Best Komodo Dive Sites – Real-World Guide from Local Pros

Manta rays, drifts, sharks, macro and untouched reefs: our hand-picked selection of the best dive sites in Komodo National Park, based on years of daily diving on site.

The dive sites of Komodo National Park are consistently ranked among the best dive sites in the world. Manta rays, big pelagics, reef sharks, pygmy seahorses, rare nudibranchs, explosive coral life – few places pack so much into such a compact area.

At Dragon Dive Komodo, we have been diving here year-round since 2015 and are the only French-speaking dive centre permanently based in Labuan Bajo. So be careful with “Komodo dive guides” online written by people who only dived here once 😉

Why Komodo’s dive sites are so special

Komodo National Park sits in the middle of the Indonesian Throughflow, between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This natural funnel drives huge quantities of water through narrow straits, creating strong, nutrient-rich currents.

The result: thriving coral reefs, huge schools of fish and regular encounters with the local “celebrities” :

• Manta rays (North, Central & South depending on the season)
• Reef sharks (grey, white tip, black tip)
• Big pelagics (giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, barracuda)
• Macro (pygmy seahorses, rare nudibranchs, orangutan crabs…)

No two sites are the same: current-swept pinnacles, walls, coral gardens, sheltered bays for macro, roller-coaster drifts… This variety of dive profiles is what makes Komodo so addictive.

North, Central, South Komodo – three zones, three moods

Before we list the top sites, it’s crucial to understand the basic “dive map” of Komodo:

• North Komodo – generally warmer, clearer water, strong currents, big pinnacles (Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, Cauldron). Perfect for experienced divers who love sharks, trevallies and huge fish action.
• Central Komodo – the ideal mix for most levels, with icons like Batu Bolong, Tatawa Kecil, Siaba Besar, Makassar / Manta Point. This is where most daily dive trips take place.
• South Komodo – cooler, plankton-rich water, wild “edge-of-the-world” feeling with sites like Manta Alley, Yellow Wall, Cannibal Rock. Best explored on our Shenron liveaboard at the right time of year.

Seasonality really matters here:

• North & Central: generally best from March to November.
• Central & South: generally best from December to early / mid-March.

Best Komodo dive sites (Dragon Dive Komodo selection)

Below is a non-exhaustive but solid list of must-dive sites, based on years of daily guiding in the park. We only go there when conditions and diver experience are right.

Batu Bolong – the “fish tornado” (Central)

Batu Bolong is probably the single most famous dive site in Komodo National Park. It’s a rocky pinnacle rising almost to the surface, fully exposed to powerful currents. Its slopes are covered in hard corals and huge sponges.

The fish density here is mind-blowing: white-tip reef sharks, humphead wrasse, dogtooth tuna, turtles, clouds of fusiliers, giant sweetlips and hundreds of reef species. Macro lovers can also find pygmy seahorses, rare nudibranchs and orangutan crabs.

Typical profile:

• Recommended level: Advanced Open Water minimum + recent current experience.
• Current: can be very strong – we only dive it in a safe, narrow tidal window.
• Highlights: insane fish life throughout the water column, both big animals and macro.

Tatawa Kecil – the underrated gem (Central)

Tatawa Kecil is a stunning site and still surprisingly quiet compared to more famous spots. You’ll find swim-throughs, dramatic rock formations, walls and a very rich coral reef.

In the right conditions this site has everything: eagle rays, giant trevallies, sharks, big groupers, sea snakes, mobulas and mantas, fusiliers, hawksbill turtles, tuna, barracuda, morays, napoleon wrasse… The eastern wall is a dream for macro fans, with plenty of invertebrates and nudibranchs.

Typical profile:

• Recommended level: very experienced divers only.
• Current: strong to very strong – only diveable in a specific, safe tidal window.
• Highlights: big & small stuff, unique topography, high-energy dive.

Manta Alley – South manta cathedral

Manta Alley is one of South Komodo’s most legendary sites. A cluster of small rocky islets offshore hides several cleaning and feeding stations that attract mantas in serious numbers.

The dive usually starts on a shallow reef and continues as a drift depending on the current. From November to March, when the water is cooler and plankton-rich, it’s not unusual to see 30–40 manta rays on a single dive.

Typical profile:

• Best season: Central & South itineraries from December to early/mid-March.
• Marine life: mantas, reef sharks, schools of fusiliers, trevallies, triggerfish, big wrasse.
• Best access: via Shenron liveaboard to link several South sites in one trip.

Manta Point / Takat Makassar – manta highway (Central)

Manta Point (aka Takat Makassar, or Makassar Reef) is a huge plateau around 2.5 km long, easily one of the largest single dive areas in the park.

There are many cleaning stations between 6–12 m, which makes it ideal for both divers and snorkellers. In good conditions, you can see 40–50 mantas cruising, feeding and getting cleaned over the reef.

You’ll also often see turtles, bamboo sharks, black-tips, eagle rays, giant trevallies, giant clams, cuttlefish, blue-ring octopus, yellow butterflyfish and more.

Typical profile:

• Level: accessible from Open Water with solid buoyancy control.
• Depth: main action zone 6–18 m.
• Highlights: mantas, easy depth, great for mixed groups (divers + snorkellers).

The Cauldron (Shotgun) – North Komodo roller-coaster

The Cauldron is one of North Komodo’s most iconic drifts. You start over an intact coral garden, then drop into a huge bowl-shaped depression where the current accelerates and literally slingshots you out like a natural water slide.

It’s a top site to watch predator hunting action: clouds of small fish chased by reef sharks, giant trevallies and other pelagics on the move. The golden rule here: don’t fight the current – use it.

Typical profile:

• Level: experienced divers only, comfortable in strong currents.
• Highlights: high-adrenaline ride + big-fish action.

Yellow Wall – one of South Komodo’s prettiest walls

Yellow Wall is often cited as one of the most beautiful walls in Komodo – some would say in all of Indonesia. The site gets its name from thousands of tiny bright-yellow sea cucumbers covering the rock.

The wall starts around 5 m and drops well beyond 60 m, but the richest life is generally found in the 15–25 m range. This means it’s suitable for both guided beginners and experienced divers.

Expect an amazing variety of invertebrates – nudibranchs, crabs, shrimp – especially on night dives. The abundance of sponges and corals attracts tons of colourful reef fish, and deeper down you may spot triggerfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, snappers, green turtles and reef sharks.

Castle Rock – pelagic cathedral (North)

Castle Rock is a huge underwater pinnacle with a shallow top at around 4 m, dropping to 40 m and beyond. Currents can be very strong here, but visibility is often excellent from April to October.

It’s a shark and pelagic hotspot: grey reef sharks, white & black tips, eagle rays, schools of tuna and barracuda, giant trevallies, groupers, napoleon wrasse, occasional mantas and even dolphins passing by.

Because the current is often stronger in the upper water layer than at depth, you’ll also find more sheltered zones with surprisingly good macro life.

Crystal Rock – clear, powerful, spectacular (North)

Crystal Rock is another North Komodo highlight, again reserved for experienced divers due to sometimes extreme currents. It’s a pinnacle covered in soft corals, sponges and sea fans, with the top sometimes breaking the surface at low tide.

As the name suggests, the water is often crystal clear. Expect grey, white-tip and black-tip sharks, batfish, jumbo jacks, tuna schools, eagle rays, snappers, fusiliers, napoleon wrasse, groupers, angelfish, parrotfish schools, clouds of anthias and more.

When the current becomes too strong, you can tuck into more sheltered edges that reveal incredible coral gardens, rich in sea fans with pygmy seahorses, cuttlefish and many nudibranchs. Crystal Rock is also a fantastic macro site, which makes it quite unique for the North.

Siaba Besar – “Turtle City” (Central)

Siaba Besar is a sheltered bay, ideal for less experienced divers, refresh dives or those who simply want a super-relaxed, turtle-filled immersion. It’s often nicknamed “Turtle City” because of how many turtles you can see on a single dive.

Visibility is usually very good, the reef is in excellent condition and the macro can be rewarding too (cuttlefish, frogfish, ghost pipefish…). It’s also a great site for many PADI courses.

Other Komodo dive sites we absolutely love

Beyond the big-name sites, Komodo is full of less famous but equally fantastic dives. Some of our favourites include:

• Police Corner: at the tip of Siaba, with stunning overhangs and relief – only diveable in the right tide and sea state.
• Tanjung Loh Sera: in the South, for divers looking for that true “end-of-the-world” atmosphere.
• Pengah Kecil: rich, lively reef – excellent for intermediate difficulty dives.
• Batu Tiga: sometimes brutal current but insane predator action and big pelagics when conditions align.

For an even more extensive breakdown (depths, orientation, best season), also check:  Komodo National Park dive sites.

Dive the best Komodo sites with a French-speaking local team

When you choose Dragon Dive Komodo, you dive with a team that lives here year-round, speaks French and English, and knows every site, tide and quirk of the park.

• Daily dive trips to Central and North from our resort with pool.
• Shenron liveaboard cruises combining North, Central & South at the ideal times of year.
• Small groups: max 4–5 divers per guide, detailed briefings in French or English.
• PADI 5★ IDC & PADI Eco Center: safety, teaching quality and ocean-friendly practices.

FAQ – Diving Komodo’s top sites