Question How to dive Komodo?

[Dan]

I'll have a chance to dive in Komodo for 13 days (21 July to 2 August 2022) on a private yacht and trying to figure out the best itinerary for it. Since we'll have plenty of dive time there, I'm planning to do just 3 dives / day, rather than the 4 dives / day on typical a week liveaboard trip that I have done in the past. For those who have been diving there, I'm curious to see what itinerary you have.

I reviewed my previous week-trip itinerary by going through my logbooks and plotted those dives on Google Earth and came up with the following itineraries:

Based on that I come up with this, below, for 2022. I try to repeat those World Class dive sites, like Shotgun, Batu Bolong, Makasar Reef, Cannibal Rock, Manta Alley & Pink Beach. Also I include a stop over in Labuan Bajo to visit Kantor Imigrasi to extend my Visa on Arrival for another 30 days since I'll be in Indonesia for 6 weeks.

Please share your itinerary or let me know if you see some problems in my proposed itinerary, so I can revise it accordingly.

Thanks!

 

[matts1w]

So many sites in Komodo are dependent on tides and local knowledge. Honestly, I would not dream of splashing without an experienced local. Are you gonna hire someone?

 

[Dan]

So many sites in Komodo are dependent on tides and local knowledge. Honestly, I would not dream of splashing without an experienced local. Are you gonna hire someone?

Yes, I hired one local DM.

 

[Cali_diver]

What do you want to see? I would set a basic itinerary but plan contingencies. Weather/seas may not permit you to go south at the beginning of the trip but might be available at the end. I personally would make sure to include Sangeang and Rinca ( my favorites) if weather permitting.

 

[Dan]

What do you want to see? I would set a basic itinerary but plan contingencies. Weather/seas may not permit you to go south at the beginning of the trip but might be available at the end. I personally would make sure to include Sangeang and Rinca ( my favorites) if weather permitting.

I want to dive in the best dive sites Komodo has to offer with enough time (2 weeks) for contingencies. I remember on my 2nd trip to Komodo (back in December 2012-January 2013) we made it to Horseshoe Bay, but couldn't go to Manta Alley due to weather. During summer time (June 2008 and August 2014) we were able to dive in Manta Alley. That's the reason we plan to go back there in July-August time.

Thanks for pointing out about the southern Komodo is more weather dependent than the northern Komodo. I may re-arrange the itinerary to dive in the southern Komodo in the first week if the weather is good there and go to the northern Komodo on the 2nd week. So the original itinerary (as shown in post 1, above) becomes my alternative itinerary (Plan B).

We plan to do 4 dives in Sangeang (Bonto, Tikno, Lighthouse & Hot Rocks). My overall itinerary as shown, below and the dive sites where we plan to dive in are listed in Database for Bali-Komodo Dive Sites including GPS info

 

[dirtfarmer]

I see in Horshoe Bay you have Yellow Wall listed, I suggest (if you make it South), Eagle Point over Yellow Wall. It's not often dived as it's a submergered pinnacle and it's spectacular, it's covered in life and I like it much better than Yellow Wall.

 

[Dan]

I see in Horshoe Bay you have Yellow Wall listed, I suggest (if you make it South), Eagle Point over Yellow Wall. It's not often dived as it's a submergered pinnacle and it's spectacular, it's covered in life and I like it much better than Yellow Wall.

Do you have GPS location for it, in case my dive guide is not familiar with it?

Thanks!

 

[Dan]

I found another itinerary option from Komodo Seadragon Liveaboard

 

[Dan]

I don’t see people diving on the western coast of Komodo Island though.

 

[Dan]

Here’s another Komodo itinerary from Komodo (7 Days, 6 Nights) - Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts