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1. Toro Oi
Excellent hard coral garden, at entry point which is at the northern tip of the headland then swim with reef left into the bay. This is a good site to find frogfish on the sponges on the reef slope, also nudibranch and other unusual creatures are often found in this area.
2. GPS Point
The seamount off the northeastern tip once ranged among the best dive sites in this area boasting up to 7 species of sharks in one dive. Schooling hammerheads have also been seen here during the month of September. Unfortunately this site was severely damaged by dynamite fishing in 1997 and 1998. It was also extensively fished by shark's finners. The hard corals suffered from the blast fishing and large patches of rubble are found in between stretched of good coral, which still show what a great site this once has been. On the northwestern comer down at 30 meters you have a good chance of running into a pack of gray reef sharks. Good fish life is still abundant at the side, which is exposed to the current, and large Spanish mackerel can usually be seen moving like missiles overhead. Dogtooth tunas can sometimes be seen along the deeper slopes.
3. Tanjung Rusa
The Northwestern tip of Gili Banta Island. Fantastic diving and snorkeling. Snorkeling along the steep rocky wall we can see lots of small things, fish and some sharks and giant trivially. Diving deep (40 m) at the very tip we are getting into big-fish-country. Many coral trout, large groupers, schools of giant trivially, massive dog tooth tuna. The best place for entry is approximately 100 meters south of the point in the bay. Once you have rounded the point continue to the west way and you will find an excellent coral garden in the shallows to do the safety stop. Strong currents and even down-currents can be experienced on the point. It's best to dive at slack-tide if possible.
4. Castle Rock
Prone to current, this site usually has excellent visibility. Usually the current is flowing to the east and is much stronger at the surface than in the deeper water. If you enter in the blue water approximately 50 meters up current from the shallowest point and swim down 30 to 40 meters divers are usually met by 3 or 4 very friendly batfish, schooling barracuda, jacks, and mackerels are often encountered. In approximately 20 meters of water there is excellent soft corals growth and numerous fans that are host to pigmy seahorses. The top of the rock is approximately 3 to 4 meters of water and offers shelter from the current, hence castle rock. This is a good place to look around during your safety stop.
5. Crystal Rock
The top of crystal rock dries at low tide. This site also experiences very clear water, hence crystal rock. A very colorful dive with excellent soft coral coverage, which is also prone to current. The current usually flows to the east. Best time to dive is during slack-tide. Frogfish, morays, scorpion fish are quite common on this site. Thousands of anthias and schools of yellow-ribbon speedups are always encountered. There is a small mound northwest of the rock where different species of fish school seasonally. Tuna and mackerel frequently buzz this site. This is an excellent dive and usually worth doing twice.
6. Gililawa Laut
The northeast tip of Gililawa Laut is always a great site to dive if you are into fish but it does not have much to show in terms of hard corals. Other small invertebrates are there but the fish usually still the show. On the comer of the reef sits a very large rock, behind which we find a drop off covered with boulders with many holes in between. Excellent grouper country and if you are there at the right time, especially in November and October, you can see many groupers aggregate to spawn. There are usually also many golden trevallies, snappers and sometimes huge napoleon wrasses. The best time to dive this site is during at slight current before or after slack-tide.
7. Darat Passage South
Good snorkeling here although a lot of damage has been done by fish bombing and reef gleaning (meting). The best place for snorkeling is right at the tip of the peninsula where lots of fish. Turtles can be seen on a very pretty coral reef. A dive can be made starting inside the bay along the eastern shore of the peninsula. The best time is when the current is running from east to west through the narrow strait between Gililawa Darat and Komodo Island. Swimming towards the point at about 20 to 25m, along the bottom of the drop off we can see many small coral trout, large schools of anchovies and small tuna and trevallies coming in to feed. More and more fish come in sight closer to the point, with white tip reef shark sleeping on the sandy bottom and garden eels doing their hypnotizing dance. The dive ends when the current brings you around the comer. Gililawa Bay is a good anchoring place.
8. Darat Passage North
An excellent drift dive and good snorkeling can be found on the northern face of the passage. The dive can be done from east to west or visa versa depending on the current. Its best to wait until just before or after slack water when the flow is not to strong. The visibility is usually better if diving from west to east. The entry point is on the reef slope west of the island about 100 meters north of the channel. Then swim reef left. The reef slopes down to a sandy bottom at 15 meters covered in garden eels. The reef slopt itself is quite rich. The current is usually very gentle in this area. As you approach the channel keep an eye out for turtles and a family of giant sweet lip that live in a grotto near the surface. The sandy bottom then drops away to about 35 meters as you round the comer and enter the passage. Keep the reef left and get ready to go as it gets shallower and the current increases. Its best to stay left in the shallows as the deeper section of the channel has rubble, boat traffic and a down current at the end of it. The shallows are extremely rich and full of fish life. Bump head Parrots are common and aggregate here to spawn every year around April. Sharks and schools of Batfish also reside in the passage. Try to fly by the large coral head about two thirds of the way through as its teeming with life and activity. Keep left and you will gradually get closer to the island towards the end of the dive. The current will eventually drop of as you approach the end of the dive.
9. Batu Bolong
Batu Bolong is a tiny rocky island in the strait between Tatawa and Komodo. This rock is one of the top diving locations in the park but it can only be dived around slack tide, when there is not too much current. This area is undamaged because the current and topography (steep walls) make it impossible for local fishermen to use their dynamite and cyanide fishing techniques. The dive starts right at the surface with colorful corals and other invertebrate life and thousands of small colorful fish. In deeper water, along the steep walls many large fish, including sharks, napoleon wrasse, giant trivially, dogtooth tuna, and large schools of rainbow runners can be observed on almost every occasion.
10. Tatawa Kecil
A small island southwest of Tatawa Besar island with fantastic snorkeling when the current is not to fast. With a large and unexperienced group this is only possible around slack tide. Its best to dive the western side of the island, rocks, caves and beautiful coral gardens in the shallows Many coral reef fishes, including large groupers, snappers, sweet lips, jacks and sharks. Tatawa Kecil is probably the anthias (small colorfid serranide fish) capitol of the world! Dugongs have been spotted here and manta rays are often seen on the southern side of the island. |
