Batu Bolong Dive Site — Komodo National Park
Nestled within the heart of Indonesia's Komodo National Park, Batu Bolong ("Rock with a Hole") is a pinnacle of diving excellence. Often called one of the best dive sites in the world, it offers a window into the rich biodiversity of the Coral Triangle, teeming with life from the surface down to the deep.
The Majesty of Batu Bolong 🌊
At first glance, Batu Bolong appears deceptively simple—a small rock outcropping in the vast blue expanse. Yet, beneath the surface lies a bustling metropolis of marine creatures. The rock’s underwater structure plummets into the deep, adorned with a tapestry of corals that rivals any reef on the planet.
- Location
- Central Komodo
- Max Depth
- 70m+ (Bottomless)
- Skill Level
- Advanced / Exp. OW
- Current Type
- Strong Down-Currents
- Water Temp
- 26°C - 28°C
- Key Highlight
- "Fish Soup" Density
A Haven for Marine Life
Diving at Batu Bolong is like entering a rush-hour city underwater. The site is famed for stunning coral gardens clinging to steep walls. These corals provide food and shelter for a diverse array of life, from tiny colorful nudibranchs and fluttering schools of anthias to larger pelagic fish such as tunas and mackerels.
Conservation Efforts
As one of Komodo's premier sites, Batu Bolong is protected. Divers are encouraged to practice responsible behavior: maintain excellent buoyancy
and never touch the corals.
Crucial Rule: To protect the fragile ecosystem, Discover Scuba Diving (Intro) participants and snorkelers are strictly
prohibited from swimming around the rock.
Typical Dive Plan 🧭
Unlike a drift dive where you fly from A to B, Batu Bolong is usually a strategic exploration of the sheltered side.
We drop into the calm water protected by the rock. The current whips past the corners, but the center is calm.
We descend deep first, zig-zagging back and forth across the face of the rock to see the deep fans and sharks.
We approach the corners carefully to see the pelagic action, but turn back before the current sweeps us away.
We end the dive spiraling up to the shallows, where the coral colors are most vibrant in the sunlight.
Predators and Prey 🦈
The nutrient-rich waters support a dynamic food chain. It's common to witness the drama of nature as predatory fish hunt among the schools.
Giant Trevally, Dogtooth Tuna, and Spanish Mackerel patrol the blue water.
White Tip Reef Sharks resting in crevices and Grey Reef Sharks patrolling the deeper corners.
Millions of orange Anthias and Fusiliers moving in unison—the "fish soup" effect.
Though not a cleaning station, Manta Rays and sometimes Whale Sharks pass by in the blue.
Nearby Central Komodo Sites 🧩
Batu Bolong is often combined with these other famous Central Komodo sites.
Drift along the rubble bottom to watch majestic Manta Rays being cleaned.
Read Guide →A colorful drift dive featuring endless orange soft corals and turtles.
Read Guide →Known as "Turtle City" - a calmer site perfect for spotting green turtles.
Read Guide →Explore the full map of North, Central, and South Komodo.
View Map →Experience the Legend 🤿
Do not hesitate to contact Dragon Dive Komodo to organize your day trip to dive this wonderful site. We dive Batu Bolong regularly when tides allow.
Frequently Asked Questions
The currents around the rock are unpredictable and can pull swimmers down or away into open ocean (down-currents and eddies). For safety, snorkeling is not allowed here.
Batu Bolong is amazing year-round, but the dry season (April to November) generally offers the best visibility and surface conditions.
The pinnacle breaks the surface and drops down to over 70 meters. However, most of the dive is spent between 5m and 25m where the coral and fish life are densest.