When The Best Time Diving Season in Komodo Island

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Dive cruises without experience and careful planning may disappoint you. Komodo Island, one of the favorite destinations for diving lovers, is located in West Nusa Tenggara. As you might expect, guests frequently ask this question, and it’s a difficult one to answer. You may not realize it, but Komodo is a year-round diving destination. Offering different spots to explore during each “diving season” and month. Komodo island has diverse fauna to encounter and changing sea conditions.

komodo diving season - scenery

Plan Your Diving Season Komodo Vacation

The dry season lasts from April to October, and the monsoon or wet season lasts from November to March. But don’t be fooled by the phrase “monsoon”. The mainland of Flores receives a lot of rain, although it’s rare to experience more than a few afternoons of rain on a voyage out on a boat around the islands. This is true even during the wettest months of January and February, which are two of the finest months for wildlife, avoiding the throng, and exploring the deep south of Komodo National Park.

komodo national park underwater

So when is the best time to visit Komodo? It all depends on what you want to get out of your trip to Komodo. Is it Manta Rays that you’re after? Are you a Macro aficionado? Do you wish to get away from the crowds? Have the clearest visibility or the warmest water? Or go diving/snorkeling on the less-visited south Komodo and Rinca islands? Let’s break the diving season down for you month by month so you can begin planning your Komodo diving vacation.

January

As previously said, this is a technically rainy season, so expect some rain and varying visibility/water temperature. However, this is an excellent time to see Manta Rays, and many dive locations will be completely empty. Dive spots in the south of Rinca/Komodo, which are only accessible by liveaboard, are also available. These sites are substantially different from the Central and Northern sites in terms of macro and topography.

February

The wettest month in Komodo! But as with January, it’s a great time to visit the less-visited southern locations. Where there are plenty of Manta Rays and the chance of seeing other divers is at its lowest.

March

The beginning of the transition from wet to dry season, which can mean that the entire National Park is yours to explore on a longer trip. Visibility and water temperature are unpredictably variable, but now is an excellent time to fully explore Komodo, observe Manta Rays, and avoid crowds.

April

The dry season has begun, but the windy season has yet to begin. Resulting in calm waters and an increase in the number of tourists. Divers’ attention is increasingly drawn to the well-known Central and Northern dive locations. It’s still a fantastic time to observe Manta Rays, and the water temperature and visibility may be spectacular.

May

The dry season is in full swing, the windy season has begun. The Central and Northern sections of Komodo begin to offer some of the best diving conditions in the world. In the Central area, the number of Manta sightings begins to decline. The water temperature rises and the food supply for them decreases. However, with good visibility, vivid colors, and a plethora of marine life, the coral’s vitality is starting to show.

June & July

Incredible diving conditions in the Central and Northern zones. The visibility of 30+ meters, and water temperatures of 29-30 degrees Fahrenheit. Manta Ray sightings are rare and mainly include juveniles as the Manta Rays migrate south of Komodo in search of cold, plankton-rich seas. The number of divers begins to rise drastically, resulting in overcrowding at popular dive locations during peak hours. It’s also worth noting that it’s Komodo Dragon breeding season right now… During this period, the Dragons are less visible.

August

Divers are still focusing on the Central and Northern zones, and the conditions are still outstanding. Outside of the busiest hours for day trip divers, there is plenty of Pelagic action at places like Castle Rock and The Cauldron.

September

The peak tourist season has passed. The winds have died down, and the attention remains on Central and Northern Komodo. This is a terrific time to visit because the diving season conditions are excellent without the crowds.

October

Manta rays are beginning to return to Central Komodo, the dive spots are peaceful, and the seas are calm. After a busy high season, this is the start of traveler favorite Komodo diving season, and we hesitantly begin to explore a little further south.

November

This is usually the hottest month here and the start of the seasonal transition. The exploration to the south has begun, and practically all of Komodo National Park is open to visitors. This is also the time of year when we begin to see whales pass by as we travel.

December

The beginning of the wet season, but rainfall in the islands is minimal. Finally, the southern sites are opening up with increased temperature and visibility. The Central area still offers some great diving but the exposed Northern sites usually become less diveable with very low visibility and rough seas. The first two weeks of December are often very quiet so a great time to visit and lose the crowds.

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