Komodo National Park sits between the warm Flores Sea and the cold Indian Ocean, and strong tidal currents pump nutrient-rich water through the channels between the islands year-round. The result is an unusually dense concentration of pelagic and reef life — mantas, sharks, dense baitball action — in a relatively compact area. Currents are genuinely strong and unpredictable, and Komodo is not a destination for new divers. The south of the park is colder and attracts mantas and mola; the north is warmer and better for coral and macro.
The year at a glance
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 10–20 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 10–20 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 25–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 24–27 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 22–26 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 22–26 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 23–27 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 25–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 10–20 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- high
Signature dive sites
The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.
- 01
Batu Bolong
Pinnacle in the central channel with legendary current and wall-to-wall reef life. Advanced only.
- 02
Manta Alley
Southern site where mantas hold in strong current for cleaning. Multiple cleaning stations.
- 03
Cannibal Rock
Horseshoe Bay site famous for rhinopias, frogfish, and cold-water macro.
What you'll see
Top species with their April status.
Pygmy Seahorse
Reef Manta Ray
Wobbegong Shark
Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola)
Getting there
Gateway
Fly into Labuan Bajo (LBJ). Visa: Visa on arrival for most nationalities, 30 days.
Best months
Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Avoid
Jan, Feb, Dec