:: Bali to Komodo Diving Liveaboard Cruises Travel
Guides ::
Bali Island
Bali Island is one of the most under rated dive
destinations in Indon
esia,
often being over-looked by divers because of its
touristy image but underwater life in Bali is
astonishingly rich. It is often assumed, that you have
to travel to far away places for the best diving, but
isolation often also means an impoverished fauna,
because for the animals it is also difficult to reach
these places! Bali is ideally positioned in the
Indonesian Throughflow (Arus Lintas Indonesia), a
massive flow of water that passes from the Pacific to
the Indian Ocean and deposits planktonic larvae in the
waters around Bali. This results in a very high
diversity of species.
Komodo Island
Located 300 miles
east of the cultural center of Bali, Komodo Island is a
remote, seemingly prehistoric part of the sprawling
island nation of Indonesia. Komodo Island offers two
totally different marine environments. In the north the
warm clear waters flow from the Flores and Banda seas.
Typical of most tropical locations throughout the world.
The hard coral reefs are extensive and in pristine
condition. To the south, cooler waters flow from deep in
the Indian Ocean.
SAMPLE ITINERARY:
1. Day: Bali – Padang Bai - Tulamben
Transfer from your Hotel to the 'MOANA' at
Serangan/Turtle Island, South Bali.
09:00 AM Embarkation. After a refreshing welcome drink,
we set sail heading north-east. Now it’s time for a
short introduction to the facilities of our vessel, the
diving operation and the tour program. Afterwards, there
is only one thing left to do: relax and enjoy great
views, while we are steaming along the shores of Bali,
through Lombok Street, towards our first stop around
14:00h: Padang Bai – check-out dive “Blue Lagoon”.
Cruise along the shore of Bali to Tulamben – possible
night dive at “Liberty Ship Wreck”.
2. Day: Tulamben – Gili Islands - Moyo
Early morning dive at “Liberty Ship Wreck”.
Departure 8:30 AM. Enjoy breakfast and lunch onboard
while cruising towards Gili Islands/Lombok. Diving Gili
Trawangan or Gili Meno. Departure at 15:00 PM for
overnight cruise to Moyo.
3. Day: Moyo – Satonda
Arrival 6:00 AM. Dive Moyo Bay. Land excursion
to Waterfall. During lunch we sail towards Satonda. We
dive Lake Entrance Bay and in the late afternoon Sand
Chute. There is also an interesting on-shore excursion
to the mysterious crater lake: local people come here to
tie pieces of stones or corals with thin strings to the
branches of the trees around the lake, trusting, that
once the stone falls into the water of the lake, a wish
will come true… 19:00 PM: after Sunset Dinner depart for
Sangeang.
4. Day: Wera “Boatbuilder Village” - Sangeang -
Gili Banta
Around 7:00 AM we arrive at Tanjung Wera and
visit a tr
aditional
boat builder Village. 3 hours cruise to Sangeang
Volcano. The black lava sand offers a beautiful contrast
to the colorful corals. Dive through a bed of bubbles
coming up through the sand of the still active Volcano.
Dive “Black River” and “Hot Springs”. Great Makro! After
lunch departure to Gili Banta. Gili Banta is the first
of the islands in the Komodo Archipelago. Located in
North Komodo, this island provides a crescent shaped bay
that offers beautiful anchorage from where several dives
may be conducted. Great place for a night dive! Lots of
Lion fish and a regular Stargazer.
5. Day: Banta Island – Gili Lawa Laut - Komodo
National Park
Early morning dive at the famous “Dive GPS
Point“, a submerged seamount which is one of the best
sites to see sharks, jacks, dogtooth tuna, schools of
barracuda and surgeonfish. Second dive at Banta Bay
east, a drop off in front of a beautiful white beach.
During lunch we move forward to Gili Lawa Laut – dive
the surrealistic gullies and crevices in the channel of
Gili Lawa Laut “Passage”. This reef is extremely rich
and full of fish live.
6. Day: Komodo National Park
Early morning dive at “Castle Rock”, a
submerged seamount. Usually excellent visibility but is
prone to strong currents. The top of the rock offers
shelter and is a good place to explore during safety
stops. Dive “Crystal Rock”, the top of the site is
exposed at low tide. Excellent dives worth doing twice.
Alternative dive: “Lighthouse”. Cruise to Komodo Island.
Late afternoon dive “Dive Pink Beach“: Thousands of fish
of every colour and shape are here including regal
angelfish, checkerboard wrasse and masked unicornfish,
against a beautiful backdrop of acripora corals,
gorgonian fans and sponges.
7. Day: Komodo National Park – Dragon Walk
At 7:00 AM we start our 2hours “Dragon walk” to
see the last representative of the Jurassic Park on
earth, the infamous Komodo Lizard. Dive “Pink Beach”. 2
hours cruise to dive “Batu Bolong” (Current City), one
of the top diving locations in the Park. It’s
a
tiny rocky outcropping in the strait between Tatawa
Kecil and Komodo Island. Lot’s of colorful corals,
invertebrate life and thousands of brilliant reef fish.
Along the steep walls in deeper water many large fishes
including sharks, napoleon wrasse, giant trevally,
dogtooth tuna, and large schools of rainbow runners.
Late afternoon dive at “Tatawa Besar” or “Sabayor Kecil”,
depending on the current.
8. Day: Komodo National Park
Early morning dive at “Sabayor Kecil”. Dive
“Tatawa Besar” or “Tatawa Kecil” depending on current.
Rocks, caves and beautiful coral gardens. Good drift
dives. In the afternoon we dive again the famous “Batu
Bolong”. Overnight at Gili Lawa Darat.
9. Day: Komodo National Park - Rinca
Morning dive at “Gili Lawa Darat or Passage”,
cruise to our last dive site: “Pulau Pengah” – a really
fantastic spot! The afternoon we will spend at Rinca
Island: say goodbye to the Dragons.
10. Day: Labuhan Bajo - Bali
Breakfast. Last swimming and snorkeling at the
white beach of Pulau Bidadari. 30 minutes cruising to
the Harbour of Labuhan Bajo. Around 11:00 AM you will be
transferred to the airport where your airplane to Bali
is waiting for you. Departure 12:15, arrival Bali 14:00.
(Please note: at 8 days cruises we spent
2 days less in Komodo National Park)
Come and Discover Indonesia Islands with us!
