Batu
Saloka
The terrain is very dramatic and
the fish life is prolific. Napoleon wrasse, big
groupers, schooling snappers, turtles, big sharks, and
giant trevallies are examples of the fish life that can
be encountered here.
This site
is part of a cluster of uncharted rocky islets and reefs
off the point of Tanjung Saloka. The western-most islet
is an excellent dive site although it is very prone to
currents and swell. There is also a rocky reef just
below the surface, fifty meters south of this island.
Best time to dive is during slack water when the rock
can be circumnavigated.
Nisaleme Island
An excellent site for pelagic fish
such as rainbow runners, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna,
and sharks.
Nisaleme
is a very exposed, small, rocky island that can be
difficult to dive. The entry point is usually at the
northern or the southern tip of the island depending on
current direction. The rock itself plummets very steeply
into deep water. Caution should be taken when attempting
this dive as there can be strong down-currents during
rapid tidal flow.
Toroletuhoh
There is a nice wall as you
approach a point with plenty of sharks and big fish
including giant trevally and schools of snappers. There
is also an excellent variety of coral reef fishes. The
coral-encrusted growths are very similar to those found
on southern Komodo reefs.
The best
time to dive this site is during rising tide when a
counter-current flows southwards. The entry point is on
the northeastern side the point. The dive drifts
counter-clockwise along the boulders to the western most
tip of the point. The water here is usually clear but
can be quite cool. Also the site maybe effected by a
strong surge when there are large swells.
Letuhoh Reef
Big potato cod, gray reef sharks,
eagle rays, turtles, schools of rainbow runners,
dogtooth tuna, giant trevally and snapper frequent this
reef. There are also large coral-encrusted pinnacles.
This reef
extends south from Tanjung Letuhoh and consists of big
boulders and pinnacles that offer some of the best
big-fish diving in Komodo. The optimal time to dive is
during falling tide when a counter-current flows
northwards. Recommended dive entry is on the
southern-most rock that breaks the surface. Hang out on
the reef face and watch the show, which is particularly
good at around 30 m depth. Swim clockwise around the
rock where you will encounter some big pinnacles
encrusted with corals This site is affected by surge and
can look quite frightening from the surface especially
when there is a big swell running; however conditions
are less terrifying underwater.
Langkoi Rock
This site can be a real adrenalin
rush at the right time. Many sharks such as Grey reefs,
Whitetip reef sharks, hammerheads and bronze whalers
aggregate around this site from July to September. Also
a potentially good place to see pelagic fish as well as
resident potato cods at the southern point in 30 meters
of water.
This
submerged pinnacle dive is located southeast of Langkoi
Island. The site is very exposed to current and
sometimes to big surge. Usually a swell banks up against
the pinnacle but on a calm day the site can be difficult
to find. A GPS position is recommended as the pinnacle
is not marked on most charts of the area. The rock
rapidly plummets into very deep water . Best diving
entry is to jump in upcurrent from the pinnacle, dive
straight down, hang on the wall and watch the show of
fishes. This dive should not be attempted by
inexperienced divers.
The
Alley
This area is marked with very
large giant trevally, sharks, beautiful coral and a high
diversity of other invertebrate life in relatively
shallow water between 5-20m depth. Sometimes lots of
manta rays may be seen feeding between September and
January each year.
The tiny
rocky islands in this southern Komodo bay are great for
snorkeling and diving, with even if there are no mantas.
Only little damage has been done to the corals in this
area and the damaged corals seem to be recovering
rapidly. The best diving entry point is on the
northeastern side of a rock located near a coral mound
that is submerged 3-5m below the surface The temperature
of the water can drop to the low 20°C range and this
site tends to be current-prone.
German
Flag
From September to January high
densities of plankton attract many large manta rays that
can normally be seen swimming on the surface along the
shores and rocks along southern Komodo Island. The
nearshore water is quite shallow (5 - 20m deep) and is
composed of large rocks and boulders that shelter huge
malabar grouper, potato cod, napoleon wrasse, schools of
surgeon fishes and red snappers.
Cooler
water from the upwellings off the south coast provide a
nutrient-rich environment in this area. There is usually
current at this site and a drift dive is usually the
best way to go .
South
Tala
Abundant small fish life at
shallower depths, interesting invertebrate life on the
walls and lots of larger fish somewhat deeper. Enormous
schools of surgeon fish sometimes obscure views. Schools
of large red snappers, whitetip reef shark and huge
groupers further down amongst the boulders frequent the
reef.
The
southern point of Tala island is characterized by steep
rocky walls and occasional strong surge.
Tanjung Loh Sera
Large pelagic fish like dogtooth
tuna can be seen circling off the point and around the
pinnacles. Turtles and large fish such as monster- sized
giant trevallies, potato cod, malabar grouper, schools
of bumphead parrotfish, napoleon wrasse, manta rays and
much more can be seen along the wall.
Superb
diving all along the southern point of Loh Sera, or off
the point towards underwater pinnacles. Due to
potentially strong currents only experienced divers
should attempt to swim to the pinnacles. Beginner divers
should stay along the wall. Great snorkeling along the
northern shore of this cape
Toro
Sie
On the south west coast of Rinca
you will find a point marked Toro Sie. Adjacent to the
point is a rock awash. This rock has a ridge that
extends to the west that is covered in crynoids and
softcorals. On the seabed around the rock lots of
interesting critters can be found. If you swim out over
the sand southwest of the rock there is a patch reef
that usually has excellent fishlife on it and quite
often a few big grouper. This dive is usually has better
vis during the NW monsoon along with most of the parks
other southern sites.
Yellow
Wall
A very good place to see
invertebrate diversity, especially during a night dive.
Walls are packed with a mind-boggling array of marine
life and colors including colorful sea urchins, bright
red sea apples, beautiful soft corals, Spanish dancer
nudibranchs and a great variety of tunicates. Crevices
in the wall reveal sleeping fishes, spiny and slipper
lobsters, cleaner shrimps, and decorator crabs.
Nighttime fish life include sleeping coral trout, cat
sharks, all kinds of cardinal fishes and parrot fishes
in their mucus cocoons, as well as sleeping turtles.
Yellow
Wall is an excellent day or night dive spot just inside
the southeastern corner of Loh Dasami Bay. It is also
one of the best areas in Loh Dasami for snorkeling. The
current usually flows south to north so the best entry
point is just around the western-most tip of the
headland; the dive should then continue into the bay
along with the current.
Cannibal Rock/ Batu Buas
This site is famous for its varied
and colorful invertebrate life. Rich soft corals abound
as well as sea apples and other sea cucumber species.
Amongst many surprises are flamboyantly colored
nudibranchs, and fire urchins with Coleman shrimp. The
fish life can also be quite good at times with an array
of scorpion fishes, schools of red snappers and surgeon
fishes. Unusual fishes such as pygmy seahorses and
frogfishes may also be seen.Cannibal Rock is a small
seamount in wellprotected Loh Dasami Bay, between Rinca
and Nusa Kode, which allows for easy diving with little
current. Night dives are excellent, especially on the
sandy slope of the northern side of the island starting
at about 25 m depth.
Crinoid Canyon
Many kinds of small invertebrate
life can be found here on very colorful walls carpeted
in featherstars.
This site
is located in a small cove just outside the southern
entrance of Loh Dasami on the island of Nusa Kode,
almost directly opposite Yellow Wall. The diving entry
point is just south of the cove then continues along the
wall in a counter-clockwise direction. Best to start the
dive at 25 m depth and then continue swimming back and
forth up along the wall to the surface. This is a easy
dive location with no current and is good in the early
morning as it catches the morning sun.
Boulders
The dive begins with forests of
soft coral at 30-35m depth. Along the way to the
boulders is the best place in Loh Dasami to find fire
urchins with Coleman shrimp. The boulders themselves
have good coral, invertebrate and fish life. Quite often
manta rays can be seen in this area as well.
This site
is located on Nusa Kode where the bay widens just
northwest of Crinoid Canyon. Directly below this point
there are several big boulders laying on the bottom. The
shallowest boulder is in about 8 meters of water and the
deepest one is in about 30 m of water. A torch is useful
on this dive. The best point of entry is 100 meters
south of the point where the reef slopes down to soft
coral forests on a dark sandy bottom in 30 to 35 m of
water. Continue the dive to the boulders by ascending to
20m with the reef to the left. This is also a good night
dive location.
Torpedo Point
An excellent place to find unusual
critters such as torpedo rays, Bobbit worms, flying
gurnards, frogfish, and ghost pipefish.
Located
north of Cannibal Rock, critters can be found on a
patchy rocky reef at a depth of 15m. A great low
environmental-impact dive for photographers as most of
the rocky habitats are surrounded by sand.
Nusa
Kode
The south western tip of Kode
island is characterized by large, coral-encrusted
boulders and huge groupers. Amongst the boulders are
some of the largest reef fishes residing in the Park
such as gigantic potato cod and malabar grouper. Schools
of large red snapper are normally prevalent.
Diving
entry is west of a small island at this site. Swim down
to a depth of about 10 m and follow the ridge, which
juts out in a southerly direction. Swim along the crest
of the ridge and down to a max of 50 m depth.
Payung
Island
Very interesting underwater
landscape with huge rocks that give the illusion of a
wreck dive. There are many canyons and crevices to
explore. Fish and invertebrate life is diverse and
abundant. There are big schools of surgeons and smaller
yellow snappers (Lutjanus kasmira and L. quinquelineatus).
Rocky reefs are covered with soft coral, gorgonians and
feather stars.
The
southern and western sides of Payung island offer the
most interesting reef scapes. A rock in the shape of a
cannon lies at 5 m depth on the southern tip of the
island. As with most dive sites in the southern section
of the Park, visibility is relatively low (5-10 m) and
the water is cooler (low to mid 20°C range). This site
should be dived at slack-tide, preferably during slack
of low tide. Two dives are possible: The first dive
descends at the northwest tip of the island (near the
rocks that nearly break the surface) and continues south
(with the slope on your left) at 15-30 meters depth,
then turns at the southern-most end of the island and
ascends to 10 m depth. The second dive starts at the
southeastern side of the island and proceeds around the
southern tip of the island at 20-35 m depth, then
ascends to 5-15 m depth
dive sites :
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