Located on the large island of Flores, Labuan Bajo is the gateway for the extensive marine diversity, strong currents and world-class dive sites which can all be found in Komodo National Park. Komodo’s waters are known to invite droves of manta rays and sharks while immense schools of fish shoal in the nutrient-rich seas. Experience enthralling drifts through sites which appear like underwater assault courses or relax in some of the calmer locations in Central Komodo surrounded by countless sea turtles.
The small fishing town of Labuan Bajo is the base for many dive centres that visit Komodo National Park daily. Many of these dive centres also run dive courses, where novice divers can learn in the placid dive sites of Central Komodo surrounded by impressive coral growth. Dive resorts nestled within the town or on adjacent remote tropical islands also provide daily trips to the park. Yet, most dive centres and resorts focus mainly on Central and North Komodo dive sites. To get the most out of the remarkable marine park, liveaboards visit year round offering the possibility to delve into various sites in all of Komodo’s regions.
Scuba diving from Labuan Bajo offers divers a vast array of different topography and marine life to immerse themselves in. Find yourself in the warm, calm and colourful shallow reefs of Siaba Besar and The China Shop, alive with flourishing rose corals and a multitude of reef fish, or be swept through sea mounts, walls and pinnacles by strong currents while sharks, dog-tooth tuna and giant trevally circle above you. Central Komodo is home to the famous deep wall dive site of Batu Bolong plunging to over 70-metres while pinnacle dive sites such as Crystal and Castle Rock offer the chance to dive ‘the split’ - where the current hits the rock carrying water thick with nutrients and sharks galore.
Novice divers are likely to dive in the calmer waters of Central Komodo, where it is possible to learn in stunning dive sites such as Siaba Besar, Manta Point and Sebayur. Those taking advanced dive courses will find the challenging currents the greatest test for their new-found skills.
Diving in the waters surrounding Labuan Bajo is possible all year round but from April through to November, the dry season causes a peak in divers. November through to March is the rainy season and from January to March there can be rough surface conditions at the northern dive sites. To spot the maximum numbers of manta rays the best time to visit is from December through to February but they can be spotted all year round.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
