Lombok, Sumbawa & Komodo
June & July | Lombok to Labuan Bajo or Labuan Bajo to Lombok
7 nights | Moyo, Saleh Bay, Satonda, Sangeang Volcano, Gili Banta, Batu Moncho, Gili Lawa, Wainilu, Siaba Besar, Batu Bolong
Itinerary Highlights
- Komodo National Park, a UNESCO Heritage Site, world renowned for the excellent quality and variety of diving and home to the famous dragons.
- The black sands of the Sangeang Volcano with its critters and hydrothermal vents and the beautiful reefs surrounding Gili Banta
- Pink Beach, Batu Moncho sunsets and Satonda’s phenomenal bat migration
- Northern Sumbawa, lush green tropical islands and majestic volcanoes as we cruise between Mayo and Satonda Island.
- Sunrise snorkel with Whale sharks in Saleh Bay.
Embark on the adventure of a lifetime when you will explore some of the most breathtaking dive sites, see amazing views, witness stunning sunsets and encounter magnificent marine life.
Cruising between the Gili Islands (Lombok) and the Komodo National Park taking in Northern Sumbawa’s beautiful scenery, especially the engulfing image of the famous Mount Tambora in the distance reminds us why the Indonesian Archipelago is truly the ‘Ring of Fire’.
Experience a once in a lifetime opportunity with a sunrise snorkel with whale sharks, the gentle giants of the sea.
Satonda is next where there is not only great diving but, as the evening descends, you can witness the mesmerizing bat migration.
From there is gets a bit more adrenaline fuelled. Dives on the active volcano of Sangeang and at High Voltage are backed up the following day by visiting three of Komodo’s most famous sites – Crystal Rock, GLD Passage, and Shotgun – where you will have some of the most exhilarating dives of your life.
The UNESCO World Heritage site of the Komodo National Park is renowned for Komodo dragons, excellent reefs and a huge variety of marine life that can be witnessed while diving. On this itinerary, we will visit the north and south regions on Komodo. In the north we have beautiful reefs around Gili Lawa Laut and Tatawa Besar. The central section provides reefs, small islands and submerged pinnacles teeming with life fed by currents running north and south between the islands of Komodo and Rinca.
While the diving continues to be of the highest standards – so do the experiences above the water.
With the chance to see the famous Komodo dragon in its natural habitat, sunset at Batu Moncho (one of the most beautiful bays in Komodo), visit the amazing Pink Beach and you have a paradise both above and below the water.
The is an itinerary that offers everything – wonderful nature, breathtaking views and a variety of dives you will never forget.
Water temperature in the central and northern section of the park average 27-28°C but can get cooler during a rising tide.
*Please be aware the dive sites and areas mentioned in our itineraries are not guaranteed. They are subject to change based on weather conditions and are at the discretion of our cruise director/captain. This is to ensure we provide the best sightings and activities possible during your dive experience while also prioritising your safety.
Dive Sites
Click dive site markers for detailed descriptions.
Dive sites & areas that we may visit are subject to weather conditions.
Batu Bolong
Batu Bolong is a world class dive site. It's a small island in the middle of the Komodo channel, the currents can be really strong here due to the topography and the channel funneling water through. Diving this conicle rock will bring you into an amazing marine life, schools of fish of different species, vibrant and rich soft and hard corals, sponges and large pelagics such as sharks, rays, tunas, giant trevallies and so much more.
Gili Lawa
- Castle Rock -
Castle Rock is one of the highlights of Komodo, located north of Gili Lawa laut. In open water, this huge pinnacle with a top at a depth of 5 mtrs is subject to strong currents, offering rich and dense varieties of fish species, soft and hard coral, enormous schools of fish including Surgeon fish, Unicorn fish, Banner fish, as well as grey reef sharks, giant trvallies, tunas and other large pelagics.
- Crystal Rock -
Crystal clear waters, offer endless vibrant soft corals, healthy hard corals with schools of pink, orange, and yellow anthia fish, fusiliers, sweetlips and the commonly seen moray eels and scorpion fish. Exposed to strong currents, this islet which breaks the surface at low tide can be subject to strong currents which attract big marine life, like grey reef sharks, white tip reef sharks and giant trevallies.
- Golden Passage -
This dive site is the channel that separates Gili Lawa Darat from Komodo Island. Nice drift dive into a beautiful coral garden, you will cross the channel at around 18m surrounded by amazing topography, schools of sweetlips, humphead parrot fish, trevallies and reef sharks.
- Lighthouse -
Lighthouse is located at the Northeast point of Gili Lawa Laut, the dive site takes its name from the small lighthouse that is situated above. It's exposed to current and you will drift for a long distance to the cape, on a sloping reef covered with abundant hard and soft coral, until the action at the corner where you can see giant travalies, napolean wrasse, snappers, sweetlips, batfish and sharks.
- Shotgun -
Shotgun, also named the cauldron is located between Gili Lawa Laut and Gilia Lawa Darat in the North Komodo area. This channel between the two islands offers great conditions with strong currents. At low tide there is chance for fantastic encounters in the rich and healthy corals, of schools of giant trivaly, reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, and for the lucky ones, mantas.
Makassar Reef
Makassar reef aka Manta Point is located between Komodo Island and Tatawa. This dive spot is comparable to a lunar landscape with dead coral, small stones and a succession of dunes and small craters. Some rocky areas are covered with soft and hard coral. This configuration creates the cleaning stations for Manta rays and sometimes we see black tip reef sharks, giant trevallies, parrotfish, turtles and eagle rays.
Siaba Besar
Located in a protected bay, Siaba Besar or otherwise known as Turtle Point, is ideal for easy dives and scuba diving with turtles. Also nice hard coral gardens, and great night dives with bobtail squid, maybe flamboyant cuttlefish, mantis shrimps, rays, giant morays and more.
Tatawa
- Tatawa Kecil -
Tatawa Kecil is a small island notheast of Komodo. The richness of species make Tatawa Kecil a small jewel inside the archipelago. Drift from the south-west corner of this small island, on the plateau located between 20-24m. Always have a look in the blue, as you can often see mobula rays, eagle rays, giant trevallies and some sharks patrolling the area.
- Tatawa Besar -
Tatawa Besar is a wonderfull drift dive, on a shallow reef from 8 to 20 meters. It's one of the most amazing coral gardens of the Komodo national park. A beautiful combination of hard and soft corals with mostly orange-reddish hues and with clear waters, its an amazing spectacle. Huge sponges will offer protection for hidden leaf scorpiofish, young batfish, nudibranches, and moray eels.
Wainilu
Wainilu is located at the exit of Loh Buaya bay, and offers a wonderfull macro dive. The top of the reef is composed of dead broken coral, here we can see mating mandarin fish at sunset, and many other critters such as ghost pipe fish, nudibranchs, frogfish, zebra crab, harlequin and even tiger schrimps, to name a few.
Gili Banta
Imagine yourself diving inside the caldera of a volcano without ever having to climb above sea level to get there. Gili Banta (Banta Island) is an ancient, uninhabited, partially submerged volcano off the Northwest coast of Sumbawa.
- Star Wars -
On the Northeast part of Gili Banta, Star Wars is a gentle slope down to 30m, covered with beautiful coral, and home for many small fish. The shallow area is very healthy and you may be lucky to meet a manta on the safety stop.
- Roller Coaster -
In the northern part of Gili Banta, Roller coaster a.k.a "Tanduk Rusa"consists of undulating walls and steep slopes to 40 meters, swept with vertical as well as horizontal currents. The large rock formations and deep canyons attract a variety of sharks including grey reefs, whitetips, and blacktips. Encounter schooling fish and pelagics like giant trevally, big eyed jacks and tunas. From the currents on the walls and slopes, head west to the sloping reef, covered with hard and soft corals, home to many blue ribbon eels.
- GPS Point -
Located to the northeast of Banta, this submerged seamount 7m below the surface descends to between 30 amp; 40 m and is a beautiful coral garden, where the strong currents attract large pelagics like barracuda, dogtooth tuna, spanish mackerel and sharks.
Sangeang Volcano
Sangeang is a volcano towering over the surrounding Lesser Sunda Islands. Also known as "Gunung Api", the volcano is still active, its twin cones regularly send plumes of ash and smoke into the sky. The active nature of the volcano can be seen underwater as well - divers aren’t the only ones causing bubbles. The reefs are home to a huge variety of soft and hard corals as well as anemone and they are rich with colourful reef fish.
- Hot Rocks -
Hot Rocks, also sometimes named "Bubble Reef", is a spectacular dive site. Rich plankton filled waters, bubbles coming up from the sand, a huge concentration of various colours of black coral bushes, whip corals, sea fans and fluorescent anemones make it a real diving highlight.
- Deep Purple -
Deep purple is a fantastic dive site named for the large number of huge purple Muriacella sea fans that have grown on the sheer sides of a massive volcanic boulder that, along with the vertical wall at the furthest end of the extending reef have created a deep canyon.
Moyo
Located on the northern coast of Sumbawa, Moyo offers nice and healthy corals in crystal clear water.
- Angel Reef -
Angel Reef is a vertical wall dropping to over 40 meters with schools of bannerfishes, redtooth triggerfish and batfish. It's also possible to see ribbon eels and the Denise pygmy seahorse on the wall and sloping reef. Beyond the reef a sandy plateau offers the chance to see fields of spaghetti eels.
- Little Angel -
Little Angel, the small sister of Angel Reef, is a smaller reef slightly to the east. It's a submerged plateau from 5 m to 15m, with beautiful coral bommies, sandy slopes and colorful marine life.
Bima
- Bethlehem -
Bethlehem makes a brilliant night dive with hordes of critters all over the reef; there is always something new and fascinating to look at. The dive is also very shallow, around 14 meters/45 ft. and relatively easy for new divers.
- Unusual Suspect -
Unusual Suspect is a wonderful muck dive in Bima Bay. With a mainly sandy bottom the site is a paradise for macro lovers with a number of different kinds of squid, octopus and many exceptional critters to look for.
Saleh Bay
Is swimming with whale sharks on your bucket list? At Saleh Bay you can tick that off your list! Meet the local fisherman and their bagans, where the whale sharks are respected and treated as gods, in a heartfelt friendship.
Satonda Reef
This small sheltered bay on the island makes for an ideal sunset and night dive. The sandy bottom is a great opportunity for a muck dive and with fair coral coverage it is excellent for critter diving.
Gili Islands
Labuan Bajo
Also Important
Check Dive & Depart Lombok / Labuan Bajo
Boarding takes place in mid-morning when you will receive a welcome, safety briefing, room allocation, and then lunch.
Return to Labuan Bajo / Lombok
The last dives of the trip take place on the day before disembarkation. We return to port lunchtime on day eight of the trip.
Itinerary Experience
This is a great itinerary for everyone regardless of your experience level. You don’t need a minimum number of dives to join this trip, but should be comfortable diving in currents as they can be unpredictable and strong. Many dives are below 18m therefore we recommend having advanced experience or taking your PADI Advanced Open Water course on board to maximise your enjoyment from the trip. Divers may find some dives challenging and may be asked by the Cruise Director to skip dives that are not suitable for their diving experience. Diving is from a zodiac to give precise entry and exit points.