Komodo National Park diving and snorkeling: sites, currents and costs

The park's own site says its marine fauna includes over 260 species of reef-building coral, 70 species of sponge and over 1,000 species of fish, and that its three main marine ecosystems are seagrass beds, coral reefs and mangrove forests.^1,7 The waters belong to the Coral Triangle, which Indonesia.Travel describes as home to sea turtles, manta rays, whales and dolphins, and RRI repeats that visitors can meet manta rays, sea turtles, dolphins and other marine species.^8,9

Temperature varies by zone. The park's site gives water at 25 to 29 degrees C in the north, 24 to 28 in the middle and 22 to 28 in the south.¹⁰ Across a range from 22 to 29 degrees, a thin wetsuit or rash vest is a sensible carry for a one-hour swim,¹⁰ and a diver who spends longer in the water may want a full suit. Warm water tempts people to skip the layer, but an hour of floating cools you faster than you expect, and a shivering snorkeler sees less than a comfortable one.

UNESCO's listing adds that the coral reefs host a great diversity of species and that the strong currents of the sea attract sea turtles, whales, dolphins and dugongs.¹¹ The same currents that feed the reef make the diving serious. The park's site calls the combination of strong currents, coral reefs and islets a reason navigation around the islands is difficult and dangerous.¹² Read the next sections with that in mind.

Indonesia.Travel describes Batu Bolong as known for strong currents that attract pelagic fish, a favorite among experienced divers.⁴ Siaba Besar is a pinnacle site where large pelagics such as sharks and tuna can be met,¹⁷ and Pink Beach is a dive site famed for vibrant coral gardens and rich macro life.¹⁸ The Sebayur islands are described as dive spots with clear water, turtles and occasional manta rays and sharks.²¹

The park's own site gives the old hands' rules. At Tanjung Rusa it describes strong currents and sometimes down-currents and recommends diving at slack tide.¹⁹ Nisaleme is a very exposed rocky island that can be difficult to dive, with strong down-currents during rapid tidal flow,²² while Lohwenci is a pleasant, relatively current-free dive just north of the ranger station.²⁰ The range runs from gentle to serious, and your briefing should say which one you are on.

The risk is not abstract. ANTARA reported that police used sonar and an underwater drone to look for a dive master missing since the Feronia ship sank in the park, without success after ten days.²³ The search focused on waters including Tatawa Besar, Batu Bolong, Mawan, Batu Tiga and Sebayur, and police named dynamic underwater currents as one of the biggest challenges.^24,25 Choose an operator for its briefings and boat handling, not only for the price.

The quota that began on April 1, 2026 caps the park at 1,000 visitors a day and focuses on Padar, Rinca and Komodo Islands including 23 surrounding dive sites.^36,37,38 Your dive or snorkel day therefore sits inside that system, so ask the operator how your slot is arranged and what happens if the day is cancelled for weather. The limit is run through the park authority's SiOra app, and the head of the authority has said unused days can be carried over to busier months.^39,40

The agency says coral reef conditions in the park's waters are declining because of the surge of visitors without adequate management.⁴¹ The park's own site records that hard corals at the GPS Point seamount were severely damaged by dynamite fishing in 1997 and 1998,⁴² and names destructive fishing as the most potent threat to the park's biodiversity.⁴³ A reef that took a hit like that rewards careful visitors: keep fins and hands off the coral and the animals.

Paperwork and fitness are part of the dive. The certified-diver listing asks guests to give their certification level and the date of their last dive, and says dive sites may change with weather, sea conditions and currents. The try-scuba listing caps depth at 12 meters, and the instructor-led scuba listing requires a health check and advises against flying 12 to 18 hours after diving. Plan the flight home accordingly.