Komodo
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Why dive in Komodo National Park?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 10
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Diurnal Frequent sightingsBumphead Parrotfish
Bolbometopon muricatum
The bumphead parrotfish is the largest species of parrotfish, known for the characteristic hump on its head. They are predominantly herbivores, grazing on coral reefs by scraping off algae and live coral, and are often seen in large schools.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsEschmeyer's Scorpionfish
Rhinopias eschmeyeri
Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) is a venomous marine ray-finned fish known for its exceptional camouflage. It possesses a deep, laterally compressed body, high-set eyes, and typically uniform coloration ranging from lilac, yellow, orange, or brick red. This ambush predator primarily moves by 'walking' or 'hopping' along the seabed using its pectoral and pelvic fins, waiting for unsuspecting prey.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is the world's largest ray, with a disc width that can reach up to 9 meters. It is a circumglobal species found in tropical to temperate pelagic waters, often near coastlines, reefs, and in the open ocean, diving to depths of 1,000 meters. These filter feeders primarily consume zooplankton, including mesopelagic sources, and can also eat small fish. While generally solitary, they aggregate at feeding grounds and cleaning stations. The species is currently listed as Endangered due to overfishing and low reproductive rates.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Trevally
Caranx ignobilis
The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) is a large, powerful predatory fish found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Known for its steep head profile and robust body, it can reach up to 170 cm in length and 80 kg in weight. This apex predator feeds primarily on fish, but also consumes crustaceans and cephalopods, often hunting in solitary or small groups, though juveniles form schools.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGrey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsMimic Octopus
Thaumoctopus mimicus
The Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is an extraordinary cephalopod renowned for its ability to impersonate a variety of other marine animals, including lionfish, sea snakes, and flatfish, to deter predators and ambush prey. It inhabits shallow, muddy, or sandy seafloors, particularly in river mouths and estuaries across the Indo-Pacific. This highly intelligent octopus can reach up to 60 cm in length and exhibits a base coloration of brown with white stripes, which it rapidly alters using chromatophores.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 74
Barred Thicklip WrasseHemigymnus fasciatus
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Blacktip Reef SharkCarcharhinus melanopterus
Blue-Ringed OctopusHapalochlaena spp.
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluering AngelfishPomacanthus annularis
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Blunt-head ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinos
Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus
Broomtail WrasseCheilinus lunulatus
Brownbanded Bamboo SharkChiloscyllium punctatum
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Commerson's FrogfishAntennarius commerson
Coral HindCephalopholis miniata
Delicate Ghost PipefishSolenostomus leptosoma
Disco ClamCtenoides ales
Dusky BatfishPlatax pinnatus
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Flamboyant CuttlefishMetasepia pfefferi
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant clamTridacna gigas
Golden SpadefishPlatax boersii
Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda
Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydas
Greyface MorayGymnothorax thyrsoideus
Guineafowl PufferArothron meleagris
Halimeda Ghost PipefishSolenostomus halimeda
Harlequin ShrimpHymenocera picta
Hawksbill Sea TurtleEretmochelys imbricata
Honeycomb MorayGymnothorax favagineus
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
Kellogg's ScorpionfishScorpaenodes kelloggi
Lacy ScorpionfishRhinopias aphanes
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
Lyretail AnthiasPseudanthias squamipinnis
Maroon ClownfishPremnas biaculeatus
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Ornate Eagle RayAetomylaeus vespertilio
Ornate Ghost PipefishSolenostomus paradoxus
Painted FrogfishAntennarius pictus
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Peacock Mantis ShrimpOdontodactylus scyllarus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Pygmy SeahorseHippocampus bargibanti
Redtooth TriggerfishOdonus niger
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Shortfin Devil RayMobula kuhlii
Snowflake MorayEchidna nebulosa
Spanish DancerHexabranchus sanguineus
Spinetail Devil RayMobula mobular
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Stellate PufferArothron stellatus
StonefishSynanceia verrucosa
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Thorny SeahorseHippocampus histrix
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Tiger Tail SeahorseHippocampus comes
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Tomato ClownfishAmphiprion frenatus
Valentin's Sharpnose PufferCanthigaster valentini
Warty FrogfishAntennarius maculatus
Weedy ScorpionfishRhinopias frondosa
Yellow BoxfishOstracion cubicus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellow-lipped Sea KraitLaticauda colubrina
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Yellowspot TrevallyCarangoides fulvoguttatus
Zebra SharkStegostoma tigrinum
Where is Komodo
Flores Sea · Indonesia
Frequently asked questions about Komodo
When is the best time to dive in Komodo?
The best time to dive in Komodo is from April to May and from September to November. In those months the water is between 24°C and 29°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Komodo?
Divers can encounter 84 species in Komodo. Highlights include Bumphead Parrotfish, Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish, Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Giant Trevally, Grey Reef Shark, and Humphead Wrasse.
When can you see the Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish in Komodo?
The Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish is most often seen in Komodo from March to October.
When can you see the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray in Komodo?
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is most often seen in Komodo from April to September.
When can you see the Mimic Octopus in Komodo?
The Mimic Octopus is most often seen in Komodo from March to October.
What is the water temperature in Komodo?
Water temperature in Komodo ranges from 22°C in August to 30°C in January.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Komodo?
Most divers wear a 5 mm wetsuit in August, when the water drops to 22°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in January, when it reaches 30°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Komodo?
Visibility in Komodo ranges from 5 m to 30 m. The water is clearest from May to July and from September to October.
What are the currents like in Komodo?
Divers in Komodo can expect strong, very strong, or moderate currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Komodo?
After dark, Komodo reveals nocturnal species such as Whitetip Reef Shark, Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, Fimbriated Moray, Giant Moray, Greyface Moray, and Honeycomb Moray.
Where is Komodo located?
Komodo is a dive destination in Indonesia, in the Flores Sea.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Komodo. Spotted something that looks off?
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