Komodo - liveaboard or shore based?

[Centrals]

There is a huge difference between a private dive guide and baby sitter. If anyone need another person to bail him/her out in difficulty, find something else to do.
There are benign sites in Komodo but LoB rarely go there.
Komodo is not an ideal place to learn diving. There are other places in the country to cater for them.

There is still "customer is always right" mentality in SB. Childish.

 

[John Starmer]

Can I really get to the best sites of Komodo with a shore based dive shop?

Nope. They're only able to get to the close ones from shore. But hey, as someone has mentioned above, close does not equal with bad.

But yeah. I do recommend taking the liveaboard option. They'll get you the best sites. La Galigo is my recommendation.

 

[Dan]

Don’t miss Manta Alley.

 

[pintodog]

First...I agree with @Dan . Do not miss Manta Alley. It is still one of the best dive sites that I've ever been to. If you time it right you can find yourself in the Alley clinging in on to rocks surrounded by 20+ mantas that are just hovering...some as close as less than 6 feet! Mind blowing. Which brings me to #2....looking back at my favorite sites, they were mostly in the north and south...sites that the local boats just don't go to because it is too far. Third...I had some fantastic night dives on my Komodo Liveaboard...not sure those are possible from the local dive boats and even if they are, it is nice to finish a night dive and have a short ride back to a boat with your room, dinner, and a beer waiting for you! Lastly...you might have issues with some of the really good liveaboards because they are either still in Raja or transiting in April or May. If you can push to June, many should be there. I would STRONGLY encourage you to look at the Bali - Komodo - Bali trip with Mermaid 1. You get to dive in Komodo as well as really great locations in Sangeang (Bontoh is still one of the best night dives that I've done), Moyo, and even whale sharks at Selat Saleh. Most of these locations have no other boats and diving that rivals the Central Komodo region.

 

[Dan]

First...I agree with @Dan . Do not miss Manta Alley. It is still one of the best dive sites that I've ever been to. If you time it right you can find yourself in the Alley clinging in on to rocks surrounded by 20+ mantas that are just hovering...some as close as less than 6 feet! Mind blowing. Which brings me to #2....looking back at my favorite sites, they were mostly in the north and south...sites that the local boats just don't go to because it is too far. Third...I had some fantastic night dives on my Komodo Liveaboard...not sure those are possible from the local dive boats and even if they are, it is nice to finish a night dive and have a short ride back to a boat with your room, dinner, and a beer waiting for you! Lastly...you might have issues with some of the really good liveaboards because they are either still in Raja or transiting in April or May. If you can push to June, many should be there. I would STRONGLY encourage you to look at the Bali - Komodo - Bali trip with Mermaid 1. You get to dive in Komodo as well as really great locations in Sangeang (Bontoh is still one of the best night dives that I've done), Moyo, and even whale sharks at Selat Saleh. Most of these locations have no other boats and diving that rivals the Central Komodo region.

I did that trip in August last year, as shown in my trip video, below.

One of the coolest night dive was in Pulau Lasa, near the entrance to Loh Liang, the gate to Komodo National Park, as you can see in 10:50-13:13 period of the trip video.

Bontoh is also one of the coolest night dive sites in Sangeang, as you can see in 27:27-29:39 period of the trip video.

 

[pintodog]

I did that trip in August last year, as shown in my trip video, below.

One of the coolest night dive was in Pulau Lasa, near the entrance to Loh Liang, the gate to Komodo National Park, as you can see in 10:50-13:13 period of the trip video.

Agreed! Pulau Lasa was a fantastic night dive...lots of good muck action...hairy frogfish, hunting cuttlefish, 3 different kind of octopus, lots of nudibranchs. I've got it listed as a 5-star dive in my dive log!! I have found myself fortunate to have gone on lots of dive trips the last 5 years (Tubbataha, RA, Komodo, French Polynesia, Palau, Socorro, Cenotes/Cozumel/Mexico, etc) and I get asked what my favorite location is. I tell them...I really like everywhere that I've been and every destination has its special places but if you asked me what my favorite Liveaboard itinerary is then there is no contest for me...it is the Mermaid 1 Bali - Komodo - Bali 10 day trip. So much variety above and below water!!!

 

[Dan]

Agreed! Pulau Lasa was a fantastic night dive...lots of good muck action...hairy frogfish, hunting cuttlefish, 3 different kind of octopus, lots of nudibranchs. I've got it listed as a 5-star dive in my dive log!! I have found myself fortunate to have gone on lots of dive trips the last 5 years (Tubbataha, RA, Komodo, French Polynesia, Palau, Socorro, Cenotes/Cozumel/Mexico, etc) and I get asked what my favorite location is. I tell them...I really like everywhere that I've been and every destination has its special places but if you asked me what my favorite Liveaboard itinerary is then there is no contest for me...it is the Mermaid 1 Bali - Komodo - Bali 10 day trip. So much variety above and below water!!!

You have certainly been to some of great dive destinations!

I have been to most of those places on your list above, except French Polynesia. I was scheduled to be on French Polynesia Master in May 2020, but the Covid & boat problem cancelled my trip. They replaced it with Galapagos Master, which was fantastic. I’ll be back on that boat in November this year. You should go there if you haven’t been there.

Another one is Malpelo, Colombia. I’ve been there twice. The 3rd one will be in July this year. You can check my trip videos in my YouTube channel: Dan Tirto.

 

[pintodog]

You have certainly been to some of great dive destinations!

I have been to most of those places on your list above, except French Polynesia. I was scheduled to be on French Polynesia Master in May 2020, but the Covid & boat problem cancelled my trip. They replaced it with Galapagos Master, which was fantastic. I’ll be back on that boat in November this year. You should go there if you haven’t been there.

Another one is Malpelo, Colombia. I’ve been there twice. The 3rd one will be in July this year. You can check my trip videos in my YouTube channel: Dan Tirto.

Not nearly as many as you!!! Did you go to Malpelo in the dry and wet seasons? If so...which one do you prefer? Separately...I do a trip with my college buddy once a year (on top of my other dive trips). Last year we went to Tubbataha and this year we went to RA. I'm doing Fakarava, Palau (2nd time), and Yap in 2025. Where would you recommend going in 2026? Can basically do any time after mid-June. I've got Banda Sea/Ring of Fire, Malpelo, & Cocos on my preliminary list. I don't have a particular focus that I'm pursuing...I just want a good trip with my buddy. I'm saving Galapagos for a family dive trip and I forgot to mention that I've already been to Maldives as well.

 

[Dan]

Not nearly as many as you!!! Did you go to Malpelo in the dry and wet seasons? If so...which one do you prefer? Separately...I do a trip with my college buddy once a year (on top of my other dive trips). Last year we went to Tubbataha and this year we went to RA. I'm doing Fakarava, Palau (2nd time), and Yap in 2025. Where would you recommend going in 2026? Can basically do any time after mid-June. I've got Banda Sea/Ring of Fire, Malpelo, & Cocos on my preliminary list. I don't have a particular focus that I'm pursuing...I just want a good trip with my buddy. I'm saving Galapagos for a family dive trip and I forgot to mention that I've already been to Maldives as well.

I only went to Malpelo in July (warmer & wetter season). I may try the colder & dryer season in the future to see more of schooling hammerheads.

Your 2026 preliminary list looks good to me. You may want to consider going to Malapascua for Thresher sharks, if you haven’t done it.



Triton Bay is also a good destination. I went there in January this year. Still working on the trip report. I just finished putting together the Kaimana part of the trip, below.



Which part of Maldives did you go? Have you been to Far South, like Fuvahmulah?



Here is my 2026 preliminary list:
1. Dumaguete, Visayas, Malapascua in January
2. RA in February
3. Svalbard (Artic circle - non diving) in June
4. Galapagos in July
5. Biodiversity (RA-Banda Sea) in November
6. Palau / Yap / Chuuk in December

 

[pintodog]

I only went to Malpelo in July (warmer & wetter season). I may try the colder & dryer season in the future to see more of schooling hammerheads.

Your 2026 preliminary list looks good to me. You may want to consider going to Malapascua for Thresher sharks, if you haven’t done it.



Triton Bay is also a good destination. I went there in January this year. Still working on the trip report. I just finished putting together the Kaimana part of the trip, below.



Which part of Maldives did you go? Have you been to Far South, like Fuvahmulah?



Here is my 2026 preliminary list:
1. Dumaguete, Visayas, Malapascua in January
2. RA in February
3. Svalbard (Artic circle - non diving) in June
4. Galapagos in July
5. Biodiversity (RA-Banda Sea) in November
6. Palau / Yap / Chuuk in December

Wow...that tiger shark action is insane! I did the Central Atoll route with Aggressor in December 2023 (did the Sri Lanka Aggressor add on, which was also cool). I had heard that the South was very one dimensional and not a lot of variety but your video has me thinking differently. I love the action at Kaimana...it's like an underwater version of a watering hole in Africa...you never know what is going to show up!! I will add that to the list! Love your 2026 list! The Biodiversity is on the Mermaid I, right? I've been seriously looking at that one. Looks like you and I like to do similar stuff. I actually do a ton of non-diving nature trips as well (doing Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Canada, & Patagonia over the next 12 months). Have fun in Svalbard! Haven't been but I have gone to Nanuk (Canada) to see polar bears (and going back again this year). Fantastic experience to see them. Looks like I should DM you for tips when I'm closer to narrowing my 2026 diving list!