KOMODO Is known for some of its cooler waters, beautiful corals, impressive fish life and fast currents.
Komodo National Marine Park, because of its location, it is one of the best places in the world where you can find an amazing biodiversity. It is part of the famous CORAL TRIANGLE and is declared a UNESCO WORLD HERRITAGE site.
In the north of Komodo NMP we have the Flores Sea where after few miles from the coast reaches depths of 5000 meters, or even more towards Banda Sea.
At the south, we have the Indian Ocean with also great depths a few miles out.Komodo NMP has an average depth of about 150 meters, so when we have tidal movement of 2 meters rising or falling tide, the water comes from very deep and needs to rush through Flores and Komodo Island where only shallow water is found.
The consequences are that the water has to pass between islands at high speed, forming currents that provide nutrients and oxygen rich waters to the fish and the coral reef. Currents are for the underwater world like the logistics in any big city. Having strong currents equals to have more shipments of supplies for the city. Plenty of nutrients arrive to these waters and makes and spectacle of life wherever you look.The big difference of characteristics between Flores Sea and Indian Ocean gives a more variety of marine life at different islands.
The environment below and above water at the Northern Komodo has nothing in common with the South.
North Komodo National Park the water temperature is usually nice and warm from the Flores Sea (27ª-29ª). There is an abundance of fish on these underwater pinnacles, schooling surgeons, big eye jacks, snapper or barracudas and pelagic are a common site.The further South we travel the water temperature will drop (18ª-24ª). Padar island has some beautiful sites where we can start to feel the influence of the Indian Ocean. More nutrients in the water is giving the corals a different look, colours are sharper, fish life is about to change. Even further South, we have Nusa Kode this horseshoe shaped bay has stunning corals. Not only in a rainbow of colours but also the size. Fish live in abundance and creatures you may have never seen before in your life, they may remind you the monsters that live under your bed as a child.
There is muck diving in places you least expect and under water pinnacles attract big schools of snapper, big eye jacks, surgeon fish, barracuda’s and Spanish mackerel. You feel like you fly over beautiful coral gardens that you can barely see because of the amount of fish darting in the currents. Manta rays have their own cleaning stations, that we can visit. Here we can observe them getting cleaned but if the currents bring in the right nutrients and krill, they will start to feed, shooting to the surface to dive down while with their mouths wide open, filtering the water.
Your trip is not complete without meeting the last living dinosaurs, the Komodo Dragons. you will get a chance to see them up close at the National Park. With a bit of luck, you will also see the macaque monkeys, some deer’s, wild pig and wild horse.
