50 Mantas in Komodo!

Liveaboard trip 22/9 – 29/9 2007

Bali - Komodo
INDONESIA

Mermaid I

Komodo liveaboard diving. Heading off for some bigger stuff, we entered the Komodo National Park itself.

We started this trip with a very relaxing dive at Moyo Island, just off Sumbawa. Gin-clear water, and lots of schooling fish at the wall, including Longfin Bannerfish and Red-tooth Triggerfish. Further along at the plateau, we found a pair of Orangutang Crabs (they DO actually look like orangutangs!), Spearing Mantis Shrimps and a beautiful Guardian Crab, fiercefully protecting his anemone.

At Satonda, another small island, the macro enthusiasts got a handful, with rare Denise Pygmy Seahorses, Mushroom Coral Pipefish, Frogfish and big Pleurobranchus Nudibranchs, just to mention a few of the critters. Sunsets here come with a bonus: thousands of Fruitbats fly back to Sumbawa every day at 18.20.

Sangeang Volcano next, a favourite on most trips. A very special site, with colourful corals, rare Nudibranchs, Pygmy Seahorses and Leaf Scorpionfish. Add the bubbles coming up from the black sand (the volcano is still active!), and you have a truly magic place!

Heading off for some bigger stuff, we entered the Komodo National Park itself. Massive schools of Unicornfish and Jackfish, lots of Grey Reef Sharks and Whitetips and a couple of Dolphins greeted us at Castle Rock. Crystal Rock offered equally big schools of fish, and a pack of baby Whitetip Sharks sleeping under a table coral.

After an interesting nightdive at Pink Beach, with a pair of huge, black Frogfish, a tasty BBQ-dinner and a good night’s sleep, we were ready for the Big Bad Dragons! We are not talking about gekkos here; the Komodo Dragons are up to 3,5 meters long, and are the biggest lizzards in the world! During the scenic trek, we found three big animals, and one (almost, but not quiet, cute) baby.

Cannibal Rock next, the world-famous divesite in Horseshoe Bay, Rinja Island. Wonderful dives here, as always, with unbelievable colours, and an abundance of life. Frogfish, Nudibranchs and Zebra Crabs fight for your attention, along with schools of Yellow-striped Snappers and Surgeonfish. Absolutely stunning!

So, how about those 50 Manta Rays? Well, let’s start with the following day’s dive at Manta Alley in south Komodo. Around 25 Mantas were hanging out there, getting a morning fix at one of the cleaning stations, or just playing around. I don’t think we had a single minute without them! Continuing up to Takat Makassar, we encountered one group of 20 Mantas, and another, smaller with about 12. Also lots of sharks, Bumphead Parrotfish, Eagle Rays and Turtles here.

After another couple of days diving, it was time to head back to Bali.

PJ Widestrand

Video-Pro
Mermaid I

Live-aboard trips to Thailand, Myanmar, Bali - Komodo and the Andaman Islands.


Whitetip shark - Bali liveaboard diving
Demon Stinger - Bali Liveaboard Diving


Komodo Dragons (the biggest lizzard in the world!), we had six big animals during the walk we do every trip. Add the four dragons we saw on the beach in Rinja Island, and I think we have an all time high here!