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Komodo, experiencing Indonesia’s best diving within the Coral Triangle

Komodo National Park in Eastern Indonesia was originally established to protect the Komodo dragon. And although many of the ecotourism visitors who travel here are hoping to catch a glimpse of the world’s largest lizard, the park is also renowned by experienced scuba divers as one of the top dive sites in the world.

 
Napoleon wrasse or Humphead wrasse (<i>Cheilinus undulatus</i>), Batu Balong, Komodo ... © Robert Delfs / WWF
Napoleon wrasse or Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), Batu Balong, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.
© Robert Delfs / WWF

What makes Komodo National Park so special?

  • More than 1,000 species of tropical fish, 260 species of coral, and rare marine mammals such as the dugong live within Komodo National Park.
  • Strong daily tidal flows combine with nutrient-rich water upwelling from the depths of the Indian Ocean to create ideal conditions for thousands of species of corals and tropical fish to flourish.
  • Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
Scientists, underwater photographers, and recreational sport divers alike travel from all over the globe to experience the spectacular biodiversity of more than 50 world-class dive sites ranging from challenging blue water current dives with a chance of glimpsing large pelagic species to discovering rare invertebrates on a ‘muck’ dive closer to shore. 

Where is Komodo National Park?

Situated within a narrow channel between Flores and Sumbawa, Komodo National Park is comprised of three large islands (Komodo, Padar and Rincah) and 26 smaller ones to occupy nearly 2,000 km2.


Creating Komodo National Park: Conserving the Komodo Dragon and one of Indonesia’s UNESCO Sites

Komodo National Park was created by the Indonesian government in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon. In 1991, Komodo was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

But even with the recognition of Komodo as one of the most important treasures of biodiversity in Indonesia, threats to the future of this marine protected area still exist.

Unsustainable destructive fishing methods, overdevelopment, and unregulated tourism threaten permanent damage to the park as more and more people arrived.

In 1930, less than 300 people were living in Komodo village and Rinca Island.

By the year 2000, approximately 1,200 people were inhabiting Komodo—an exponential increase.

As more people move to Komodo National Park in search of economic opportunity, an important part of the conservation strategy for ensuring a sustainable future is balancing the economic needs of the local community with the challenge of protecting a delicate ecosystem.

Protecting Komodo National Park in the Coral Triangle

 Strict enforcement of anti-poaching and illegal fishing regulations thanks to coordinated patrols by local park rangers, the Indonesian Navy, and the police has made wildlife and natural resource crimes within Komodo National Park much more difficult.

Komodo National Park biodiversity

  • More than 260 species of reef-building coral
  • More than 1,000 species of tropical fish, including Napoleon wrasse and groupers
  • Approximately 70 species of sponges
  • 7 species of sharks including hammerhead sharks and grey reef sharks
  • Marine mammals such as whales and dolphins
  • Rare and endangered species such as the dugong

Find out how WWF is protecting places such as Tubbataha in the Coral Triangle ►

Komodo, part of the Coral Triangle

The Coral Triangle is a vast, 6 million km2 area spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solon Islands and Timor Leste that contains the highest diversity of of coral reef species in the world. And that's just the beginning.
find out more here ►

Komodo Scuba Diving Sites

Komodo is one of the world's top diving destinations. Find out about Pink Beach, Castle Rock, Letuhoh Reef and other local diving locations ►
How to visit Komodo National Park
Komodo National Park is usually reached via Labuan Bajo in west Flores or Bima in eastern Sumbawa, with daily flights originating from Denpasar in Bali.

For flight availability and the most up-to-date schedule, check:
After arriving in Labuan Bajo or Bima, visitors can choose to travel by either shared boat charter or local boat to Loh Liang on Komodo Island or Loh Buaya on Rinca Island, the main entry points to Komodo National Park.


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Komodo photos

Underwater seascape in Komodo National Park, Indonesia, Coral Triangle
© Underwater seascape in Komodo National Park, Indonesia, Coral Triangle © Jürgen Freund / WWF-CANON

 See amazing photos of Komodo National Park taken by award-winning photographer Jürgen Freund ►

Dive Experiences from Komodo

It was both Yogi and my first time to see the underwater world of the World Heritage Site Komodo National Park.

Over the past decade, we heard and read much about this place —the mad currents, the amount of fish, the pristine underwater wilderness that it was—and still we never managed to get there until now.

read more from the Coral Triangle Photo Expedition Blog ►