Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Visit When Exploring Komodo, Indonesia

When people hear the name Komodo, their minds might instantly leap to the infamous Komodo dragon 🦎. However, for seasoned divers, it’s a must-visit pilgrimage site that offers some of the most breathtaking underwater experiences 🤿. The waters around Komodo are a kaleidoscope of colors and biodiversity, making it one of the most vibrant dive sites I’ve ever explored 🪸.

Although I didn’t get to witness a manta ray storm (still working on my luck [nose pick R]), I was thrilled to spot several mantas over just two days [cute R]. Due to the strong currents, Komodo is considered an advanced dive site, so choosing a reliable dive shop is crucial! After our fantastic experience with Scuba Junkie in Semporna, and knowing they have multiple branches across Southeast Asia, we decided to dive with them again in Komodo – Scuba Junkie Komodo [party R].

This dive shop is dedicated to conservation and sustainability, which means no seafood on the menu. They also prioritize local employment, from boatmen to kitchen staff, ensuring an authentic and community-driven experience 🥘.

Reaching Komodo Island can be a bit of an adventure, as there are no direct flights from many countries. The nearest airport, Komodo Airport, is located in Labuan Bajo, requiring a short domestic flight from Bali, about an hour away. The dive shop’s customer service center is conveniently situated just 3 kilometers from the airport 🚖.

Upon arrival, we were whisked away by the boatman to a secluded diving resort in Flores 🛖. This hidden gem is nestled between lush mountains and crystal-clear waters, creating a picture-perfect paradise. The only downside? A very weak internet signal, which made it the perfect opportunity for a digital detox [laugh cry R].

We opted for a 6-day 5-night package (prices as shown in the image), with three dives per day, plus a rest day that included a chartered boat trip to watch the sunset and observe bats 🦇. The schedule was packed but wonderfully relaxing 😎. On our check-out day, we also arranged for some island hopping 🏝️.

In the morning, we hiked up Padar Island [hiking boots R], and in the afternoon, we ventured to Rinca Island to search for Komodo dragons in the Komodo Dragon National Park 🦎. The only hiccup in our otherwise perfect trip was the slow boat (Slow boat) 🚣 we chose on the last day, which took about 2-3 hours between islands, and the facilities on board were quite basic [disappointed R].

While the speedboat is a bit pricier, it’s definitely worth it for the time and comfort it provides, and I highly recommend it [smug R].

Starting this year, Scuba Junkie Komodo also offers a 6-day 5-night liveaboard package. For more details, you can visit their official website.