KOMODO – SUMBAWA

12 Days/11 Nights Labuanbajo – Labuanbajo Cruise Itinerary

Day 1 Embarkation in Labuanbajo

Welcome aboard Arenui! After embarkation in Labuanbajo, our Cruise Directors and crew will introduce you to the vessel, complete the safety briefing and prepare everyone for the adventure ahead.

We then begin our journey westwards across the Flores Sea towards Pulau Satonda, the first stop on an exceptional expedition combining whale sharks, volcanic islands, remarkable macro life and some of the very best coral reefs and fish action in Komodo National Park.

Day 2 Pulau Satonda (3 dives)

Satonda is a small volcanic island lying just north of Sumbawa. Above water it is famous for the remarkable crater lake hidden in its interior, while underwater its reefs, sandy slopes and scattered coral formations offer excellent opportunities for searching for Indonesia’s smaller and more unusual marine life.

We plan three dives around Satonda before beginning our long relocation towards Saleh Bay.

Lake Entrance Bay

A gentle introduction to the expedition, with a sandy slope dotted with coral bommies and patches of reef. Take your time exploring around the coral heads for leaf scorpionfish, ghost pipefish, ribbon eels, nudibranchs and other small reef inhabitants.

Sand Chute

A beautiful combination of sand, rubble and coral patches, exactly the sort of habitat where good eyes are rewarded. Look carefully amongst the corals and along the bottom for unusual macro subjects and wonderfully camouflaged critters.

Lost Boys

Our final Satonda dive continues the theme with a mixture of reef and sandy terrain offering plenty of opportunities for macro photographers and critter hunters.

After the third dive we begin our longer journey towards Saleh Bay.

Day 3 Saleh Bay (4 dives)

Today brings one of the signature encounters of the expedition: whale sharks.

Saleh Bay has become renowned for encounters with whale sharks around the traditional Indonesian fishing platforms known as bagans. These gentle giants frequently approach the platforms while fishermen work above, creating extraordinary opportunities to observe one of the largest animals in the ocean at remarkably close range.

Saleh Bay – Whale Sharks

We plan three dives in the Saleh Bay area, allowing plenty of time to enjoy these magnificent animals underwater.

Every encounter is different. A whale shark may cruise slowly alongside the divers, circle beneath a bagan or simply appear out of the blue. Spending several dives in the area gives us the opportunity to enjoy this remarkable experience without rushing it.

Sumbawa Surprise

After the spectacle of the whale sharks, the focus changes completely for our night dive.

Sumbawa Surprise is a superb critter site where dark volcanic sand provides the backdrop for some wonderfully unusual marine life. Frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, ghost pipefish and Rhinopias are among the special creatures that may be encountered here.

Day 4 Pulau Sangeang (4 dives)

The island of Sangeang is located northeast of Sumbawa and is dominated by Gunung Api, an active volcano. Volcanic activity has shaped both the island and its underwater environment, creating black-sand slopes, ridges, coral reefs and areas where streams of bubbles escape directly through the seabed.

Hot Rocks

Here the volcano has left its mark below the surface as well. In the shallows observe volcanic bubbles escaping from the seabed through underwater vents. Put your hands close to the sulphur-covered rocks and you may even feel the heat coming from below.

Besides the usual tropical reef species, ribbon eels, cowries and Bargibanti pygmy seahorses can also be seen here.

Lighthouse Reef

This site presents many contrasts in terms of natural features and marine life. Beautiful reef formations give way to a black-sand slope that is excellent for spotting nudibranchs and other colourful critters. Black coral bushes provide shelter for ghost pipefish and saw-blade shrimps.

Black Diamond

The rocky formations in the shallows and fingers of coral extending into deeper water are decorated with black coral and crinoids in almost every colour imaginable.

The dark volcanic sand makes the colours of the reef stand out beautifully. Ornate ghost pipefish, reef octopus, peacock mantis shrimps and nudibranchs are among the creatures regularly seen here.

Bontoh Reef

Bontoh Reef is located on the western side of Sangeang and is a wonderful site for our night dive.

A shallow area of black sand and small rocks gently slopes down into deeper water. Large populations of spaghetti garden eels emerge from the sand, while the small rocks provide hiding places for painted frogfish, juvenile angelfish, mantis shrimps and many other critters.

While exploring the open sand we may also encounter the extraordinary wunderpus or mimic octopus.

Day 5 Pulau Banta (4 dives)

Pulau Banta lies between Sumbawa and Komodo and delivers yet another change of underwater scenery.

Here beautiful coral slopes and dramatic walls meet sheltered bays rich in macro life. It is a wonderful transition between the volcanic diving of Sumbawa and the great reefs of Komodo that await us to the east.

The Canopy

A spectacular coral-covered reef populated by an impressive mixture of reef fish and larger visitors. Reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse and groupers may cruise around the reef while clouds of smaller fish bring the coral landscape to life.

Banta Wall

A dramatic drop-off covered in healthy coral growth. Keep an eye towards the blue for passing eagle rays, barracuda and other pelagic fish while exploring the beautiful reef alongside the wall.

Banta Lagoon

Inside the sheltered lagoon the emphasis switches back to the small stuff. Leaf scorpionfish, frogfish and numerous other critters hide amongst the reef, rubble and sandy patches.

Stargazer Beach

Once darkness falls we explore the sandy bottom in search of one of the strangest-looking fish in Indonesia, the stargazer.

Bobtail squid, cuttlefish and a host of nocturnal creatures can turn this into a fantastic night dive.

Day 6 North Komodo (4 dives)

We now enter Komodo National Park and begin our exploration around Gili Lawa Laut, home to some of the most celebrated dive sites in the region.

Here spectacular coral formations combine with extraordinary quantities of fish, from tiny anthias hovering above the reef to trevallies, tuna, reef sharks and other predators patrolling the blue.

Crystal Rock

The rock jutting out of the surrounding clear water explains how this site got its name, but what is truly memorable here is the extraordinary amount of marine life.

Large schools of fusiliers and anthias move above gorgeous soft corals and impressive table corals. In the blue we may see tuna, mackerel and other schooling fish, while eagle rays are occasionally spotted cruising around the reef.

Castle Rock

Castle Rock is a submerged pinnacle situated north of Crystal Rock and is famous for its spectacular concentration of fish.

Batfish, groupers, midnight snappers, fusiliers and surgeonfish gather around the reef while giant trevallies, whitetip reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks and grey reef sharks patrol nearby.

Aquarium

A wonderfully photogenic reef where beautiful coral formations can be surrounded by thousands of small fish. Look across the sandy areas for whitetip reef sharks and along the reef for hawksbill and green turtles.

Gili Lawa Darat

For our night dive we explore a protected reef around Gili Lawa Darat. Once daylight disappears a completely different community begins to emerge, giving macro enthusiasts another opportunity to search for the unusual nocturnal residents of Komodo National Park.

Day 7 North Komodo (4 dives)

A second full day in North Komodo allows us to explore another selection of beautiful reefs and enjoy the remarkable variety found in this part of the National Park.

Gili Lawa Laut Lighthouse

A long reef extends from the lighthouse at the northern end of Gili Lawa Laut. Schools of batfish, snappers and surgeonfish gather around the coral formations while Napoleon wrasse and reef sharks can appear nearby.

Coral Garden

We begin amongst white sand, beautiful coral heads and enormous barrel sponges before reaching an impressive hard-coral reef.

Look closely for leaf scorpionfish, squat lobsters and moray eels, while fusiliers, trevallies and snappers provide plenty of wide-angle action.

Batu Montjo

Situated on the northwest coast of Komodo Island, Batu Montjo is a beautiful combination of white-sand slopes, gorgonian sea fans and exceptionally pretty shallow hard-coral gardens.

Pygmy seahorses, leaf fish, jawfish and turtles are regularly seen here, and manta rays have been spotted passing by.

Batu Montjo – Night Dive

We return after sunset when the sandy slope becomes an entirely different dive.

Elusive stargazers can hide almost completely beneath the sand with only their eyes visible. Bobtail squid, ghost pipefish and other nocturnal creatures can also be found here.

Day 8 Komodo-Flores Channel (4 dives)

Today we move into Central Komodo, an area famous for spectacular reefs, colourful coral gardens, turtles and enormous numbers of reef fish.

There are many excellent dive sites in this area and the exact order of the dives will depend on the tides and the conditions on the day, allowing us to enjoy each site at its best.

Tatawa Besar

This beautiful drift dive follows the western side of Tatawa Besar through an extraordinary field of orange soft corals.

Schools of sweetlips and batfish gather around coral heads while turtles feed on the reef. Manta rays have also been encountered here.

Batu Bolong

From the surface Batu Bolong appears to be little more than a rock in the middle of the channel. Underwater it is transformed into an explosion of colour and marine life.

The rock is covered in an extraordinary amount of soft and hard corals and surrounded by fish. In the shallows watch anemonefish moving between their hosts and look for turtles feeding on the reef.

Giant trevallies, whitetip reef sharks, snappers and emperor fish regularly congregate here. Batu Bolong provides outstanding opportunities for both macro and wide-angle photography and is one of the essential dives of Komodo National Park.

Tatawa Kecil

The western side of this small rocky island presents fantastic underwater terrain with enormous slabs of rock forming channels, canyons, small caves and swim-throughs.

Crocodilefish rest on the scenic reef while schools of fusiliers and a great variety of reef fish fill the surrounding water.

Wainilo

Our night dive is situated off the north of Rinca Island.

In the shallows the hard-coral reef is home to many different critters, including juvenile harlequin sweetlips and batfish. Away from the reef, the sandy slope is scattered with soft corals hiding unusual creatures such as demon stingers, octopus and a wide variety of nocturnal marine life.

Day 9 Walk with Dragons / Central Komodo (3 dives)

Loh Buaya – Walk with Dragons

Our day begins with an exciting visit to Rinca Island in Komodo National Park, where we will have the opportunity to walk in search of the famous Komodo dragon.

Accompanied by National Park rangers, we follow the trails through the natural habitat of the world’s largest living lizard. Along the way keep an eye out for deer, wild boar and numerous species of birds in addition to the dragons.

After our walk we return to Arenui and continue our exploration of Central Komodo with three dives.

Takat Makassar

A long shallow reef interspersed with beautiful coral patches and sandy areas. Manta rays are the stars when they visit the area to feed or attend cleaning stations.

Turtles, eagle rays and reef sharks can also be encountered as we explore this distinctive reef.

Siaba Besar

White sand and healthy hard-coral formations make Siaba Besar an excellent place to search for frogfish, ghost pipefish, devil scorpionfish, leaf scorpionfish and other unusual critters.

Large green turtles are also frequent residents of the reef and are often encountered resting or feeding among the corals.

Siaba Kecil

Here we find magnificent hard-coral formations extending from the shallows down towards deeper water.

The site can be enjoyed as a beautiful drift with green and hawksbill turtles feeding amongst the coral gardens. Whitetip reef sharks may also be seen and manta rays occasionally pass alongside the reef.

Day 10 Central Komodo (4 dives)

With another complete day available in Central Komodo, we continue exploring its reefs and choose the most rewarding sites according to the tides and conditions of the day.

Sebayur Island

This island has a white sandy slope that turns into a mini wall. Look for leaf fish, ghost pipefish and a variety of nudibranchs around the edge of the reef.

Lionfish and moray eels make the wall their home, while in the shallows the hard corals are decorated with anthias. Large cuttlefish and juvenile bicolour parrotfish can also be encountered here.

Batu Tengah

Situated in the heart of Komodo National Park, Batu Tengah offers a beautiful combination of a sloping reef and a colourful coral garden.

Turtles, cuttlefish and juvenile whitetip reef sharks can often be seen amongst the hard corals. Napoleon wrasse and large groups of snappers swimming above the slope add to the spectacle.

Best of Central Komodo

For our third dive we keep the choice flexible, allowing our Cruise Directors to select one of the standout sites of Central Komodo according to the conditions and marine-life activity of the day.

This may provide an opportunity to return to a favourite such as Batu Bolong, Tatawa Besar, Takat Makassar or Siaba Kecil and experience the site under a different tidal window.

Wainilo – Night Dive

We finish the day with another opportunity to explore one of Central Komodo’s most rewarding night-diving areas and search for the remarkable smaller creatures that emerge after sunset.

Day 11 North Komodo (2 dives)

For our final diving day we return to North Komodo and finish the expedition with two of the most celebrated dive sites in the National Park.

Crystal Rock

One more opportunity to enjoy this coral-covered pinnacle, surrounded by immense schools of fusiliers and anthias with the possibility of tuna, eagle rays, trevallies and reef sharks cruising nearby.

Castle Rock

Our final dive is reserved for one of Komodo’s great underwater spectacles.

Schools of fusiliers and surgeonfish fill the water while trevallies, reef sharks, snappers and groupers patrol around the submerged pinnacle.

After the second dive we begin our leisurely journey back towards Labuanbajo. The afternoon gives everyone plenty of time to rinse equipment, relax aboard Arenui, exchange photographs and enjoy our final evening together.

Day 12 Disembarkation in Labuanbajo

After breakfast it is time to say goodbye to Arenui and our crew.

Guests disembark in Labuanbajo for transfer to the airport or their onward destination.

Total: 36 dives