It's mandatory to dive with a divemaster in Komodo National Park to ensure the safety of all divers.

There's no need to train up, though you should be confident in the water.  Although Komodo waters are known for their currents, there are many spots with varying difficulty levels and something can be found for divers of all levels (even complete beginners who are looking to obtain their Open Water certificaton).

There is no bad time to dive in Komodo National Park, as the varied dive spots each have something to offer at different times of the year. That said, the best visibility is from November to January where you can dive down to 30 metres with great visibility. The best time for manta ray sightings is December to February and the best time for Mola Mola sightings is August.

Temperature here ranges from 20-28 degrees celsius, with southern dive sites tending to be cooler and northern dive sites tending to be warmer.

It depends on which option you pick: leisure dives will take a day, Advanced Open Water certification will take between two and three days, and Open Water certification will take three days.

Open Water certification is for complete beginners who have previously not tried diving before. Advanced certification is for divers who are looking to advance their diving skills. leisure dives are for divers who have already obtained their Open Water certification (i.e. those holding a PADI, SSI (or equivalent) diving license.) You will be going to different dive sites in Komodo National Park depending on your dive level and which option you pick.

While you are staying in Labuan Bajo, you should make sure to go to the night market for amazingly fresh seafood. You can pick out your fish to be grilled or fried right there on the spot. Also stop by Catur'z Kopi Club for some good local coffee and Indonesian food. The staff here is incredibly helpful and sweet.

Here's a summary of some of the dive sites you may find in Komodo National Park. Where you end up diving will depend on the weather on the day and your dive level - though if you have any specific preference, please do speak to us or your divemaster!

Manta Alley: one of the most famous sites in the south of Komodo Island. Ranging in depth from 10 to 30 metres below, there's a rock outcrop on the surface with an alley where mantas are almost guaranteed to be seen.  

Manta Point (Makassar Reef): another well known spot that is epic for seeing manta rays. In this flat channel, mantas come to get cleaned so it’s a waiting game before a group of 10 or 15 comes by. If timed correctly, the current here can be quite mild.

Batu Bolong: this rocky reef drops to 70 metres and has some of the healthiest coral around, with incredibly dense fish life. This site has pretty strong currents, and is not recommended for beginners.

End of the world: is all about wall diving with caves and overhangs, while the coral is untouched. This is another one with strong currents so should be approached with caution. It goes down to 40 metres.

Crystal Rock: is another pinnacle dive, where the reef features golden and orange sponges. Octopus, hawksbill turtles and even dolphins can be found here. Try to time a dive here when the currents are weak.

Yellow Wall (of Texas): is indeed yellow due to sea cucumbers and feather stars. This is a stellar place for macro photos and is best when there's some good sunlight.

Sebayur Kecil: is a good spot for beginners with not very strong currents but amazing coral formations and pristine white sand bottom where you will spot garden eels, goat fish as well as a random pelagic.