Reflections - recent trip to Komodo

[charlier]

Hi all. A brief post on our recent one week LoB visit to Komodo. Since Komodo is so close to our home, we are frequent visitors. The changes over the years include coral bleaching at the shallow and current-free dive sites and increasing people pressure from dive boats. Corals at popular dive sites in the north including, B. Bolong, Crystal Rock and Castle Rock are in better shape. At depths below 18 m, the corals do not show much bleaching. We saw numerous manta's, schooling trevalley, unicorn fish and fusiliers, and many sharks.

Perhaps the biggest difference in 2016 is the number of day boats and LoB's at the popular northern sites. We saw at least 8-10 day boats at Makasar Reef. With a new airport terminal at LBJ, new land-based resorts, and increased number of LoBs, it was hard to work with other boat captains and time our dives at popular dive sites. We had many sites to ourselves, but had to postpone some of the dives 1/2 hour or so. The southern dive sites are still isolated and offer cold upwelling water from the Indean Ocean, the corals are in good shape.

We tried our best to take advantage of the tides and the lunar cycle (targeting rapidly falling or rising tides), we experienced only moderate currents at best. Perhaps, the changing weather patterns and wind due to a strong ENSO affected the currents. It's been our experience that strong currents and upwelling in Indonsia, strongly correlate with heathy, schooling fish and pelagics. Such strong currents were absent during our visit.

We had a wonderful time and will continue to visit Komodo, but will probably return to more pristine regions in eastern Indonesia for future trips. Best diving and traveling to all.

 

[chillyinCanada]

How will you access more pristine sites in Komodo?

 

[charlier]

How will you access more pristine sites in Komodo?

Whoops, my post lacked clarity. I will try to schedule my trips when the winds and currents allow us to sail to southern Komodo. I addition, we might visit Komodo at the beginning of the season, before the other dive ops get geared up for high season. Komodo is still offers wonderful diving and sometimes the area is fantastic. A one or two week dive trip is rarely representative of such a varied region. We will also continue to visit less traveled dive sites in eastern Indonesia. Best..

 

[acidrush]

Which LOB do you use when dive Komodo?

Thank you!

 

[Cali_diver]

Well that is a bit of a bummer but we have definitely seen it coming. Day boats have always been a problem but that is where a LOB has the advantage to wait or move on. Unfortunately you can't stop them from dumping their guest right on top of you while already under. Thank our lucky stars for the south!!

 

[charlier]

I agree," thank our lucky stars for the south". Although, there are plans for new land-based resorts in southern Komodo. In addition, the soured sites are not always accessible, due to winds and bumpy surface conditions.