Komodo

Where is Komodo National Park?

The five star Indonesia liveaboard diving destination of Komodo National Park is situated in East Indonesia and is found in a narrow channel (sometimes called the Lesser Sunda Islands) in the middle of Sumbawa (East Nusa Tenggara) and Flores (West Nusa Tenggara).  The National Park is made up of three main islands – Komodo, Rincah (also known as Rinca), Padar and 26 smaller ones covering an area of nearly 2,000 km2.

This area is also part of the ‘Coral Triangle’ (the tropical marine waters of The Philippines, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Malaysia and Indonesia with each eco-region containing at least 500 reef building coral species), which is often citied as offering Indonesia’s best scuba diving.  As a result, Komodo has become a very popular Indonesia diving liveaboard destination, and there are many different Komodo liveaboard dive boats and Komodo diving safaris to choose from for your Indonesia scuba diving liveaboard vacation.

Komodo National Park was originally designated as a National Park in 1980 to protect the world’s largest lizard – the Komodo Dragon (all Komodo scuba diving liveaboard cruises include trips ashore in search of these famous dragons).  However, this safeguard was later expanded so that other species including marine species were also protected.  In 1991, the Komodo National Park was declared and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In recent years - the Komodo National Park has also been selected as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

How to get there

The Komodo National Park is best experienced by way of Indonesia liveaboard diving boat, on a Komodo liveaboard diving tour.

Bali and Labuan Bajo serve as the main gateways to Komodo, and almost all Komodo diving liveaboard holidays are on Bali liveaboards that have set sail from Benoa in Bali or on Labuan Bajo liveaboards out of Flores. However Komodo divers can also reach Komodo on a Bima liveaboard originating from Bima, Sumbawa. Typical Komodo scuba diving liveaboard trips are between 5 to 10 days, with the most popular usually being the 8 to 9 day Komodo liveaboard dive safaris.

If your chosen Indonesia diving liveaboard cruise departs from Bali, then it is very easy and you just fly into Denpasar, Bali. If however your Komodo dive tour departs from Flores or Sumbawa - not to worry and you just need to take an additional internal flight from Denpasar Bali to Labuan Bajo in Flores OR Bima in Sumbawa.

All Indonesia scuba diving liveaboards offer very different Komodo diving liveaboard itineraries and points of departure. Some Komodo scuba diving liveaboard trips even set sail from one location but finish up at another – without returning to the original point of departure.

It is therefore very important that you duly note the start and finish locations of your chosen Komodo liveaboard safari - as well as the full Indonesia liveaboard diving itinerary to make sure you have the correct travel information beforehand.

one of the best dive sites in Indonesia

Regarded by many as one of the world’s top diving destinations Komodo is certainly one of the best dive sites Indonesia has and offers 5 star liveaboard diving and world-class Indo scuba diving.

With over 50 first class dive sites, 260+ types of reef-building corals, over 1,000 kinds of tropical fish including Giant trevally and Napoleon wrasse, 7 species of Sharks including Whitetip reef sharks and Hammerheads, roughly 70 varieties of sponges, marine mammals such as whales and dolphins and the rare and endangered dugong (sea cows) - on a Komodo diving liveaboard cruise – Indonesia scuba divers can see loads of stuff that one can only dream about seeing in other dive destinations!

This is what makes Komodo so special and attracts experienced divers, Indonesia scuba divers, amateur and professional underwater photographers alike and even scientists from around the world.

The sheer variety of marine life is breathtaking – from dives into the blue where you may be lucky enough to see Mola-Mola (Sunfish) or dive with Manta Rays, to Indonesia macro dives in search of Pygmy seahorses, Clown frogfish and Nudibranch.  If you like large pelagics and/or macro then you will love liveaboard diving Komodo!

Highlights you may see on a Komodo scuba diving liveaboard tour include:

Manta rays, Sunfish (Mola-Mola), Whitetip & Grey reef sharks, Giant trevally, Napoleon wrasse, Eagle rays, Turtles, Blue-ringed octopus, Blue-ribbon eel, Frogfish, Bobtail squid, Pygmy seahorses, Ghost pipefish, Squat lobsters, Nudibranch (literally Indonesia Nudibranch heaven!) and many more!

All this is what makes Komodo National Park, one of the top Indonesia dive sites and a very highly regarded 5 star Asia diving destination.  Renowned by seasoned scuba divers as one of the world’s best dive sites Komodo is simply magical and a premier Indonesia liveaboard diving location.

As a result, early booking Indonesia scuba diving liveaboards is highly recommended - as many Komodo liveaboard trips are fully booked months in advance.  Therefore please take a look at our Special Deals page, as advance booking Komodo diving liveaboard discounts may apply! You can also guarantee that you won’t miss out and benefit from any early bird booking Indonesia diving liveaboard promotions, which might be available!

Komodo is also the ideal private dive charter Indonesia liveaboard destination.  Therefore if you can put a sizeable dive group together for a private Komodo scuba diving liveaboard charter - it may be possible to get amazing Komodo liveaboard group discounts with free liveaboard places for Komodo divers with Indonesia scuba diving full/half dive charters!