Komodo Trip Advice

[samara liveaboard]

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

maybe you trying luxury liveaboard mischief voyage, thats part of samara yachting, provide luxury dive komodo and raja ampat

 

[melliodora]

I just spent a little under a week at the SJ resort. Over 5 dive days we dove most of the central sites, and every 4-5 days each boat goes north (Cauldron, Crystal etc). When you are planning to go is the rainy season, also manta season! And apparently that's when the more southern (but not far south) sites come on the agenda - the far south are LoB only.

I read the "sketchy practices" thread that another poster referenced above. I did experience one of their guides exhibiting similar behaviour once with wildlife on the muck dive which is really not acceptable, but other than that, I have to say I was really impressed with them and I didn't find this to be reflective of the operation. Everyone's experience is different for sure, but they run super comprehensive briefings, really hammer in all the basic safety reminders (including NDL limits) that many operators don't touch on, and I found their guides on the whole to be super professional. Swings towards a younger ish crowd, but not 20 something party people and many older and super experienced folks too. As the other thread notes though, they don't offer Nitrox - if you're running much more conservative GFs and on air you would likely be running up against NDLs on a few sites.

 

[Clernix]

There is so much to see in that area spending a month in one place would be a shame. SJ offers return customer discounts and packages where you can visit three shops or something and get a discount too.

I am going to SJ Sangalaki in a couple weeks and have done Sipadan SJ which is pretty amazing but there is a whole permit issue for the actual island of Sipandan also the two dive max on Sipadan per day.

I agree mixed LA and Landbased. Grand Komodo is a really decent budget priced LA. Drogon Divers is a nice lodge , budget priced but seem to be a very good op. I did not use them but did see their boat in the park. you can also get a really good meal in the evening in Labanbajo.

IMHO I would be trying to get out of the Southern Monsoon as quickly as possible. You said no Raja but that time of year I would do a month in Raja. Or head north to Borneo area.

 

[Motoman4540]

We did a 10 day LOB on the Komodo Aggressor and loved it. We hit as many as 4 dive sites a day and really saw a lot of the best diving and some excellent macro as well as some must-see places like Manta Alley. And if you like Indonesian food, nothing like starting the day off with some nasi goreng out on the deck for breakfast!