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Flores, nestled between the renowned Komodo National Park and the lesser-known gems of Maumere, offers a diverse and unforgettable diving experience. This Indonesian island in the Lesser Sunda Islands is famed for its world-class drift and muck dives. Komodo National Park, accessible via Labuan Bajo, is particularly exciting, known for its swift currents and majestic manta ray squadrons. Divers here can explore the dramatic pinnacles, walls, and drop-offs, encountering everything from elusive frogfish to mighty sunfish, all while witnessing pilot whales streaming past in the blue.

Maumere, centrally located on Flores, is a hidden treasure for divers seeking adventure beyond the Komodo waters. It boasts impressive wall dives and a multitude of muck dives, home to numerous endemic species and otherworldly creatures waiting to be discovered. The best diving conditions are found from April to December, during the dry season. For those wishing to fully immerse themselves in this underwater paradise, liveaboard trips offer a comprehensive exploration of Flores's northern coastline, bringing divers closer to the action.

Top Regions to Explore

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Diving in Flores

Komodo diving offers warm, calm and colourful shallow reefs at Siaba Besar and stunning wall dives with soft corals enveloped by swarms of golden and orange anthias at Batu Bolong. At almost every dive site you’ll find yourself drifting along in sites with strong currents among unruly underwater jungles. In North Komodo, the park is full of staggering pinnacles and seamounts which attract incredible schools of fish to the area while at muck dives its possible to investigate the sandy bottom for all types of macro life. At Maumere there are a number of fantastic muck dive sites as well as deep walls, wrecks and drop offs exposed to the strength of the ocean.

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Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Flores

Scuba diving in Flores is best during the dry season, from April through to November. Yet, some species are seen more often in the rainy months. In Maumere, sperm whales are seen from November to December while the best season to spot manta rays in Komodo is between December and February. January through to March may have rough conditions at Komodo’s northern dive sites while southern dive sites are rough in July and August. Despite this, daily trips and liveaboards run throughout year-round and are rarely affected.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Flores

Due to nutrient rich waters, you will be amazed at the sheer diversity of life that can be found while scuba diving in Flores. Many sites offer abundant coral growth, which reveal to divers exactly what it is like to dive in a pristine coral reef ecosystem. At Maumere, you’ll find frogfish, pygmy seahorse and blue-ringed octopus while spotting pilot whales, sperm whales and dolphins during your surface intervals. In the southern region of the marine reserve you can catch mola mola enjoying the colder waters as dogtooth tuna, giant trevallies and reef sharks all hunt in fierce currents.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

9k Sightings
J
221
F
274
M
546
A
704
M
979
J
1.1k
J
1.3k
A
1.1k
S
985
O
857
N
561
D
418
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

4.4k Sightings
J
143
F
274
M
413
A
373
M
560
J
494
J
354
A
343
S
374
O
463
N
328
D
235
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

4.3k Sightings
J
87
F
180
M
263
A
354
M
500
J
463
J
574
A
514
S
457
O
381
N
302
D
181

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

2.9k Sightings
J
69
F
104
M
217
A
209
M
370
J
330
J
342
A
334
S
322
O
242
N
203
D
147

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

1.4k Sightings
J
37
F
47
M
89
A
96
M
167
J
155
J
209
A
181
S
168
O
90
N
57
D
57

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

1.3k Sightings
J
24
F
18
M
44
A
54
M
131
J
216
J
216
A
197
S
180
O
99
N
66
D
47

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

881 Sightings
J
4
F
9
M
68
A
71
M
122
J
82
J
190
A
134
S
80
O
48
N
38
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

820 Sightings
J
2
F
39
M
61
A
61
M
50
J
112
J
125
A
120
S
94
O
87
N
54
D
15
Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

713 Sightings
J
19
F
51
M
45
A
66
M
78
J
71
J
39
A
44
S
72
O
90
N
77
D
61
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

6.2k Sightings
J
111
F
171
M
379
A
482
M
649
J
706
J
887
A
796
S
738
O
579
N
383
D
276

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

5.2k Sightings
J
112
F
224
M
308
A
352
M
575
J
578
J
758
A
638
S
537
O
465
N
348
D
259
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

4.4k Sightings
J
136
F
187
M
308
A
347
M
443
J
461
J
561
A
559
S
422
O
428
N
285
D
230

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

4k Sightings
J
98
F
164
M
257
A
297
M
438
J
456
J
568
A
491
S
415
O
334
N
279
D
198

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

3.9k Sightings
J
110
F
159
M
248
A
282
M
417
J
476
J
540
A
477
S
423
O
301
N
267
D
185

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

3.8k Sightings
J
94
F
144
M
258
A
300
M
459
J
451
J
510
A
443
S
389
O
338
N
257
D
160

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

3.5k Sightings
J
89
F
145
M
255
A
258
M
395
J
398
J
491
A
411
S
367
O
325
N
249
D
163

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

3.3k Sightings
J
99
F
142
M
210
A
242
M
376
J
390
J
470
A
410
S
332
O
312
N
214
D
147

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

3.1k Sightings
J
64
F
126
M
204
A
256
M
330
J
390
J
446
A
400
S
326
O
233
N
222
D
146

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

2.9k Sightings
J
68
F
127
M
189
A
194
M
334
J
351
J
384
A
324
S
302
O
247
N
226
D
118

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

2.6k Sightings
J
57
F
88
M
150
A
181
M
275
J
304
J
393
A
344
S
306
O
245
N
176
D
112

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

2.5k Sightings
J
72
F
79
M
167
A
231
M
306
J
281
J
348
A
270
S
243
O
211
N
154
D
111

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

2.3k Sightings
J
23
F
51
M
202
A
245
M
290
J
303
J
289
A
263
S
213
O
175
N
126
D
97

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

2.2k Sightings
J
57
F
80
M
132
A
127
M
219
J
288
J
353
A
291
S
247
O
204
N
134
D
93

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

2.2k Sightings
J
39
F
99
M
137
A
166
M
218
J
223
J
299
A
298
S
258
O
183
N
133
D
97

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

2.1k Sightings
J
45
F
80
M
101
A
183
M
275
J
295
J
296
A
279
S
215
O
158
N
133
D
88

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

1.5k Sightings
J
45
F
69
M
110
A
128
M
170
J
193
J
208
A
183
S
149
O
102
N
76
D
64

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

1.3k Sightings
J
16
F
42
M
98
A
132
M
152
J
156
J
182
A
171
S
165
O
73
N
92
D
56

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

1.3k Sightings
J
22
F
59
M
69
A
55
M
126
J
185
J
197
A
176
S
153
O
100
N
62
D
56

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

1.2k Sightings
J
21
F
46
M
109
A
144
M
149
J
172
J
189
A
180
S
92
O
42
N
73
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

1.1k Sightings
J
20
F
51
M
67
A
61
M
135
J
173
J
163
A
123
S
148
O
87
N
56
D
33

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

1.1k Sightings
J
11
F
10
M
63
A
76
M
156
J
185
J
152
A
114
S
94
O
90
N
104
D
47

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

884 Sightings
J
14
F
27
M
60
A
75
M
119
J
118
J
113
A
97
S
88
O
68
N
64
D
41

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

783 Sightings
J
1
F
12
M
47
A
57
M
115
J
123
J
111
A
111
S
89
O
58
N
35
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

646 Sightings
J
7
F
15
M
32
A
29
M
88
J
109
J
87
A
96
S
86
O
52
N
31
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

590 Sightings
J
8
F
10
M
46
A
36
M
73
J
107
J
78
A
72
S
31
O
35
N
80
D
14
Leaf Scorpionfish

Leaf Scorpionfish

548 Sightings
J
7
F
0
M
47
A
53
M
109
J
78
J
92
A
63
S
50
O
29
N
18
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

503 Sightings
J
7
F
15
M
11
A
11
M
68
J
128
J
85
A
76
S
64
O
23
N
12
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

408 Sightings
J
0
F
26
M
13
A
23
M
55
J
60
J
80
A
52
S
44
O
31
N
14
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

385 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
11
A
31
M
47
J
69
J
70
A
51
S
32
O
42
N
28
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

371 Sightings
J
6
F
1
M
11
A
0
M
31
J
51
J
97
A
59
S
48
O
54
N
12
D
1
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

300 Sightings
J
3
F
6
M
15
A
20
M
38
J
55
J
50
A
20
S
34
O
27
N
21
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

278 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
1
A
1
M
32
J
57
J
66
A
30
S
17
O
30
N
14
D
25
Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)

Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)

270 Sightings
J
1
F
10
M
18
A
24
M
28
J
30
J
48
A
30
S
20
O
20
N
17
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

252 Sightings
J
11
F
18
M
25
A
6
M
31
J
31
J
45
A
40
S
6
O
9
N
21
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

226 Sightings
J
0
F
12
M
3
A
1
M
23
J
37
J
39
A
42
S
36
O
22
N
0
D
11