Komodo Dancer - Komodo scuba diving.

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Komodo liveaboards are world famous for providing an almost unparalelled diversity of marine life and corals.
The reef structure in the Komodo national park is comprised mainly of volcanic seamounts, walls and canyons as well as fringing reefs, gutters, coral gardens and sandy bottoms.
On these there are believed to be approximately 253 species of reef building corals from over 70 families within the park and its immediate environs. Particularly abundant is the organ pipe coral (tubiproa musica), this makes up some of the startling pink sand beaches. There are also an estimated 70 species of sponge sharing the coral reefs and other habitats close to the shores.
From north to south the coral reefs of Komodo create an unmatched kaleidoscope of colours and textures to delight the eye and the camera.
A lot of this comes in the form of smaller critters and macro subjects - it's all here from flamboyant ghost pipefish to the tiny pygmy seahorse.
Between the sea mounts and the shore are vast unexplored coral reefs, coral rubble and soft sand sites, often in shallow water and teeming with unusual tropical reef animals. In fact, this area plays host to more than 1,100 different species of fish (the Caribbean has around 700 by comparison). With a careful eye, even the most jaded observer will discover hundreds of new species of brilliantly colored marine life, plus an astounding array of invertebrates, some of which have never even been properly identified!

Moving back to open water and the current swept pinnacles we come across some of the ocean's bigger inhabitants. These rocky formations that thrust up from the sea floor act like magnets for huge dog tooth tuna, various shark species, schooling jacks and barracuda and of course our old friend the manta ray.
Closer to the coral covered rocky ledges where a multitude of brightly coloured reef fish forage for food napoleon wrasse and gangs of humphead parrotfish can be spotted going about their daily business.
To make the dives to see the big fish on these sometimes difficult sites requires a skilled, knowledgeable and experienced dive crew and the Komodo Dancer has this in abundance. Dive Komodo as it should be dived and don't miss out - dive the Komodo Dancer.

The Komodo national park

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Established in 1980 the Komodo national park comprises of three main islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padar as well as many other smaller islands.
Underwater the Komodo national park is one of Indonesia's richest areas of marine biodiversity and the park authority is active in helping to keep it that way.
To help keep the park in pristine condition it is essential that divers employ good diving procedures - staying above the reef, using good fin technique and not interfering with the marine life.
In 1986 the Komodo national park was declared a man and biosphere reserve and a world heritage site.

Sea conditions

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Water Temperature
Between 20 C and 28 C, sometimes cooler on the southern sites. A full wetsuit is recommended, minimum 3mm.

Visibility
Typically between 10 to 50 metres, dependent on season. Better visibility is generally encountered on the northern coastal sites.

Currents
Famous for it's tidal flows, Komodo offers some stunning drift dives attracting some amazing marine life. Not all areas are affected however and particular attention is placed on picking suitable sites and times to dive to guarantee optimum and safe conditions.

An interesting fact:
On his travels in Indonesia Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913), a British naturalist, noted differences between the wildlife of the former tectonic landmasses of Asia and Australia - marked by a line that passes between Bali and Lombok at its southern extremity.
The Komodo Dancer sails between Bali and Komodo on her cruises and crosses this line on the first and last day at sea. Guests who have been in Bali for a few days before embarkation are sometimes surprised by the differences in the terrain. Bali is very lush and green while Komodo has a barren, yet dramatic landscape.
On land the creatures differ too, the further east we travel animals occur that cannot be seen in western Indonesia, and vice versa.