Dive Curated
Imported from 500px (archived version) by the Archive Team. (detail page) · CC BY 3.0 · source

Indonesia / East Nusa Tenggara

Komodo

An expedition-feel destination built around Labuan Bajo, a fast-growing but still small port town. Most divers are here purely for the water; the Komodo dragons are the only real above-water draw. Liveaboard culture dominates: you're either on a boat or waiting to get on one.

IntermediateSee dive operators & prices ↓
IntermediateSee dive operators & prices ↓

Can I dive here?

Experience

Intermediate

Open Water is enough for most day trips. Shops choose the sites by the group's level, and several run Discover Scuba and Open Water courses here. The famous current sites (Batu Bolong, Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, Shotgun) are best saved for after Advanced Open Water and some drift experience, and some liveaboards only take advanced-certified divers. Ask the shop which sites it plans for your level.

Conditions

Currents
strong
Depth range
5–40 m
Visibility
10–30 m
Water temp
22–29 °C

Conditions range from calm coral gardens to fast drifts. Sites like Shotgun and Crystal Rock demand solid buoyancy and drift experience, and shops pick gentler sites for newer divers.

Season

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Also good: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

Dry season Apr–Oct; peak visibility Jul–Sep. Avoid Jan–Feb, seas close most liveaboards.

Komodo dive prices: 7 shops compared

  • Known fees added to each price
  • Prices from each shop's own site or price list
  • Contact shops directly on WhatsApp
  • No booking fee
Prices in

Converted at 26 Oct 2026 rates. Shops charge in their own currency.

With a DiveCurated discount code

These shops give divers who use our discount code a small extra. That is the only reason they appear in this box. The full list below shows shops that confirmed their prices with us first, then shops that sent us their own photos, then everyone else, each from the lowest price.

  • Divers ready on the Sea Creatures boat in Komodo
    Photo: Sea Creatures Diving · Supplied by the operator for this listing (WhatsApp, 12 November 2026; from their website) · source

    Sea Creatures Diving

    Partner · Prices confirmed by the shop · Nov 2026A day-boat operator with the area's fastest speedboat, reaching most Komodo sites in about 45 minutes. PADI Eco Center with Green Fins certification, four divers per guide.11 bookable offersFrom, with known feesIDR 1,083,333per dive · Komodo Fun Dive Day TripFees we found on the shop's site included    Fees clearly statedPrices checked 2026-06-23Check availability on WhatsApp
  • Diver swimming over a sea turtle on the reef
    Photo: Divers Paradise Komodo · Supplied by the operator for this listing (WhatsApp, 2 November 2026; from their website) · source

    Divers Paradise Komodo

    Partner · Photos from the shopOne of the older dive centers in Labuan Bajo, guiding Komodo since 2011 in seven languages. Small-group day trips and liveaboards into the national park.5 bookable offersFrom, with known feesIDR 1,000,000per dive · Komodo Fun Dive Day TripFees we found on the shop's site included    Fees clearly statedPrices checked 2026-06-23Check availability on WhatsApp
    Code DC-DIVERSPARADISEfree dive computer rentalAlready in your WhatsApp message
  • Divers jumping off the Manta Rhei dive boat
    Photo: Manta Rhei Dive Center · Supplied by the operator for this listing (WhatsApp, 30 October 2026; from their website) · source

    Manta Rhei Dive Center

    Partner · Photos from the shopA Belgian family's dive center running since 2014, capping groups at four divers per guide across the 29 islands of Komodo National Park. Works with park authorities and Trash Hero on conservation.4 bookable offersFrom, with known feesIDR 1,016,667per dive · Komodo Fun Dive Day TripFees we found on the shop's site included    Some fees not listedPrices checked 2026-06-23Check availability on WhatsApp
    Code DC-MANTARHEIfree nitrox on day trips (not on the liveaboard)Already in your WhatsApp message

  • Maika Komodo Tour

    A locally owned dive-and-tour outfit running its own boats for three-dive days and liveaboards to Batu Bolong, Manta Point, and Castle Rock. Combines diving with Padar and Pink Beach land trips.Signature dive · Batu Bolong4 bookable offersFrom, with known feesIDR 933,333per dive · Komodo 3-Dive Day TripFees we found on the shop's site included    Fees clearly statedPrices checked 2026-06-23Check availability on WhatsApp

  • Scuba Republic

    An SSI Diamond Center diving since 2002, with liveaboards and day trips out of Labuan Bajo and a second base in Raja Ampat. Two Komodo boats carry 8 to 14 guests.4 bookable offersFrom, with known feesIDR 958,333per dive · Komodo Day Trips - 3 DivesFees we found on the shop's site included    Some fees not listedPrices checked 2026-06-23Check availability on WhatsApp
  • Scuba diving in Komodo
    bikes · Pixabay Content License · source

    Blue Marlin Komodo

    Part of the Blue Marlin group, diving for 36 years across seven Indonesian bases. Liveaboards through Komodo National Park plus technical diving, built around the park's strong currents.7 bookable offersFrom, with known feesIDR 983,333per dive · 3 Dive Day TripFees we found on the shop's site included    Some fees not listedPrices checked 2026-06-24Check availability on WhatsApp

  • Somer Dive Center

    Partner · Code for diversA PADI 5-star center in Labuan Bajo running daily speedboat trips and liveaboards into Komodo National Park with a multilingual team. Courses from first dive to divemaster.5 bookable offersFrom, with known feesIDR 1,016,667per dive · Komodo Fun Dive Day TripFees we found on the shop's site included    Fees clearly statedPrices checked 2026-06-23Check availability on WhatsApp
    Code DC-SOMERfree nitrox on the day trip at the central sites (not on the north and south sites, where down-currents make nitrox unsafe)Already in your WhatsApp message

What will I see?

Komodo sits at the meeting point of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and the nutrient-rich upwellings that come with strong currents make it one of Indonesia's richest dive destinations. Reef mantas, oceanic mantas, reef sharks, and schooling pelagics are regulars. The macro life at Cannibal Rock is world-class, nudibranchs, rhinopias, pygmy seahorses, all within a single shallow pinnacle.

Terrain

  • walls
  • pinnacles
  • slopes
  • coral gardens
  • muck
Scuba diving in Komodo
Own work · CC BY 4.0 · source
Reef & oceanic mantas
JFMAMJJASOND

Manta Point is reliable year-round; oceanic mantas peak in dry season.

Whale sharks
JFMAMJJASOND

Occasional sightings around Gili Lawa Darat in early dry season.

Schooling reef fish & sharks
JFMAMJJASOND
Macro critters (rhinopias, pygmy seahorse, nudibranch)
JFMAMJJASOND

Cannibal Rock and Tatawa Besar are the go-to macro sites.

Komodo dragons (above water)
JFMAMJJASOND

Top dive sites

Oceanic manta while diving in Komodo
2015 01 Koh Lanta 27 entering cleaning station · CC BY 2.0 · source

Batu Bolong

Advanced only

Depth5–40 m

Seamount carpeted in soft coral with extraordinary fish density at every level. Currents can be strong and shift direction.

  • reef sharks
  • schooling fusilier
  • Napoleon wrasse
  • soft coral walls
Oceanic manta while diving in Komodo
HIHWNMS - Manta Ray - Cleaner Wrasse - Cleaning Station · Public domain · source

Manta Point

Intermediate

Depth5–25 m

Reliable manta cleaning station off south Komodo. Hover in the current above the rocks and let them come to you, patience pays off.

  • reef mantas
  • oceanic mantas
  • cleaning behaviour
  • blue-water backdrop
Whale shark while diving in Komodo
https://unsplash.com/photos/jwraMZtxBHs archive copy at the Wayback Machine · CC0 · source

Crystal Rock

Advanced only

Depth5–30 m

Submerged pinnacle with ripping current, cold upwellings, and dense pelagic life. One of Komodo's most thrilling, and most demanding, dives.

  • reef sharks
  • schooling jack
  • thermoclines
  • Napoleon wrasse
Scuba diving in Komodo
giusti596 · Pixabay Content License · source

Cannibal Rock

Intermediate

Depth5–28 m

Shallow pinnacle off Rinca with world-class macro density, rhinopias, frogfish, pygmy seahorse, nudibranchs, all in one dive.

  • rhinopias
  • frogfish
  • pygmy seahorse
  • nudibranchs
  • ghost pipefish
Scuba diving in Komodo
Hyparxis · Pixabay Content License · source

Castle Rock

Advanced only

Depth7–30 m

Classic drift dive around a current-swept pinnacle. Reef sharks cruise the top; barracuda and fusilier schools fill the water column.

  • grey reef sharks
  • barracuda tornado
  • schooling fusilier
  • drift diving

Plan your trip

Getting there

Fly to Labuan Bajo (LBJ), direct flights from Bali (45 min) with Garuda/Lion/TransNusa, or via Jakarta. Liveaboards depart from Labuan Bajo harbour; day-trip boats leave from the same harbour or local operators' jetties.

Minimum stay
3 nights
Book ahead
3–6 months ahead for liveaboards in Jul–Sep peak

Certification & medical

Open Water is enough for most day trips. Shops choose the sites by the group's level, and several run Discover Scuba and Open Water courses here. The famous current sites (Batu Bolong, Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, Shotgun) are best saved for after Advanced Open Water and some drift experience, and some liveaboards only take advanced-certified divers. Ask the shop which sites it plans for your level.

Infrastructure

Labuan Bajo has ATMs (BNI, BRI, Mandiri, bring backup cash; machines run dry on holiday weekends), decent mobile signal in town, and a small airport with daily Bali connections. Electricity and water can be intermittent at budget guesthouses. Nearest serious hospital is in Bali; only a basic clinic in Labuan Bajo.

Connectivity

WiFi is patchy at budget accommodation. Telkomsel 4G works in town and on most liveaboards in harbour. Expect limited or no signal during remote itineraries, some operators offer satellite messaging for emergencies.

Health & safety

Dive conservatively and never skip safety stops. The nearest hyperbaric chamber is at Siloam Hospitals Labuan Bajo; ask your dive shop whether it is currently operating. From remote liveaboard routes the way back can take hours. Bring a personal first-aid kit and dive insurance that covers evacuation.

Peak season

Jul–Sep: popular dive sites, Padar, and Pink Beach can be very crowded. Liveaboards are nearly fully booked by March for the Jul–Sep window. Book 3–6 months ahead; 6–12 months for premium vessels. Shoulder seasons (Apr–Jun, Oct) offer good diving with fewer people.

Conditions and operator availability change. Always verify locally before booking.

Komodo price guides

  • Komodo Dive Prices 2026: Day Trips to Liveaboards

    Real prices from our tracked Komodo operators, from a IDR 1,300,000 (~USD 73) night dive to an IDR 20,500,000 (~USD 1,144) liveaboard, so "how much does diving Komodo cost" gets an actual number.

Common questions about Komodo

Is Komodo suitable for beginner divers?

Komodo is rated "Intermediate". Open Water is enough for most day trips. Shops choose the sites by the group's level, and several run Discover Scuba and Open Water courses here. The famous current sites (Batu Bolong, Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, Shotgun) are best saved for after Advanced Open Water and some drift experience, and some liveaboards only take advanced-certified divers. Ask the shop which sites it plans for your level.

When is the best time to dive Komodo?

The best months are Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Dry season Apr–Oct; peak visibility Jul–Sep. Avoid Jan–Feb, seas close most liveaboards.

What can you see diving in Komodo?

Divers come to Komodo for Reef & oceanic mantas, Whale sharks, Schooling reef fish & sharks, Macro critters (rhinopias, pygmy seahorse, nudibranch), Komodo dragons (above water). Conditions range from calm coral gardens to fast drifts. Sites like Shotgun and Crystal Rock demand solid buoyancy and drift experience, and shops pick gentler sites for newer divers.

How much does diving in Komodo cost?

Guided dives and trips range from IDR 1,300,000 to IDR 23,200,000; USD 550 to USD 975, based on operator prices verified 2026-10-25. Confirm current prices with the operator.