For scuba divers, one of the ultimate experiences is diving at Komodo Island, widely regarded as one of the world’s must-visit dive sites.

Many have heard about this mystical place, which is home to the largest living lizard in the world – The Komodo Dragon, which is found on several islands in the Komodo National Park, namely on Komodo Island, Rinca Island and Padar Island.

Diving at Komodo Island

Before you go on, I would like to credit my appreciation to GotMuck.com for the amazing header image of one of the dive sites at Pulau Komodo.

When you get to Labuan Bajo, the main entry point to the Komodo Islands, you will either book a live on board (LOB) dive package or a day trip package from the many tour operators here.

Usually, divers headed here will pre-book their packages where everything is arranged, and all you need to do is fly in, dive, see the dragons, suntan at the pink beach, and you are done. It is straightforward to book your Komodo diving package in advance.

For those who want to shop around for the best deals, your options are many, as there are about ten dive operators in Labuan Bajo, where all of them are partly owned by foreigners, namely Australians or Europeans who are also interested in Bali and the Gili Islands.

The main street in town is the only place where you can walk shop to shop and inquire about prices, packages, and even the different types of Live On Boards offered. Most shops have signs indicating tomorrow’s dive departure; you can sign up if you are a single or a couple diver.

A video posted by Kiersten • The Blonde Abroad (@theblondeabroad) on Sep 26, 2016 at 4:13am PDT

One of the recommended dive operators that took me diving in Komodo was Ora Dive (http://oradive.com/), which had a fantastic local Indonesian team.The knowledgeable dive master had over 20 years of experience diving in Komodo, and the management team was professional and friendly.

Komodo Island Diving. Photo by Lida Pet Soede.

Komodo Island Dive Sites Map. Click on the image to see the full size.

Some of the dive sites at Komodo Island

With over 40 dive sites, I would estimate that you may need at least 10 trips to see probably half of them, but then again, some of the dive sites are currently pending; this does not mean that you want to visit one of those sites, and you will get a chance.

Some sites’ currents are pretty strong, and caution is advised for all divers. I did only three dives, and they are in bold.

1. 1. Sabolon

Even snorkelers have a chance to see Mantas at Komodo Island. Photo by Azuriette.blogspot.com

1. Sebayor Kecil
2. Mini Wall
3. Tatawa Besar East and West
4. Tatawa Kecil
5. Batu Bolong
6. End of the World
7. Batu Sabun
8. Siaba Kecil
9. Pengah
10. One Tree
11. Gili Lawa
12. Manta Point or Karang Makassar
13. Batu Tiga
14. LightHouse
15. Castle Rock
16. Crystal Bommie
17. Cannibal Rock
18. Darat Passage South
19. Darat Passage  North “The Cauldron”
20. Pink Beach
21. Red Beach or Pantai Merah
22. Loh Namu
23. Indihiang
24. Pilaarsteen
25. Three Sisters
26. Yellow Wall of Texas
27. Payung
28. Nusa Kode
29. Cannibal Rock
30. Invertebrate Wall
31. Crynoid Corner
32. Boulders
33. Loh Sera
34. Tala
35. German Flag
36. Manta Alley
37. Langkoi Rock
38. White Angels
39. NE Gili Banta (outside of the Komodo National Park)
40. GPS Point (outside of the Komodo National Park)
41. NW Gili Banta (outside of the Komodo National Park)

Batu Bolong is one of the interesting dive sites at Komodo National Park—photo by www.komododivecenter.com.

• Depth: 5m – >40m
• Visibility: 5m – 30m
• Currents: Can be very strong
• Surface conditions: Can be rough
• Water temperature: 20°C – 28°C
• Experience level: Intermediate – Advanced
• Number of dive sites: 40+

Manta Rays seen on a dive at Komodo Island. Image from www.mermaidliveabroads.com.

For those interested in seeing the different things while diving at Komodo Island, you should note the best times above, as you would only want to go some of the way there in September to see the manta rays, only to find they are away.Like me, I dived at Manta Point in September to try my luck, but after an hour of diving, there was nothing; on the other hand, I saw many other exciting things. I will post my next article on my Komodo Island Diving Trip Report.

My dive team members and dive master Jac Seah from Singapore (middle) and Henry from Australia (right),

Types of Komodo Island Dive Packages

There are mainly two types of Komodo Island diving packages: day dive trips and, of course, the most popular, the liveaboard or live-on-board dive boats.

One of the general Komodo Island Liveaboard Boats.

Prices also vary for each of the types, and they are;

Komodo Island Day Trip Diving – Prices are anywhere from USD 125 per person for three dives on a day trip, while many offer two dives and see the Komodo Dragons at the same price.

Komodo Island Live On Board – These are highly sought-after groups, with packages ranging from budget to luxury.

A standard four-day liveabroad trip can cost anywhere from US$700 per person, and a 7D/6N liveabroad trip is around US$1295, including everything except flights.

Komodo Island Budget Liveaboard – Many divers are looking for budget liveaboard boats at Komodo Island, and quite a few companies offer these budget-friendly dive packages.

Please note that these liveaboard boats are not luxury vessels; they are designed for simplicity if you are comfortable with that. Prices start from US$100.00 per person per night for 3-4 nights, and you can find them online or even in Labuan Bajo town.

Diving Course/Licence – For those interested in taking a scuba diving open-water course, many dive instructors in Labuan Bajo offer open-water courses starting at IDR 5,000,000 (US$380) per student. This course takes 2-3 days.

*Komodo National Park Fees – The park fees are usually included in your Komodo Island dive package, but you need to double check with your dive operator on this, as I have heard that the really budget dives do not include the fees; hence, they are cheap.

How to go to Komodo Island

The first thing is how to get to Komodo Island, and there are two ways to get there: by boat or by flight. And trust me, the best way to get here is via flight.

If you take a boat, it will take around two to three days from Bali or Lombok. I flew in via Bali, which takes about an hour, and Skyscanner has several options for flights to Komodo, depending on your departure point.

More importantly, Komodo Island dive packages are usually for the equipment, diving, food and accommodations, which generally do not include the flights.

Conclusion

Therefore, if you want to save money, I recommend using AirAsia SuperApp or AirAsia MOVE to find the cheapest flights and hotels to Labuan Bajo.

Ultimately, you want to arrive safely and on time for your diving in Komodo Island, which I highly recommend.