subject to change without prior notice, at the discretion of cruise director and captain
Day 1: Arrive to the ILIKE at Labuan Bajo Port.
Day 2: Komodo Central
Day 3: Nusa Kode
Day 4: Manta Alley/Pink Beach
Day 5: Komodo Central + Dragons
Day 6: Gili Lawa/Darat
Day 7: Sangeang
Day 8: Bima
Day 9: Moyo and Satonda Islands
Day 10: Disembark at Bali, Serangan Port
We will embark ILIKE in Labuan Bajo, the gateway from Komodo National Park where Is known for some of its cooler waters, beautiful corals, impressive fish life and fast currents. Komodo National Marine Park, because of its location, it is one of the best places in the world where you can find an amazing biodiversity.
It is part of the famous CORAL TRIANGLE and is declared a UNESCO WORLD HERRITAGE site. In the north of Komodo NMP we have the Flores Sea where after few miles from the coast reaches depths of 5000 meters, or even more towards Banda Sea. At the south, we have the Indian Ocean with also great depths a few miles out.
Komodo NMP has an average depth of about 150 meters, so when we have tidal movement of 2 meters rising or falling tide, the water comes from very deep and needs to rush through Flores and Komodo Island where only shallow water is found.
The consequences are that the water has to pass between islands at high speed, forming currents that provide nutrients and oxygen rich waters to the fish and the coral reef. Currents are for the underwater world like the logistics in any big city. Having strong currents equals to have more shipments of supplies for the city. Plenty of nutrients arrive to these waters and makes and spectacle of life wherever you look.
The big difference of characteristics between Flores Sea and Indian Ocean gives a more variety of marine life at different islands.
The environment below and above water at the Northern Komodo has nothing in common with the South
North Komodo National Park the water temperature is usually nice and warm from the Flores Sea (27°-29°). There is an abundance of fish on these underwater pinnacles, schooling surgeons, big eye jacks, snapper or barracudas and pelagic are a common site.
The further South we travel the water temperature will drop (18°-24°). Padar island has some beautiful sites where we can start to feel the influence of the Indian Ocean.
More nutrients in the water is giving the corals a different look, colours are sharper, fish life is about to change. Even further South, we have Nusa Kode this horseshoe shaped bay has stunning corals. Not only in a rainbow of colours but also the size.
Fish live in abundance and creatures you may have never seen before in your life, they may remind you the
monsters that live under your bed as a child.
There is muck diving in places you least expect and under water pinnacles attract big schools of snapper, big eye jacks, surgeon fish, barracuda’s and Spanish mackerel.
You feel like you fly over beautiful coral gardens that you can barely see because of the amount of fish darting in the currents.
Manta rays have their own cleaning stations, that we can visit. Here we can observe them getting cleaned but if the currents bring in the right nutrients and krill, they will start to feed, shooting to the surface to dive down while with their mouths wide open, filtering the water.
Your trip is not complete without meeting the last
living dinosaurs,
the Komodo Dragons. you will get a chance to see them up close at the National Park. With a bit of luck, you will also see the macaque monkeys, some deer’s, wild pig and wild horse.
We will make a stop on another volcanic island Sangeyang, that still active at this moment. There are still a few islanders remaining on this island.The diving is spectacular. There are fantastic black sandy slopes with amazing macro. Hot Rocks is a one of a kind dive as tiny little bubbles emerge from the bottom and the rocks, giving the site a never seen before effect. Incredible contrast between the black volcanic sand and the vibrant rainbow colors from the corals.
On Our way to Bali we will travel to Satonda and Moyo Islands. On Satonda we can offer you wonderful hike to the its saltwater lake.
The island is formed by a volcanic eruption at 1000-meter depth. Diving around this island is fantastic to discovering the amazing critters can be found in this never-ending Archipelago. Disembarking in Bali makes this trip extra convenient as there is an International airport and you can add a few days to your trip to explore the island of the Gods, Bali.
