If Komodo is known for anything, it’s definitely the strong currents! The general opinion of the best drift dives in Komodo will vary from dive shop to dive shop. Therefore, here are 5 amazing (and common) dive sites that are worth your time (depending on your experience level). You’ll also find a bonus, not so regularly visited, 6th dive site at the end of the list!

The best thing about the diving in Komodo is that there’s something for all kinds of different levels of divers.

Manta Rays are the main attraction point here, but there are also sharks, turtles, marble and eagle rays, as well as incredible macro. This dive changes all the time, especially depending on the tide so it’s worth a couple of visits if you have the time.

The colors and sheer volume of fish are spectacular. You also have a special bonus of possibly seeing some larger creatures (sharks, manta rays and dolphins, just to name a few). The island is exposed to open ocean so it’s worth keeping one eye on the blue while exploring the reef.

If you’ve done some research into diving in Komodo, you’ve probably heard of the shotgun. Some days it’s a tame, gentle drift through the main part of the dive site which flows into the following coral garden. Other days, it’s a quick flight past manta rays and other schooling fish before resting in the protected reef area. If you want a strong current kind of day there, plan your trip around full or new moon.

This is one of the famous, deep pinnacles in Komodo North where you will be diving the split. This means, you will jump in on the side of the rock where the current hits and splits around the rock. Grey reef, black tip and white tip sharks frequent this spot and can put on quite the show!

The topography here is similar to Castle Rock in that it is another deep-water pinnacle. Sharks can also be seen here on the regular, as well as eagle rays and loads of large, schooling fish. If your dive guide has good eyes (and the currents allow for it) you may even be able to see a pygmy seahorse!

This is Siaba Besar’s little brother island and the drift is real. When the current is strong, drifting the side of the island can take as little as 10 minutes (or sometimes even less!) After the wild drift dive, you will find a gorgeous, protected coral garden. There, you may even be lucky enough to see a dugong!!!

The Komodo National Park is also famous for its healthy coral gardens, pelagic beauties and wide variety of macro. When you plan a dive trip to Indonesia, you can see a bit of everything. 

We teach responsible scuba divers and ocean protectors. The brand is run by PADI IDC Staff Instructor Sarah Valdez who teaches scuba diving in person and on YouTube. Now she travels around the states and Mexico in her van scuba diving in new and different places. Follow her adventures on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok or join the Azul scuba community on Patreon.

Azul Unlimited is partnered with Azul Komodo, a top PADI IDC Center in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia offering daily dive trips to the Komodo National Park. Contact their team directly for an unforgettable experience diving in one of the top dive destinations in the world!