diving is not new by any stretch of the imagination, but it is only recently that the biological importance of the area has come to the attention of experienced divers and established Komodo as a world class 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 to the west by the strait of Sape. In the middle of the strait, the dark blue water only drops to a maximum of 300 meters. It is these relatively shallow seas and the obstruction created by 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 seas bring nutrients and plankton to keep the Komodo waters rich and teeming with life. These unusual conditions have created a diving environment that is truly outstanding 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 the most experienced of divers.There are few places left on the planet where divers can experience such a bounty of marine life 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 spectacular range of dazzling sponges, sea squirts, tunicates, and corals. The Komodo Islands has been declared by many as a macro enthusiast’s paradise found.
One of the highlights of every Indonesia Liveaboard safari to Komodo is the rare opportunity to walk with the ominous Komodo dragon. An alert and agile predator these awesome beasts 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. Hiking through the bush of Komodo is an experience that should fill you with anticipation and will not soon be forgotten. World Class Diving and a rendezvous with one of the world’s last surviving dinosaur descendants all on one amazing dive safari, what more is there?
When should you dive the Komodo Islands? 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 incredible, and there are unbelievable congregations of large pelagic’s. Diving Komodo is best accomplished on a world class Komodo Liveaboard from beautiful Bali or Flores Islands. Be one of only a few to explore this legendary and thrilling diving location. Macro to massive there is no better liveaboard diving anywhere in the world, Komodo has it all.