Diving Komodo anyone?

[dutchpickle]

Diving Komodo anyone? I put together some info and pictures about Bajo Dive and Reefseekers.

If you are into mantas especially this is a great destination.

Some people stay on liveaboards but it is easier and cheaper to stay in the town of Labaunbjo on the island of Flores and go out every morning. You can also organize trips to Rinca and Komodo to see the dragons.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Nice job Pickle!

 

[justinechn]

Thanks dutchpickle.. I was able to make a few enquiries with your info. Will be in Bali approx. 10 days from now!!

 

[homo maris]

I am flying to Bali this weekend and then the week after in Komodo.
I heard about ripping currents on the reefs. Did you get any?

JL

 

[justinechn]

Not sure about the ripping currents though, but I've got a friend there now.. and the dives are great! I'll be in Komodo 23rd!!

 

[IceIce]

I'll be in Komodo in October. Anyone have first hand experience? How is the dives? What is the proper wetsuit to use, 3mm, is it enough? What about current conditions?

I have read about Komodo, but would like to hear more from first hand experience.

 

[dutchpickle]

The current does get going between Sumbawa and Flores when the tide change. Lots of water moving through a narrow area.

Because of the wide variety in experience levels the dive operators tend to dive conservatively. Some dives would be quite challenging (if not unsafe) when the tide is ripping.

If you love mantas this is the place to dive. I dove with John of Bajo Dive and we saw well over 100 mantas one day.

With Kath and Earnest of Reefseekers we had a 102 minute dive just resting on the bottom watching 3 mantas feed in the vigorous current just around the corner. One came up to Kath almost touching her hand.

 

[gabyne]

Well done, dutchpickle! Very nice and informative site - will come back to it for my next visit in Indonesia.

 

[homo maris]

There are ripping tidal currents but if you have a good tide table you can dive with no current. a 3mm was plenty with 26-27 degree celsius temperatures. No mantas. Saw dogtooth tuna, yellow find trevalli, giant trevalli, jacks and on one dive 10 white tip sharks feeding (or pregnant). A few nudibranches as well. Overall, very nice dives among the top dives I have been to.
JL

 

[dutchpickle]

sometimes it's nice to have some current though, because it seems the fish (and some divers) like it