Explore The Wonders Of Indonesia
Komodo – Sumbawa Exploration 10 Nights
Discover Komodo & Sumbawa: The Wild wild East Sumbawa-Komodo Diving & Exploration
Komodo National Park was created in 1980 to protect the dragons and other rare and unusual wildlife here. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, Komodo has since been named as one of the ‘World’s Top Ten Destinations’ by National Geographic Magazine in the July 2017 edition.
The Park itself includes a trio of large islands (Komodo, Rinca, and Padar), interspersed with an archipelago of smaller islands and seamounts. Located at the boundary between the Indian and Pacific, these two great oceans are home to completely different marine environments. Driven by this confluence of oceans, the Indonesian Flow Through creates a net north to south current within the Flores Sea, which surrounds Komodo Park.
The end result is a stunning diversity of habitats and species in a relatively small area, enabling us to introduce you to an incredible variety of dive sites and marine environments with a minimal amount of travel time between your adventures.
Our Komodo trips now go even further, extended to Teluk Saleh, Sumbawa, and South East Sumbawa as well, where you can experience one of nature’s most awe-inspiring encounters: swimming with the largest fish in the world: the whale shark.
In the calm waters of this massive bay, whale sharks gather near traditional fishing platforms, creating an incredible chance to snorkel with these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
Komodo, Sumbawa and beyond...
We’ll introduce you to Komodo’s most iconic dive sites such as Manta Alley, Manta Point, Tatawa Besar, Batu Bolong, Castle Rock, and Crystal Rock. We’ve also discovered many of our own favorite spots over the years, such as the ‘Seven Seas Secret’ spot, where we’ve sometimes spotted dugong cruising the shallows.
With more than twenty years of experience exploring the best that Indonesia has to offer, you can be assured that you diving the right place at the right time. Most (if not all) dive sites are dependent on the tide, moon, and other environmental conditions – get there at the wrong time and you’re likely to miss that unforgettable experience underwater.
This trip ventures into the South of Sumbawa, where we’ve discovered a variety of dive sites which offer even more options than those you’ll find within Komodo Park. From a kaleidoscopic soft coral paradise, to an exquisite shallow water reef of branching coral and teeming with tropical fish and cruising baby black tip sharks, to an incredible sandy slope inhabited by a squadron of enormous sting rays.
And as if all this wasn’t enough, the cherry on top is our visit to Teluk Saleh, South of Pulau Mojo. Here you’ll have the chance to experience the unforgettable thrill of swimming alongside the ocean’s largest fish, the magnificent whale shark.
With our wealth of experience in Komodo and beyond, the crew aboard the Seven Seas invites you to experience this jewel of the Coral Triangle at its very best.
Dive with giants: From graceful mantas in Komodo to the gentle whale sharks of Sumbawa.
Tentative Itinerary
The itinerary may be adjusted at the discretion of the captain and cruise director based on weather conditions, which can sometimes be unpredictable, as well as the group’s overall experience. The goal is to offer the best possible diving and snorkeling sites according to the group’s interests and skill levels.
Day 1 - LABUAN BAJO
Arrival in Labuan Bajo. Transfer to the Seven Seas and check-in. After settling into your cabin and a welcome briefing, we prepare for the adventure ahead as we set sail into Komodo National Park for a check dive.
Day 2 – LOH LIANG & CENTRAL KOMODO – Komodo National Park
The experience begins upon arrival at Loh Liang on Komodo Island, where you are welcomed by official park rangerswho lead a guided walk through the natural trails of the national park. During this walk, you explore areas of open savanna, dry forest, and gentle hills while observing Komodo dragons in their natural habitat, along with other wildlife such as deer, birds, and monkeys. The rangers provide insights into the behavior, biology, and conservation of these unique reptiles, making the visit both safe and educational.
After completing the trek, you continue by boat to Pink Beach, one of the most iconic locations in the park, known for its distinctive pink-hued sand and clear turquoise waters. You continue diving in the waters around Pink Beach, where the shallow reefs and vibrant marine life create an ideal setting for an immersive underwater experience. After the dive, you can swim in the clear turquoise water, relax on the pink-hued sand, or snorkel along the shoreline to observe colorful corals and tropical fish in the calm, shallow areas, and enjoy a simple lunch either on board or as a picnic by the shore.
The journey then continues to the waters of Central Komodo, an area renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and excellent diving conditions. Guided by our experienced instructors, you take part in one or more dives over vibrant coral reefs where you may encounter schools of fish, sea turtles, reef sharks, and, in certain areas, manta rays.
Day 3 & 4 – CENTRAL KOMODO – Komodo National Park
Central Komodo stands out as one of Indonesia’s premier diving locations, offering a diverse underwater environment with excellent coral health and a wide range of marine species. The region features everything from easygoing reef dives to more advanced sites with stronger currents and larger marine creatures. Dive locations in Central Komodo include coral slopes, reef walls, sandy bottoms, and pinnacles.
Some of the dive sites we may explore include:
Karang Makassar (Manta Point):
A broad, shallow reef known for frequent manta ray encounters, especially during rising tides when they visit cleaning stations. A relaxed drift dive with sandy patches and scattered coral bommies.
Tatawa Besar:
An easygoing drift dive with vibrant soft corals, large schools of fish, and regular sightings of turtles.
Tatawa Kecil:
A site for more advanced divers, featuring complex coral topography, swim-throughs, and stronger currents. It’s a good place to see larger fish like trevallies and the occasional shark.
Siaba Besar:
A sheltered bay with minimal current and shallow depths. Expect encounters with turtles, cuttlefish, and large groups of reef fish.
Batu Bolong:
One of the most iconic dive sites in Central Komodo. A steep coral pinnacle that rises from deep water to just below the surface. The reef is densely packed with hard and soft corals and attracts a huge variety of marine life, including large schools of anthias, snappers, fusiliers, and surgeonfish. Turtles are common, and reef sharks often cruise the deeper sections. Napoleon wrasse, giant trevallies, and occasional barracuda also pass through.
Seven Seas Secret:
A signature dive revealing an outstanding hard coral garden that gently slopes into a pristine stretch of white sand. Expect manta rays gliding through the blue, turtles resting gracefully on the corals, and reef sharks patrolling the edge of the slope. With a bit of luck, you may even encounter the elusive dugong.
After finishing our day, we make our way to the eastern part of Komodo to wrap up with a night dive in Pulau Lassa.
Day 5 & 6 – MANTA ALLEY & NUSA KODE – South Komodo National Park
Manta Alley, located at the southern tip of Komodo Island, is renowned as one of the top places in the world to encounter manta rays. During the dry season, cooler waters rich in plankton attract large numbers of reef mantasand, on occasion, even oceanic mantas.
This dive site features narrow channels, rocky formations, and coral slopes that support a diverse range of marine life. Mantas are often seen cruising through the area, hovering over cleaning stations, or feeding in the current. The reef is full of life, with dense fields of soft corals, crinoids, and sponges. Schools of fusiliers and trevallies sweep through the water, while whitetip reef sharks and turtles are also commonly sighted.
Manta Alley is an exposed site, open to oceanic conditions, which can bring strong currents and surge. At times, diving here may not be possible due to unfavorable sea conditions.
After a couple of dives in Manta Alley, we cross into the dramatic setting of Nusa Kode, where our midday dive takes place at the legendary Cannibal Rock. Rising to just three meters below the surface and dropping down to around 30 meters, this seamount is considered one of Komodo’s richest dive sites. Its slopes are carpeted with sponges, soft corals, and featherstars, creating a vibrant backdrop for some of the park’s best macro life, including frogfish, nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, and rare Coleman shrimp hiding in fire urchins. Larger reef fish and schools of pelagics also patrol the area, depending on the currents.
After surfacing, don’t forget to glance toward the beach, this is one of the rare places where Komodo dragons can often be seen walking along the shore.
As the sun sets, the adventure continues with a fourth dive at Torpedo Alley, one of Komodo’s most famous night dives. On the black sandy slopes between 5 and 25 meters, the reef transforms into a stage for nocturnal creatures, including electric torpedo rays, stargazers, bobtail squid, cuttlefish, frogfish, and bizarre critters like the bobbit worm. This classic muck dive is a thrilling contrast to the day’s colorful reefs.
Day 7 - BATU MONCO - Komodo National Park
Batu Monco is a quiet bay on the northwestern side of Komodo Island. With its calm, clear waters and protection from strong currents, it’s ideal for laid-back and comfortable dives. The site features sloping reefs, small drop-offs, and untouched shallow coral zones that are teeming with marine life.
You’ll find a variety of vibrant hard and soft corals, along with commonly seen reef species such as angelfish, butterflyfish, and parrotfish. Octopus, cuttlefish, and moray eels are also frequently encountered, and juvenile manta rays are known to pass through the area from time to time. On the surface, the bay is perfect for kayaking and paddleboarding, offering a peaceful way to enjoy the natural setting.
After a couple of dives, we head to Laju Pamale for our afternoon dive, followed by delicious snacks and refreshing drinks on the beach, the perfect way to unwind after a day in the water.
Day 8 - N'DOKO - Sumbawa
N’doko, located on the eastern side of Sumbawa Island, is a fantastic destination for diving and snorkeling. The area features healthy reefs adorned with soft corals, sponges, and crinoids, and offers excellent underwater visibility.
Marine life is diverse and abundant, including schools of surgeonfish, leaf scorpionfish, turtles, whitetip reef sharks, and the occasional warty frogfish. Dive sites range from sandy slopes with coral bommies to gentle drift dives, providing options for different experience levels.
After diving, you can relax on a quiet, pristine beach with a spectacular view of Sangeang Island, especially at sunset. Snorkeling is excellent, with plenty of marine life close to shore.
The beaches along our route are simply breathtaking, featuring untouched stretches of white sand and even a secluded pink beach, reminiscent of what Komodo’s famous Pink Beach used to be before the crowds. Hidden far from tourist routes, this secret paradise is reserved just for us, ensuring a completely private and intimate experience.
At noon, we set up an unforgettable beach barbecue, the turquoise sea on one side, majestic mountains on the other, and later a sky full of stars above. The setting is pure magic, the kind of moment that stays with you forever.
Day 9 – SANGEANG – Flores Sea
Sangeang Island is an active volcano situated northeast of Sumbawa, easily recognized by its twin volcanic peaks and frequent plumes of smoke. Its raw, rugged beauty and remote setting make it a fascinating destination both above and beneath the surface.
The island’s volcanic nature has shaped a unique underwater environment, with black sand slopes, warm water vents, and nutrient-rich conditions that support an impressive variety of marine life. The combination of volcanic terrain, colorful soft corals, and vivid sponges makes this area particularly appealing to divers.
In certain areas, bubbles rise from the seabed, creating an otherworldly atmosphere beneath the surface. The reefs are alive with reef fish, soft corals, and macro creatures such as ribbon eels, ghost pipefish, and sand-dwelling critters.
Sangeang also offers a cultural contrast with the presence of Bontoh Village, where traditional boat building is still part of daily life. You’ll have the chance to see the construction of wooden phinisi boats at various stages and learn how these impressive vessels are built using simple tools, local wood, and generations of maritime knowledge.
After the visit, we prepare for a night dive in the surrounding waters.
Day 10 – TELUK SALEH – Sumbawa
Teluk Saleh is one of the best places in Indonesia to encounter whale sharks. These gentle giants are attracted by the anchovies caught by fishermen near bagans, large traditional fishing platforms. The fishermen’s catch draws whale sharks to feed and linger around the platforms, offering a rare opportunity to swim or snorkel alongside them in calm waters.
This allows for safe and respectful encounters. While sightings are not guaranteed, they are frequent, especially during the dry season. It’s an unforgettable experience and one of the highlights of any journey through Sumbawa.
After spending the morning with the whale sharks, we move on for a dive at Tanjung Berhenti.
Day 11 – PULAU MOYO – West Nusa Tenggara (Sumbawa))
Morning dive at Angel Reef
Descending into crystal-clear waters, you’ll drift over a spectacular coral garden bursting with color and life. Hard and soft corals cover the slope, teeming with schools of fusiliers, snappers, trevallies, and bannerfish. Look closer and you’ll discover nudibranchs, leaf scorpionfish, and graceful ribbon eels weaving through the reef.
The highlight here is the sheer abundance of life. Large table corals host clouds of anthias, turtles glide effortlessly in the blue, and whitetip reef sharks can sometimes be spotted cruising along the slope. With its excellent visibility and healthy coral cover, Angel Reef is a paradise for both wide-angle photographers and macro lovers.
As the day winds down, we enjoy a golden sunset over Moyo’s coastline, sharing stories of the day’s dives over a delicious dinner on board.
Day 12 - SUMBAWA BESAR
Disembarkation. Fly to Bali and transfer to flights home or resorts.
