Diving Komodo: My Complete Luxury Guide (2026)

Last updated: October 25, 2026

Komodo is one of the three best dive destinations in the world, and I have been coming back for two decades: more than 20 trips, well over 100 dives, every luxury hotel and island resort worth staying in, and six liveaboard trips on five different boats.

This guide is built around the two decisions that shape a Komodo dive trip: where to stay and which dive sites to aim for. Around those, I cover when to go, how to reach Labuan Bajo, the dragons, and what to pack.

If you already know you want to dive from a boat, head straight to my ranking of the best Komodo liveaboards, where I compare 12 boats I have sailed, side by side.

Diving Komodo at a Glance

Komodo sits at number three in my list of the best dive destinations in the world, behind only Raja Ampat and the Galapagos.

Still weighing up destinations? Read my head-to-head Maldives vs Komodo comparison, or my guide to the best liveaboards in Indonesia.

Why Trust This Guide?

Everything here comes from my own dives. I have logged more than 1,500 dives around the world and sailed on more than 40 liveaboards, in Indonesia, the Maldives, the Red Sea, Mexico and the Galapagos.

Komodo is the place I return to most. I have dived it in every month of the year, from the sunrise dives at Batu Bolong to the manta parties of the south, and I have slept in its hotels, on its islands and on its boats.

My first Komodo dives were in 2006. Since then I have watched Labuan Bajo grow from a backpacker town into a luxury destination, and I have had some of the best dives of my life here, including a dive at Castle Rock with dolphins and sharks circling us for more than 20 minutes. You can watch some of my Komodo dives in the videos further down this guide.

Some of my stays and cruises were hosted, and my opinions remain entirely my own. You can read exactly how I review and my disclosure policy.

Why Dive Komodo?

Komodo National Park covers Komodo, Rinca, Padar and 26 smaller islands. It was created in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon, but what it protects under the water is every bit as remarkable.

The park lies inside the Coral Triangle, home to 76% of the world’s known coral species and 37% of its reef fish species. Komodo and Rinca also form a bottleneck between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. That is why the currents are so strong, and why they bring in sharks, mantas and huge schools of fish.

The result is healthy corals, big pelagics, tiny critters for the macro crowd, and generally good visibility. Very few places in the world offer all of that inside one park.

Some of the best dives of my life happened here. I have been in the middle of a sardine feeding frenzy where sharks and dolphins joined the hunt. I have been surrounded by more than 20 curious manta rays. At Castle Rock, I watched more than 30 sharks hunting around me.

Anything can happen in Komodo. Choosing the right sites, the right timing and the best guides simply gives you more chances of being there when it does.

Is Komodo Right for Your Diving Level?

Komodo for Advanced Divers

Komodo has a reputation as an advanced destination, and it is partly deserved. Some sites see currents of up to 8 knots, which can be dangerous for divers without drift experience.

Those same currents are what create the action. As an experienced diver, I get frustrated when I end up on a boat full of beginners and only see the sheltered sites. Pick a boat or dive shop that groups divers by level, and be honest about your real experience.

Always follow your guide’s call when a dive is changed or cancelled for safety. In Komodo, the guides know the currents far better than any dive computer.

Komodo for Beginner Divers

You can learn to dive in Komodo, but I would not recommend it. The best sites are up to two hours by boat from Labuan Bajo, and those long days are tiring when you are still learning.

Do your open water course in calm water first. In Bali, Amed and Tulamben have easy shore diving, and Labuan Bajo is only about an hour’s flight away. My guide to diving in Bali covers every region of the island.

If you are already certified and comfortable underwater, you will be fine. Just make sure you are grouped with other newer divers, so your guide takes you to the sheltered side of each site.

Time your trip around the moon as well as the month. Full and new moons bring the strongest currents. If you are a newer diver, aim for the quarter moons instead.

Big Fish or Macro?

Komodo has plenty of nudibranchs and critters to keep macro photographers busy. For me, though, the reason to dive Komodo is the big fish and the schools that turn a dive into an event.

If macro is your passion, you will be happier, and less crowded, in Lembeh, Ambon or north Bali, where Puri Jati is a superb site that few people know.

Closer to Komodo, Sangeang Island, between Komodo and Lombok, is one of my favorite nudibranch sites anywhere. South Komodo has a few excellent critter sites too, but both are usually reached only by liveaboard.

Whatever Your Level, Don’t Forget Dive Insurance

Insurance matters on any trip with adventure activities, and Komodo is remote, so an evacuation or decompression treatment can be very costly. DAN is the insurer most divers use. World Nomads is a more comprehensive travel option, and you can get an online quote in seconds on the World Nomads website. Check their prices here, and make sure you read the small print.

Three Ways to Dive Komodo

You can dive Komodo from a liveaboard, from an island dive resort, or from a hotel in Labuan Bajo with day boats. Each suits a different kind of trip.

If diving is the priority, the liveaboard wins on almost every count. If you are mixing diving with a holiday, or traveling with non-divers, a hotel gives you bigger rooms, a spa, restaurants and the freedom to sleep in.

The best way to do Komodo, in my opinion, is both: start with a liveaboard, then add a few beach days on an island resort or in Bali.

Liveaboard vs Resort: The Pros and Cons

The liveaboard wins on diving. You dive more, you dive further, and you dive the famous sites before anyone else arrives. The resort wins on comfort, food and freedom, and it is the better choice if you are traveling with someone who doesn’t dive.

A Word on Liveaboards

I have sailed Komodo on six liveaboard trips: twice on the Ilike (Komodo to Bali, and Komodo to Maumere), on the Carpe Diem, the Komodo Sea Dragon, the Tiare from Bali, and most recently the Moana.

This article is about hotels and dive sites, so I keep the boats to one page: my guide to the best Komodo liveaboards compares every boat I have sailed on prices, cabins, inclusions and who each one suits.

Best Dive Resorts and Luxury Hotels in Komodo

The first question is whether you want to sleep in Labuan Bajo or on an island.

Komodo has only a handful of genuine dive resorts, because the diving here grew up around boats, and the best sites sit far enough out that land-based diving means long daily crossings. The two island dive resorts with their own dive centers are The Komodo Resort and The Seraya. In Labuan Bajo, the luxury answer is the AYANA, paired with day boats.

Labuan Bajo gives you the best restaurants, a choice of dive shops, and easy access to the airport and the harbor. An island resort feels far more like a holiday: quieter, with a beach and a house reef outside your room.

Twenty years ago there were only backpacker hostels here. Today there are excellent options both in town and on the islands, and I have stayed in all the main luxury ones.

If you travel with a snorkeler, the island resorts are the answer: The Seraya has the best house reef of any hotel around Komodo, and the day boats visit Karang Makassar, where the mantas glide past in a few meters of water.

AYANA Komodo vs The Seraya: My Short Answer

These are the two places I recommend most, and they are built for completely different moments. For a night or two around a liveaboard or a flight, book the AYANA, Komodo’s best luxury hotel, on Waecicu Beach in Labuan Bajo. For a proper island escape of three days or more, book The Seraya, a private-island paradise off the national park that rewards you more the longer you stay.

My ideal itinerary uses both: fly in, sleep at the AYANA, board your liveaboard the next morning, and finish with three nights at The Seraya before flying home. I compare the two in detail in AYANA Komodo vs The Seraya.

AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach: Best Luxury Hotel in Labuan Bajo

The AYANA is a polished five-star resort on the beach, 10 to 15 minutes’ drive from the center of Labuan Bajo. The rooms are modern and classy, the sea views are superb, and the sushi at its Japanese restaurant is excellent.

Think of it as a comfortable base for day boats and liveaboard pickups rather than a dive resort in its own right. I rated it 4.5/5 in my full AYANA Komodo review.

The Seraya: Best Island Escape

The Seraya is a small, independent island resort on Seraya Kecil, 9 km north of Labuan Bajo, with a wonderful atmosphere. Its rustic beach bungalows were designed with care, and the snorkeling straight off the beach is the best of any hotel around Komodo.

It has its own dive center, Seraya Divers, which runs three-dive day trips into the national park. Read my full Seraya review.

Two free shuttle boats a day run from Labuan Bajo (11am and 2pm) and back (10am and 1pm), taking about 45 minutes, and the airport pickup is free too. The boats leave on time even if your flight is late, so The Seraya is not worth it for a single night. Give it three.

The Komodo Resort: Closest Island Resort to the Central Dive Sites

The Komodo Resort is the most comfortable dedicated dive resort in the area. It sits on the last private island just outside the marine park, which puts Mawan and Batu Bolong only 30 to 40 minutes away by boat.

It has a cute private beach, attractive bungalows and its own dive boats. If diving is the whole point of a land-based stay, this is the one. Read my Komodo Resort review.

Meruorah Komodo: The Newest Hotel in Town

If you want to be right in the center, the Meruorah Komodo sits by the harbor. That makes it very easy to step onto a day boat in the morning, or to spend a night before or after a liveaboard.

I have not stayed there yet, so I can’t give you a first-hand verdict.

Simpler Options for Day-Boat Divers

The Green Hill Boutique Hotel is a five-minute walk from the port where the dive boats leave each morning, and most rooms look over the bay, which is lovely at sunset.

The Bintang Komodo, about ten minutes’ drive from the pier, has a beach and a garden. It is well below the AYANA in comfort, but much cheaper.

Kalimaya Dive Resort, Sumbawa: For the West Side and Sangeang

Few people know that you can also dive Komodo from Sumbawa. Kalimaya is a small beachfront dive resort on the east coast of Sumbawa, running day trips to the western side of the park and to the volcanic reefs of Sangeang.

It is rarely crowded and excellent for macro. The area seems heavily fished, so don’t expect the big schools of the national park. Read my Kalimaya review.

Sumbawa doesn’t allow alcohol sales. If you like a beer after diving, Labuan Bajo is the better base.

How Much Does It Cost?

Hotel rates around Komodo swing between booking platforms, so compare before you book. These are the lowest rates I found on Booking.com for mid-November 2026 midweek dates, taxes included; expect higher prices in July and August.

Why It Pays to Compare the Four Platforms

Rates for the same room move with availability and each platform’s promotions, so five minutes of comparing can save you hundreds of dollars over a stay. The links above are already set up for each hotel.

Here is a real example. For a Hillside Bungalow at The Seraya on 18 November 2026, two adults, taxes included, Booking.com quoted US$184 (with a 10% Genius discount), Trip.com US$229 and Expedia US$250. That is a US$66 gap, or 36%, for the same bungalow on the same night.

Each platform has its strengths. Booking.com offers free cancellation on most room types and Genius discounts for returning users. Trip.com is often worth a look for travelers based in Asia. Expedia is useful if you are bundling flights with your stay. Traveloka is strong for hotels in Southeast Asia.

For comparison, a high-end liveaboard costs roughly US$400 to US$650 per person per day with all meals and diving, while a day of diving from Labuan Bajo costs around US$150 per person on top of your hotel.

Book early for July and August. The good hotels, boats and dive shops fill up weeks ahead, and the park now caps visitor numbers each day.

Where to Eat in Labuan Bajo

One big advantage of staying in town is the food. My favorite Italian restaurant in all of Indonesia is Made in Italy, near the Bintang.

I am also a fan of Happy Banana for healthy food and sushi, and the Japanese restaurant at the AYANA serves excellent sushi.

The Best Dive Sites in Komodo

Komodo has dozens of dive sites spread across four quite different areas. Here is how the areas compare, followed by the sites I would never miss. The colors match the map below: blue for the sites inside the national park, red for the Sumbawa stops on the Bali–Komodo route.

North Komodo

The north is where you find the channels, the pinnacles and the big drift dives. The current brings reef sharks, rays, turtles and big fish, and eagle rays often hang out at Crystal Rock.

In the rainy season, from roughly December to March, north-west winds can make the sea here very choppy. Some days these sites simply can’t be dived.

Castle Rock

Castle Rock is probably my favorite dive site in Komodo. It is an underwater pinnacle that rises to about 5 meters below the surface and drops to 30 meters, and the current can be ferocious.

The big fish are spectacular: sharks, giant trevallies, surgeonfish and big-eye jacks. Look closer and you will also find soft corals, crocodilefish, nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses.

There is a balcony at around 30 meters where you can hook in and watch the action go by without fighting the current.

It can be hit and miss. I have had dives here with poor visibility and little action. I have also had the best dive of my life here, with dolphins, babies included, and sharks circling us for more than 20 minutes.

Crystal Rock

Crystal Rock is made up of two submerged pinnacles near Gili Lawa Laut. The bigger one reaches the surface; the smaller one tops out at 12 meters.

Gray reef sharks and giant trevallies patrol the area, and the channel between the two rocks is packed with schools of fish, sweetlips and big Napoleon wrasse. The hard and soft corals are lovely, but it is the sheer quantity of fish that stays with you.

There is often more current near the surface at Crystal Rock, so be ready for a negative entry and go down quickly. Meeting six or seven gray reef sharks on the way down is a great way to wake up.

You can see Crystal Rock, Castle Rock and Batu Bolong in this video from my Ilike trip from Komodo to Maumere.

Shotgun (The Cauldron)

Shotgun is one of the most exhilarating dives in the park. You start on a gentle wall with sea fans, soft corals and pygmy seahorses. Then the current funnels you through a narrow channel between two islands and shoots you out the other side.

It is not unusual to see unprepared divers tumbling around and popping up to the surface. Mantas often hang in the channel to get cleaned.

Deflate your BCD before you exit the Cauldron. The current pushes you up, so less air in advance keeps your buoyancy under control. Don’t fight it: the current stops on its own after a few minutes, so enjoy the ride and watch your depth.

Golden Passage

Golden Passage is a fast drift through the channel between Komodo Island and Gili Lawa Darat. It is shallow, with a maximum depth of around 20 meters, and has some of the healthiest hard corals in Komodo.

It is also an excellent place to spot sharks.

Central Komodo

Central Komodo is the heart of the park and the closest area to Labuan Bajo. It has the world-famous pinnacle of Batu Bolong, plus sloping reefs and walls off Tatawa, Siaba and Mawan.

Karang Makassar and Mawan are your best chances of seeing manta rays in Komodo. I have seen them on about 80% of my dives there.

Batu Bolong

Batu Bolong, the “hollow rock,” is Komodo’s most famous dive site, and diving at its best. The rock drops to around 75 to 90 meters, and its walls are covered in hard and soft corals, clouds of orange anthias and countless small critters.

Turtles feed on the reef, sweetlips hide under the overhangs, and whitetip reef sharks and Napoleon wrasse cruise up from the deep to hunt. There is so much going on that you don’t know where to look. A dive here is always too short.

Stay close to the reef at Batu Bolong, because there can be strong down currents. It is one of the most dangerous sites in Komodo. To beat the crowds (I have seen more than 100 divers here), be in the water at sunrise from a liveaboard, before the day boats arrive.

Batu Bolong is so popular that you now need a permit to dive it, which your boat or dive shop arranges.

And yes, the photo above shows mating sharks, at about 30 meters. Anything can happen in Komodo!

Karang Makassar (Manta Point)

This is the largest dive site in Komodo: a drift of more than 2 kilometers over a sandy slope dotted with a few coral bommies. It has manta cleaning stations, so mantas are often seen here, usually cruising past.

Your chances at Karang Makassar are better when there is a bit of current. A completely slack dive here can be a long swim over sand.

Mawan

Mawan is a gentle drift over a large coral garden, and the mantas are the stars. They gather around the cleaning station at the tip of the island, at about 10 meters.

The mantas here are used to divers. I have had many encounters at Mawan where they came within almost touching distance. Swim toward them, though, and they read it as aggression and leave.

My closest manta encounters happen when I pretend not to be interested. Stay low, stay still, look at the reef, and let them come to you.

For more on where and when to find them, read my guide to the best places to dive with manta rays.

South Komodo

The south is harder to reach. It is further from Labuan Bajo, the waves can stop boats from getting there, and it is usually dived by liveaboard.

The water is colder and full of plankton, so visibility is lower than in the north. There are fewer hard corals but more gorgonians, soft corals and sea apples. That plankton is exactly what draws the mantas, and several sites are full of nudibranchs.

Manta Alley

Manta Alley is a chain of rocky islets off the south of Komodo Island. On my best dive here, I stopped counting the mantas after the first five, but there must have been more than 30, coming from everywhere: feeding, getting cleaned, doing their mating dance.

The water was so thick with krill that it ruined our visibility, and I was half expecting whales to turn up for the feast. What a party.

West Komodo: Sangeang Island

Even fewer divers make it to the west. You need either a liveaboard on the Komodo–Bali route or a stay at Kalimaya in Sumbawa. The reward is the volcanic island of Sangeang, with gorgeous soft corals and more nudibranchs than you can count.

Bubbles

Bubbles takes its name from the streams of gas rising out of the black sand. You are diving on an active volcano, and the water feels a little warmer.

Rocks covered in flamboyant soft corals and tunicates rise from about 4 meters to below 40 meters. We dived for 70 minutes, and I could have stayed another 30.

Farmer’s Wall

Farmer’s Wall, on the south side of Sangeang, is a rocky slope that turns into a wall covered in soft corals down to 25 meters.

The current was strong on my dive and we passed the wall in under five minutes, but we still found a huge white frogfish and plenty of nudibranchs.

When Is the Best Time to Dive Komodo?

Komodo can be dived all year, and I have dived it in every month. My favorite months are May, June, September and October: dry-season visibility, calm seas, and far fewer boats than in July and August.

Don’t be put off by the words “rainy season.” It doesn’t rain that much. A few days a year, storms keep boats in the harbor, but in all my rainy-season trips it has never happened to me.

Not every dive operator goes out in the rainy season, so check with yours before you book.

Water temperatures generally run from about 25°C to 28°C (77–82°F). The south is noticeably colder, so pack a 5 mm wetsuit or thicker.

The Moon Matters as Much as the Month

Currents rule Komodo, and the moon drives the currents. If you are an advanced diver who loves current, dive around the full moon and the two days after it; the new moon is strong too. If you are a newer diver, time your trip for the quarter moons.

A good guide connects the tide charts to the sites, so you arrive at the right place at the right time.

For the rest of the world month by month, see my diver’s calendar of where to dive each month.

How to Get to Labuan Bajo

Every trip to Komodo starts in Labuan Bajo, on the western tip of Flores. Komodo International Airport (LBJ) is a short drive from the harbor and the hotels.

Most liveaboards pick you up at the airport.

Arriving the day before your boat? A taxi from the airport into town costs around IDR 100,000 (about US$6).

Domestic Flights from Bali and Jakarta

The easiest way in is a domestic flight. From Bali, it is a hop of about 1 hour 15 minutes, with several nonstop flights a day, currently operated by AirAsia and Batik Air.

From Jakarta, the nonstop takes about two and a half hours, and Garuda Indonesia flies the route along with several other carriers.

My order of preference is Garuda, then AirAsia, then Batik Air, with Lion Air or Wings Air only as a last resort. They are often delayed and charge for every kilo of dive gear.

Garuda offers a free 23 kg sports equipment allowance on top of your checked baggage, which covers a full set of dive gear. Confirm it with Garuda a couple of days before you fly.

Batik Air deserves a mention. Its business class used to be poor value, but it has clearly improved: on my last flight they served drinks and a cheese pizza that was actually tasty, and the seat felt a bit like an ’80s business class seat, in a good way.

International Flights from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur

You can now fly to Labuan Bajo directly from abroad, skipping the connection in Bali or Jakarta. As of October 2026, both routes are still flying:

• Scoot from Singapore, about twice a week
• AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur, about twice a week, taking around 3 hours 40 minutes

Frequencies change with the seasons, so check the current schedule when you plan your trip.

Indonesian airline websites often reject international credit cards. If your payment fails, book through Trip.com, which sells all the Indonesian carriers and accepts foreign cards.

Beyond Diving: The Komodo Dragons and More

Meeting the Komodo Dragons

Leave time for the dragons. They are the largest living lizards on Earth, growing up to 3 meters long and weighing more than 70 kg, and they live in the wild only on Komodo, Rinca, a couple of smaller islands in the park and parts of western Flores.

They are ambush predators with a surprisingly sophisticated bite. Their saliva carries bacteria and a mild venom that stops blood from clotting, so a bitten deer, wild boar or water buffalo bleeds out over hours or days while the dragon patiently tracks it down.

Despite their bulk, they can move in a fast, startling burst. That is why you must walk with a park ranger at all times. The rangers carry long forked sticks to keep the dragons at a distance.

On my last visit to Rinca, with the Moana, we saw 12 dragons, some of them up and walking. At one point, one came straight down the path toward us. It was a tense moment until the rangers calmly moved us out of its way.

Rinca or Komodo Island?

I have been to both many times. Rinca is closer to Labuan Bajo and the easiest to visit, and the landscape and the chances of seeing dragons are similar.

Komodo Island is bigger, so the dragons can be harder to find, and it makes for a long day trip.

Go early in the morning, when the dragons are most active. In the hot afternoon they hide in the shade and little happens. Liveaboards usually visit early; day tours from Labuan Bajo often arrive in the afternoon heat.

Sunset from the Top of Padar Island

Padar is the postcard view of Komodo, looking down over beaches of different colors. The climb takes about an hour on a built path. It is steep but not technical; you can even do it in flip-flops.

Liveaboards usually fit the dragon walk into the dive day, often in place of the third dive.

Flying Foxes at Kalong Island

Every evening at sunset, thousands of giant fruit bats fly out from the mangroves of Kalong Island. It lasts about ten minutes and is a stunning sight. Day tours usually combine it with Rinca.

Beaches and Flores

Most boats also stop at sandbanks and beaches, and Pink Beach is the famous one.

If you have time, explore Flores itself. It can be a bit rough, with no luxury hotels, but the landscapes and the welcome are wonderful.

What to Pack for Diving Komodo

• An SMB. Divers have been carried off by the current here. If it happens, don’t panic: surface slowly and let the boat see you.
• A dive computer, so you can ascend safely even if you are separated from your group.
• A 5 mm wetsuit, or thicker for the south.
• Neoprene socks. You may fin hard in the current, so make sure your fins are comfortable.
• A small camera for the action dives. I find a big rig with strobes hard to handle in strong current.
• Your own gear if you are diving more than a few days. Day dive shops usually include rental; most liveaboards don’t, and a full set can cost up to US$300 a week.

Leave your gloves at home: they are not allowed in Komodo National Park, and you won’t need them.

For the full list, see my liveaboard packing list and the scuba gear I actually use.

Add-On Dive Trips from Komodo

Komodo is a gateway to some of Indonesia’s least-crowded diving. These are the trips I would add, all from my own experience.

Further Afield in Indonesia

Indonesia’s 17,000 islands offer the best diving in the world, and I have written more than 40 articles about them.

The boats that dive Komodo from May to October sail east for the Banda Sea and Raja Ampat for the rest of the year, so they pair perfectly with a Komodo trip.

• Raja Ampat, my number-one dive destination: start with my Raja Ampat diving guide and the best Raja Ampat liveaboards.
• The Banda Sea, for schooling hammerheads from late September to November: read where to dive with hammerhead sharks.
• Triton Bay, Indonesia’s last frontier: my Triton Bay diving guide.
• Halmahera, uncharted and empty: my Jakaré review.
• North Sulawesi, for Bangka, Lembeh and Sangihe: my Sunshine liveaboard review.
• Ambon, for macro and critters: my guide to diving in Ambon.
• Timor-Leste, for the reefs of Atauro: diving Atauro.

Komodo Diving FAQ

When Is the Best Time to Dive Komodo?

Komodo can be dived year-round. My favorite months are May, June, September and October, with dry-season visibility and fewer boats than in July and August. December to February brings rain and lower visibility, but it is peak manta season, especially in the south.

Are the Currents in Komodo Really That Strong?

Yes. Komodo and Rinca act as a bottleneck between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and some sites see currents of up to 8 knots. The current brings the sharks and mantas, but it can be dangerous for inexperienced divers, so choose a reputable operator and follow your guide.

Can Beginner Divers Dive Komodo?

Yes, at the right sites and with the right boat. Get certified first in calm water, such as Amed or Tulamben in Bali, then dive with an operator that groups divers by level and picks sheltered sites and quarter-moon dates.

What Is the Best Hotel for Diving Komodo?

For a night or two around a liveaboard, the AYANA Komodo in Labuan Bajo. For a dive-focused island stay, The Komodo Resort, closest to Mawan and Batu Bolong. For a longer island escape with diving, The Seraya.

Are There Dive Resorts in Komodo?

Yes, but only a few, because Komodo’s diving is boat-built. The realistic choices are the island dive resorts just outside the park, The Komodo Resort and The Seraya, which run their own dive centers, or a Labuan Bajo hotel such as the AYANA, diving with day operators and accepting longer crossings to the best sites.

Is a Liveaboard or a Hotel Better for Diving Komodo?

If you want to dive a lot, choose a liveaboard: three or four dives a day, remote sites and early dives before the crowds. If you only want a few dives or travel with non-divers, stay in Labuan Bajo or on an island resort and dive with day boats.

Are There Direct International Flights to Labuan Bajo?

Yes. As of October 2026, Scoot flies from Singapore and AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur, each about twice a week. Everyone else connects through Bali or Jakarta.

How Much Are the Komodo National Park Fees?

Foreign visitors pay IDR 250,000 per person per day to enter the park, plus IDR 25,000 per person for each diving activity, under Government Regulation 36/2024. Since April 2026, visits are capped at 1,000 people a day, booked in advance through the official SiOra app.

Happy diving!

Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure policy.