The Komodo National Park
Komodo National Park is a World Heritage site situated in the straits between Sumba and Flores and consists of the three larger islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones. Because of its unique geology, the islands have developed equally unique wildlife. With dragons on land and a utopia underwater, you will find an array of dive sites and hiking trails to suit every level of experience.
From pristine corals, mantas, sharks, turtles, dolphins, dugong and giant pelagics to tiny pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs and frog fish, you'll find the diversity of marine life inspiring if not mind boggling. The islands feature a dramatic wild savannah landscape with patches of forest especially on the southern hills of Komodo and Rinca. White and red sand beaches, blue lagoons teeming with fish and some of the most spectacular underwater scenery in the world entice divers and guests from around the world.
The underwater topography is as varied as the marine life it homes. Dive sites vary from gentle coral slopes to sheer cliff walls, channels, flat bottoms, pinnacles, caves, swim-throughs and a host of hard and soft corals. From the Flores Sea in the north, the warm waters gradually become cooler as you travel southwards into the Indian Ocean.
Komodo boasts countless beautiful deserted beaches, hiking trails, great wildlife, shallow reefs for snorkeling and lagoons for water-skiing. Perfect for divers to take their family on a holiday, as there is something to be discovered for everyone.
For information about Komodo's dive sites please see www.putrinagakomodo.com/dive_sites.htm
Videos
The Komodo National Park
by Linda Johnston (06:15)
Making It In Komodo
by Will Kimlinger (05:00)
Komodo - Beneath the waves
by Mike Boom (03:07)
The Deep South of Komodo
Diving the Southern sites of Komodo National Park, and surrounding islands, has always been very exciting and unusual. Rocky canyons and pinnacles are heavily encrusted with marine invertebrate life, with lots of color and plenty of fish. Night diving without a doubt is one of the highlights here, lots of critters and far superior to any of the sites in the north. The only problem, during the "traditional" Komodo season from May through September, was that most of the time the water has been cold and murky and when you got back to the boat, your towel had been blown off the deck by the South easterlies.
But we are now going to show you the south side as you have never seen it before, and during the time that you should be there, during the Northwest Monsoon! From October to May, this is the time of the year when it's all different and this is when the South is the Best! During the Northwest season, everything gets turned around and upside down in Komodo. The waters in the South are clear and warm, and a new underwater world opens up with many of our favorite sites now accessible, in the right conditions and with new sites waiting to be explored!
This is why we will be staying in Komodo when the South is Best, starting 2013, while the rest of the fleet heads for Raja Ampat. And this will not be the first time we do this, as we have done it many times in the past, by ourselves and with guests, starting when we operated the Evening Star in the Komodo area all year round from 1997 till 2002, and while we monitored all the sites around Komodo National Park, with The Nature Conservancy during the same years. So we definitely know what we're doing here!
Blue Whale, South Komodo
Manta Cleaning Station, South Komodo
What many people don't know is that during the North West Monsoon, between October and May, The south side of the island group completely changes. Conditions in the south improve dramatically as crystal clear currents move into the southern regions of the park, and while the prevailing wind moves from the South East to the North West, the Southern swell calms down, and the cold and murky southern upwelling ceases. This is giving us a great opportunity to focus on a wide variety of southern sites that would hardly be accessible during the other months of the year.
During our Deep South voyages we will be visiting all our currently known high class sites down South, but on top of that you're invited to join in the further exploration of new and promising areas that have already produced mind blowing dives for us over the years. We will visit all the well known world class sites such as Manta Alley, Cannibal Rock, Torpedo Point, The Three Sisters, Lankoi, etc. - plus many new and exciting sites all across the Southern territory and halfway up into the straits (such as Rainbow Reef, Indihiang Island, Batu Tiga and the mantas at Karang Makassar which aggregate there during this time of year). We will not be surrounded by many other boats on these cruises, and that is something which is probably as important to us as it is for you.
Rhinopias, by Eva Pet
Our new itineraries in the Deep South of Komodo will explore the Southern Sape Strait and all around South Komodo, South Rinca, South West Flores, Gili Mota and the Southern part of Selat Molo. Without a doubt some of the world's most unusual tropical diving. We have discovered some very pristine and never visited world class sites in this area and are looking forward to continue the exploration of the south side with you in the next couple of years. Come and see the south as you've never seen it before!
The right conditions await us on our new itineraries down South. This is where we have filmed everything from the largest living animal in the world, the elusive Blue Whale, all the way down the food chain, via great fish life and vibrantly colored reefs created by orange and green cup corals, to soft coral heavens and the most unusual critters hidden in the black sand of volcanic islands that continue to re-create Indonesia's Ring of fire.
Climate information
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Southeast Monsoon Season: North West Monsoon Season: Change – Over Months: Air temperature: Water temperature: Best time to dive: Other interesting info: |
May through October December through March April and November 27 - 32°C 25 - 30°C. Warmest in the north and coolest in the south Year Round with best diving in the North during South East Monsoon and best diving in the South during North West Monsoon. Dive conditions vary with the tides, throughout the day. Therefore it is important to dive with the tide tables to hit every site at the optimal time. This is where your Seven Seas crew and dive guides excel! |
Southern waters: Generally provide better visibility from December through April. Lower visibility in the dry season - in the south - is due to oceanic up-welling and plankton richness, which makes this area very rich in marine life, especially invertebrates. An underwater photographers dream! Highest temperatures in the south are during the rainy season.
Northern waters: Generally provide better visibility year round. Water temperature is usually higher. Fish are abundant everywhere but the rocks and reefs in 'current' areas provide the best chances for spotting the bigger fish, especially the sharks and pelagics.
Activities
- Superb for diving and snorkeling
- Hikes of 45 mins to 2.5 hrs to see the Komodo dragons, wild deer, horses and buffaloes
- Deserted beaches and surrounding hills are ideal for your sunset drinks on the beach
- Bays where the boat will anchor are perfect for afternoon water-skiing
- Slow tours with one of the tenders or kayaks to explore the coastline from the water
- Fishing is allowed in the pelagic fishing zone and outside the National Park
- Near Sangean Island, troll for tuna, Spanish mackerel, sail fish and giant trevally
How to get there
Flights: Bali to Labuan Bajo on the mainland of Flores (daily), and
Bali to Bima in Sumbawa at the other side of the Park (daily).
From one of these entry points you will be transferred to The Seven Seas for an itinerary that visits all the best sites in the Park.
Attractive alternatives:
Board The Seven Seas in Benoa Harbour, Bali, and sail to Komodo National Park in 5 days.
You get to enjoy the beautiful landscape of Lombok, Sumbawa and Sangean Volcano. Delight in some excellent dives on the way and don't forget to catch a tuna at Sangean! This cruise is also offered in reverse direction, from Komodo to Bali. Contact us for more information.
A group booking or full boat charter would be needed to schedule alternatives to our routine cruises which are shown in the online schedule.
