I'm planning to spend a month in Komodo, Dec 15 – Jan 15, focused mainly on diving. I dove Komodo from a liveaboard about 15 years ago and had an excellent 10-day trip. While I generally prefer land-based diving, I’ll choose a liveaboard if it means better access to top sites.
This time, I’m considering either a liveaboard, staying at Scuba Junkie Komodo (or another budget-friendly land-based resort), or both.
For those who have dived Komodo—especially with Scuba Junkie or similar resorts:
- Are the dive sites accessible from land-based operators as varied and high-quality as those reached by liveaboard?
- Will I miss out on the best sites if I stay land-based, or is the local selection diverse and interesting enough for a four-week stay?
- Would you recommend a combination of liveaboard and land-based diving?
I've been to Raja Ampat a few times and to Bali, but if four weeks is overkill, I may return to Bali or another nearby destination (not Raja, as I was just there) for a week or two to dive elsewhere.
Finally, is a month too long to spend in Komodo? I’m happy to do some hikes and day excursions, but my main focus is diving. I also don’t mind diving the same sites multiple times if they’re really stunning. I mostly enjoy pelagics, awesome corals, cool seascapes, and schooling fish of all sizes. I love little critters as well, but my vision isn’t what it used to be.
Any recent experiences, recommendations, tips, or favorite sites would be greatly appreciated!
BK
