Small-group dive boats in Komodo
Four private boats — Shiryu, Smaug, our fast speedboat Spyro and the Shenron liveaboard — to explore Komodo National Park with 4 divers per guide (5 maximum), never shared with other dive centers. While big operators load 35–40 divers on one boat, we cap ours at 16. Emergency oxygen on every boat, Rescue & EFR certified guides.
Never a crowd
14 divers on Shiryu, 16 on Smaug, 6 on Spyro — vs 35–40 on mass-market boats.
Divers per guide
Small groups underwater, detailed briefings, a pace matched to your level.
Private fleet
Our boats are never shared with other dive centers.
To Batu Bolong
Spyro, our speedboat: half-day trips, flexible departures, private charter.
Spyro – The new way to dive Komodo
Our fast speedboat changes the rules: half-day diving, flexible departures, private charters and night dives — everything the classic day-boat schedule can't do.
New in the fleet
6 divers. Batu Bolong in 30 minutes.
Spyro is our answer to divers who don't want to spend their day on a slow boat. Reach Komodo's iconic sites fast, dive in a tiny group, and be back for lunch — or go again in the afternoon.
- 6 divers max — the smallest group in our fleet
- Batu Bolong in 30 min from Labuan Bajo
- Half-day trips — 2 dives morning or afternoon
- Flexible departures — confirm up to 4h before, or the day before for park clearance
- Night dives on request
- Lunch on a Komodo beach — not on a crowded deck
- Private charter — the boat, your group, your program
- Perfect for short stays, families & custom trips
Shiryu, Smaug, Spyro & Shenron – Our Komodo fleet
Four complementary boats to cover full-day trips, half-day speedboat dives, PADI courses and liveaboard cruises in Komodo National Park.
Shiryu – Premium day boat
Max 14 diversOur flagship for full-day trips in the park. Spacious, stable and comfortable for long dive days, with toilets and fresh-water showers on board.
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Hot lunch on board
Fruits, snacks & drinks between dives.
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Dive-friendly layout
Set-up areas, shade, sun deck & easy entries.
Smaug – Courses & guided dives
Max 16 diversDesigned for PADI teaching and guided dives: clear briefings, space for exercises and smooth logistics from Labuan Bajo.
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PADI courses on board
Open Water, Advanced, Rescue & specialties.
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Comfort & safety
Full safety equipment, crew used to training dives.
Spyro – Fast speedboat
Max 6 diversOur speedboat for half-day dives, private charters and night dives. Batu Bolong in 30 minutes, departures confirmed up to 4 hours before.
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2 dives, half a day
Morning or afternoon — your schedule, not ours.
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Beach lunch
Meal served on a quiet Komodo beach.
Shenron – Komodo liveaboard
Up to 10 guestsOur boutique liveaboard for multi-day trips: private cabins and dorm beds, warm common areas, 3–4 dives per day and Nitrox included for certified divers.
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Sleep on site
Wake up next to the dive sites, zero commute.
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North, Central & South
Itineraries adapted to season and conditions.
Dragon Dive vs mass-market operators in Komodo
Many operators focus on volume: one big boat, 35–40 divers, one schedule for everyone. We chose the opposite: a private fleet of four boats, small groups and flexible formats, to get the best out of Komodo National Park.
Dragon Dive – Private fleet
- • 4 boats never shared with other centers.
- • Max 16 divers per boat — only 6 on Spyro.
- • 4 divers per guide (5 maximum) underwater.
- • Half-day, night dive & private charter options.
- • Fixed crew who know the sites & currents.
- • PADI 5★ IDC dive resort on land.
Mass-market operators
- • Boats often shared between several centers.
- • 35–40 divers on board.
- • One fixed schedule, long waiting times.
- • Harder to adapt to each diver's level.
- • No half-day or private options.
- • Higher pressure on the dive sites.
Safety — what you have the right to know before boarding
Our standards, point by point. Not marketing: verifiable operational commitments, applied on all four of our boats — Spyro included.
Emergency oxygen on board
Every one of our four boats carries a complete O₂ kit (cylinder, high-concentration mask, flow regulator), checked and refilled before every trip. Oxygen is the first response to a decompression incident.
Rescue + EFR certified guides
All our divemasters and instructors are certified PADI Rescue Diver and EFR (first aid & CPR), with certifications renewed regularly — a PADI 5★ IDC center obligation, not an option.
Strict ratio underwater
4 divers per guide (5 maximum) on every dive. Nobody dives without direct supervision, and we never overbook our boats.
Active DAN coordination
Divers Alert Network (DAN) is our emergency reference: local contacts, the DAN Asia-Pacific hotline and the hyperbaric evacuation protocol are built into our guides' training.
Inspected & maintained equipment
ScubaPro equipment serviced to the manufacturer's schedule: regulators overhauled annually, wetsuits and BCDs inspected before every season.
Systematic current briefing
Every dive is preceded by a detailed briefing: site map, current direction, signals, surface meeting point and emergency procedure. Mandatory for everyone on board.
Pick-up boat on the surface
The captain follows the surface marker buoys (SMB) throughout the dive and picks divers up as soon as they surface, whatever the drift.
Dive insurance recommended
We strongly recommend DAN insurance before diving Komodo: the nearest hyperbaric chambers are in Bali or Makassar, and an uninsured evacuation can be extremely expensive.
Protocol in case of a diving incident
Komodo is a remote site with powerful currents. In an emergency, every minute counts. Here is exactly what our teams do.
Immediate exit from the water — the guide signals the captain, controlled ascent and the diver is secured on board as fast as possible.
O₂ administration — the oxygen kit is activated immediately, O₂ delivered continuously to the injured diver during transport.
DAN call + medical coordination — contact with DAN Asia-Pacific (+65 6733 3554), symptom assessment and real-time medical instructions.
Return to Labuan Bajo + hospital alert — immediate course for Labuan Bajo, coordination with the local hospital (RSUD) and pre-alert for hyperbaric evacuation if needed.
Hyperbaric evacuation if required — in coordination with DAN, transfer to the hyperbaric chamber in Bali (BIMC) or Makassar, with medical air transport if required.
Our Komodo dive boats in pictures
A well-maintained private fleet, designed for diving, with practical layouts and chill-out zones between dives.
Spyro – lunch stop on a quiet Komodo beach
Shenron – dining & lounge area
Spacious decks, shade & views over Komodo islands
How to choose your Komodo dive boat
Full day, half day or liveaboard: the boat you choose shapes the quality of your Komodo diving experience.
Why a private small-group boat matters in Komodo
Komodo's currents can be strong and dive logistics require real organisation. On a boat with 35–40 divers, it's much harder to manage different experience levels, entry timing and comfort — and a lot of your day is spent waiting.
By deliberately capping our boats — 14 divers on Shiryu, 16 on Smaug, 6 on Spyro — with 4 divers per guide (5 maximum), we can adapt sites, timing and profiles to your experience. You get the most out of iconic spots like Batu Bolong, Castle Rock, Manta Point or Siaba Besar.
Fewer people on board also means more space to keep your gear dry, prep your camera, or simply relax between dives.
Mantas & spectacular drift dives
Detailed safety briefings before every dive
Shiryu, Smaug, Spyro or Shenron – which one is right for you?
Staying in Labuan Bajo with full days to dive? Shiryu and Smaug are made for you: morning departure, 2–3 dives on North & Central sites, back late afternoon to your hotel or our dive resort.
Short on time, travelling with non-divers, or want your own program? Spyro gives you 2 dives in half a day, morning or afternoon, with flexible departures confirmed up to 4 hours before — plus private charters and night dives on request.
And to live Komodo 24/7, Shenron lets you sleep on board, wake up next to the sites and link dives across North, Central and South depending on the season — see our Komodo liveaboard trips.
Our team will help you pick the right boat and program based on your experience level, time in Komodo and travel period.
Combine our hotel with daily dive trips
Dive & Stay packages in Labuan Bajo
FAQ – Komodo dive boats with Dragon Dive
How many divers do you take on your boats?
Shiryu takes a maximum of 14 divers, Smaug 16, our speedboat Spyro only 6, and the Shenron liveaboard up to 10 guests. Underwater, we keep a ratio of 4 divers per guide (5 maximum) — far from the 35–40 diver boats you'll see elsewhere in Komodo.
Do you share your boats with other dive centers?
No. Our fleet is 100% private for Dragon Dive guests. You will never end up on a boat shared between multiple operators.
Do your boats carry emergency oxygen?
Yes, without exception. Every one of our four boats — Spyro included — carries a complete O₂ kit (cylinder, high-concentration mask, flow regulator), checked and refilled before every trip. Oxygen is the first response to a decompression incident.
What happens in case of a diving incident in Komodo?
Our protocol: immediate exit from the water → O₂ administration → call to DAN Asia-Pacific (+65 6733 3554) → return to Labuan Bajo with local hospital coordination → hyperbaric evacuation to Bali (BIMC) or Makassar if needed. Our guides are briefed and drilled on this protocol every season. We strongly recommend taking out DAN insurance before your arrival.
Are your guides trained in first aid?
Yes. All our divemasters and instructors are certified PADI Rescue Diver and EFR (first aid and CPR), with certifications renewed regularly. Dragon Dive is a PADI 5★ IDC center: ongoing staff training is an obligation, not an option.
What makes Spyro different from your other boats?
Spyro is a fast speedboat for 6 divers: Batu Bolong in about 30 minutes, 2 dives in half a day (morning or afternoon), lunch served on a Komodo beach, and departures that can be confirmed up to 4 hours before — or the day before when park clearance is required. It's also our boat for private charters and night dives.
Can I charter a private boat in Komodo?
Yes. Spyro can be chartered privately: your group, your schedule, your sites — including half-day trips and night dives. Contact us on WhatsApp with your dates and group size and we'll build a custom program.
Do your boats have toilets and showers?
Shiryu and Smaug feature marine toilets and fresh-water showers, and Shenron has full bathrooms. Spyro, as a fast open speedboat on short half-day trips, has no bathroom on board — trips include a stop on a Komodo beach.
Is Nitrox available on board?
Yes, for certified divers. On day trips of 1–2 days, Nitrox is 150,000 IDR per day; from 3-day dive packages onwards it's free (subject to availability). On the Shenron liveaboard, Nitrox is included for certified divers. We can also train you for the PADI Enriched Air specialty.
What's the difference between a day trip, a half-day on Spyro and a liveaboard?
On a full-day trip (Shiryu/Smaug), you leave Labuan Bajo in the morning and return late afternoon after 2–3 dives. On Spyro, you do 2 dives in half a day, morning or afternoon, thanks to the speedboat's fast transit. On a liveaboard (Shenron), you live on board for several days with 3–4 dives per day on more remote sites.
Can I book last minute?
On Spyro, yes: departures can be confirmed up to 4 hours before, or the day before when Komodo National Park clearance is required. For Shiryu, Smaug and Shenron, we recommend booking ahead — check live availability on our booking page.
How can I book a spot on your boats?
The easiest way is WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-490 or our contact form. Tell us your dates, dive level and whether you prefer day trips, Spyro half-days or the liveaboard, and we'll send a detailed proposal.
Ready to jump on board?
Full day on Shiryu or Smaug, half-day speed run on Spyro, or a multi-day cruise on Shenron — our team takes care of everything: safety, comfort and carefully selected dive sites in Komodo National Park.