Day 1 – Labuan Bajo
We will collect you from your hotel or Labuan Bajo airport between 8:00 – 9:00 on the day of departure to welcome you onboard La Galigo. After a refreshing welcome drink, a quick breakfast, and a safety briefing of our ship, we aim to anchor up around 10:00 am from Labuan Bajo.
After around 2 hours of sailing we will arrive at our first destination, the islands of Sebayor Kecil and besar, where we will conduct 2 dives after lunch. We have identified Sebayor as a fantastic calm introduction for your first day in the park. These 2 great little islands are well sheltered from the currents renowned in Komodo, allowing a great opportunity to practice using your reef hook, or just to get back in to the swing of things after a lengthy layoff from diving.
After a calm night dive, we relax for our first Dinner together and pop over to see our friends at Komodo Island resort to watch the stars and get to know each other.
Day 2 – West Komodo
After a morning dive at Tatawa Kecil, we go in search of Manta rays at the world-class dive site we call Karang Makassar. After lunch, we will head to one of the highlights of Komodo diving, Batu Bolong, with a chance to see some large pelagic species such as Giant Trevally and Barracuda, as well as sharks and Napoleon Maori Wrasse.
Later that afternoon we set sail for the northwest part of Komodo, for a small trek to witness the ever-amazing Komodo sunset, dipping behind the nearby active volcano called Sangeang. For the night dive, we will stay in the bay close to the trekking area, and dive the site Stranger Things, for a chance to get your first glimpse of the macro in the national park.
Day 3 – Northwest Komodo
Day three is our personal favorite in terms of diving, and all 3 of the dives normally conducted on this day are what we would consider unforgettable. The morning is spent on both Crystal Rock and Castle Rock, two submerged pinnacles that are home to an abundance of marine life. Teams of hunting Trevally and Big-Eye Jacks patrol the blue waters of the reefs, chasing large schools of smaller fish. Eagle Rays glide effortlessly in the currents whilst the reef sharks hunt their next meal.
The afternoon sees us visit the legendary dive site Cauldron / Shotgun. Famous for it’s rip roaring drift dive, it is akin to an underwater rollercoaster, that needs to be experienced to be believed, and a bucket list dive site for divers from across the world. Hold on until the end of the dive for a big surprise!
The night dive will be spent on China Shop, or Gili Lawa Darat Bay, dependent on mooring conditions.ite we call Karang Makassar. After lunch, we will head to one of the highlights of Komodo diving, Batu Bolong, with a chance to see some large pelagic species such as Giant Trevally and Barracuda, as well as sharks and Napoleon Maori Wrasse.
Later that afternoon we set sail for the northwest part of Komodo, for a small trek to witness the ever amazing Komodo sunset, dipping behind the nearby active volcano called Sangeang. For the night dive, we will stay in the bay close to the trekking area, and dive the site Stranger Things, for a chance to get your first glimpse of the macro in the national park.
Day 4 – Southwest Komodo
We wake early in the morning to take in one of Komodo’s world class golden sunrises, followed by one of it’s best dive sites, the Golden Passage. A gentle drift dive that offers encounters with schools of Sweetlips and Snappers, as well as White Tip Reef Sharks, and the occasional passing Manta Ray. During breakfast La Galigo will anchor up and head south into the center of the park, where we have the opportunity to revisit Karang Makassar or Batu Bolong, or condition dependent, the island of Mawan for another chance to dive with Manta Rays, or if you’re lucky, a Dugong! In the afternoon we visit one of 2 islands, Siaba Kecil or Siaba Besar. Siaba presents us with a fantastic opportunity again to go diving or snorkeling with dugongs, as well a the best Macro diving in Komodo. Here at night you it is possible to spot Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Ghost Pipe Fish, various types of Nudibranchs, as well as the elusive Wunderpuss and Blue Ringed Octopus if we’re lucky!
Day 5 – Padar Island
Padar Island is the location of the spectacular views you may associate with the national park after a google image search for ‘Komodo’. Sometime in the morning, between dive 1 & 2, we will make the trek up this infamous lookout. Padar is also home to some great southern Komodo dive sites including Pillarstein, The Three Sisters, Manta Alley, and Cannibal Rock.
It is difficult for us to confirm individual dive sites with such long notice due changing ocean conditions in the south. However, the area is vast enough for us to be able to plan ahead and identify sites closer to the time that are slightly more sheltered from any southerly conditions if they are unsteady during your trip. Our night dive is regularly conducted at secret garden, with a chance to dive with White Tip Sharks at dusk.
Day 6 – Siaba Kecil / Besar
Some sites in Komodo are well worth visiting twice, so we will likely head over to Karang Makassar in search of more Manta Rays.
Onwards to Siaba, which is home to Siaba Kecil and Siaba Besar. Both these islands present us with a fantastic opportunity to go diving or snorkeling with dugongs, as well a the best Macro diving in Komodo. Here at night you it is possible to spot Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Ghost Pipe Fish, various types of Nudibranchs, as well as the elusive Wunderpuss and Blue Ringed Octopus if we’re lucky!
Day 7 – Rinca Island
We start with two dives in the morning of the penultimate day of your trip, the first at Pengah Kecil, a small island that is easy to circle on a single tank dive. Sharks, turtles and a variety of rays can be spotted cruising the walls and the shallow staghorn coral of the site. The final dive of your trip will be at a place the locals have named Wainilu, which translates as ‘cold water’. Here we go in search of Ribbon Eels, Ambonese Scorpionfish or even Rhinopias.
After the mornings diving and a hearty lunch, we head on foot to the island of Rinca, home to one of the largest populations of Komodo Dragons in the park. The afternoon sees La Galigo anchor up and set sail east for Pulau Kalong, where at sunset it is possible to witness the daily migration of fruit bats leaving their island in search of fruit, all whilst we take in another breathtaking Komodo sunset.
Day 8 – Disembark
La Galigo will be anchored up in the morning around 2:00 am in Labuan Bajo, in preparation for you to catch your flight, or check in to your hotel. Guests are welcome to stay onboard until 11:00 am, whereupon we will assist you with transportation to your desired location.
