Has anyone recently stayed at the 'Komodo Resort and Diving Club'

[Dirt Pineapple]

Curious to hear any input, particularly recent input. Anything you liked/didn't like about it? How was the diving op?

 

[matts1w]

I have never stayed there (It is a bit beyond my means), but I do know many people who have. It is relatively close to a number of famous dive sites, and from the water, it looks awesome. Everything I have ever heard is very positive. It is at the same price point as a very nice liveaboard, and I would much rather go that route than land-based, but your mileage may vary.

 

[Dirt Pineapple]

I have never stayed there (It is a bit beyond my means), but I do know many people who have. It is relatively close to a number of famous dive sites, and from the water, it looks awesome. Everything I have ever heard is very positive. It is at the same price point as a very nice liveaboard, and I would much rather go that route than land-based, but your mileage may vary.

Their Komodo Sea Dragon liveaboard is open for my dates I have (I cannot be flexible with the days I have off), but it's only 6 days/5 nights. So only 11 day time dives vs 15-18 day time dives if I stay at the land resort for 7 days, and also $2500 cheaper after everything. I can't find any other liveaboard for my dates (April 14-21).

The resort is a bit pricey given it's age, it's the same price as the brand new 5 star luxury resorts in Labuan Bajo, but I feel like the location is worth it for the house reef beach.

 

[Dirt Pineapple]

bump

 

[Trilobite]

Was there on a snorkeling tour in October 2024. It is a great location, and, given the location, I think comparing it to resorts on Labuan Bajo is comparing apples and oranges. I had a favorable impression overall of the resort itself. Food was good and the accommodations were good – but I wouldn't describe either as great. They use big, spacious boats rather than speedboats for transporting you to sites – nice to have the room but obviously slower. The boats are okay but not luxurious.

The only big problem I had was invisible sand flies attacked my ankles just walking between my bungalow and the restaurant. The bites weren't so bad in themselves, but I got so many in a concentrated area on one ankle that I got an infection when I got home, and spent two days in the hospital. So I'd recommend wearing long pants and shoes when just walking about. (Though that advice is hard to follow because it was really hot outside during the day.)

Rooms are air-conditioned; but I don't think they have a camera room if that is a concern. There were occasional brief power outages when I was there.

 

[Dirt Pineapple]

Was there on a snorkeling tour in October 2024. It is a great location, and, given the location, I think comparing it to resorts on Labuan Bajo is comparing apples and oranges. I had a favorable impression overall of the resort itself. Food was good and the accommodations were good – but I wouldn't describe either as great. They use big, spacious boats rather than speedboats for transporting you to sites – nice to have the room but obviously slower. The boats are okay but not luxurious.

The only big problem I had was invisible sand flies attacked my ankles just walking between my bungalow and the restaurant. The bites weren't so bad in themselves, but I got so many in a concentrated area on one ankle that I got an infection when I got home, and spent two days in the hospital. So I'd recommend wearing long pants and shoes when just walking about. (Though that advice is hard to follow because it was really hot outside during the day.)

Rooms are air-conditioned; but I don't think they have a camera room if that is a concern. There were occasional brief power outages when I was there.

Did they get to the dive sites before everyone else did, since they are so close? Do they go to the same dive sites or different ones? Any southern site? What type of room did you stay in?

Do you yourself think the location is worth it over staying in one of the newer 5 star resorts in Labuan Bajo?

 

[Trilobite]

Did they get to the dive sites before everyone else did, since they are so close? Do they go to the same dive sites or different ones? Any southern site? What type of room did you stay in?

Do you yourself think the location is worth it over staying in one of the newer 5 star resorts in Labuan Bajo?

Not a scuba diver, so can't really answer that. Not a 5 star resort kind of guy either--would prefer to stay in an ecolodge type place. IIRC, it's about a 45 min speedboat ride from LB to the resort, and all the sites we went to were further from LB. None of the sites we went to seemed crowded. The only time I recall we had multiple groups in the water was when some mantas were sighted; but that wasn't too bad.

 

[runsongas]

@Dirt Pineapple for the northern sites like batu balong/crystal/castle etc they can and do sometimes, but it depends on their guests also what sites they hit.

they can do padar but south rinca/south komodo is outside their range iirc, only liveaboards go that far south

LBJ is more about having a nice pool and being able to go out for dinner

 

[Dirt Pineapple]

@Dirt Pineapple for the northern sites like batu balong/crystal/castle etc they can and do sometimes, but it depends on their guests also what sites they hit.

they can do padar but south rinca/south komodo is outside their range iirc, only liveaboards go that far south

LBJ is more about having a nice pool and being able to go out for dinner

Have you been before? How did you like it? I just don't know about other resorts because I don't want to spend 8 hours a day on the dive boat, lol.

 

[runsongas]

didn't stay, only saw their dive boat at other sites leaving as the first day boats would get there, looked nice enough at the time but wasn't feasible as a solo traveler. makes much more sense if you have non-diving SO or kids.