Bali to Komodo Diving Liveaboard Cruises Travel Guides
Bali Island
Bali Island is one of the most under rated dive destinations in Indon
esia, often being over-looked by divers because of its touristy image but underwater life in Bali is astonishingly rich. It is often assumed, that you have to travel to far away places for the best diving, but isolation often also means an impoverished fauna, because for the animals it is also difficult to reach these places! Bali is ideally positioned in the Indonesian Throughflow (Arus Lintas Indonesia), a massive flow of water that passes from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean and deposits planktonic larvae in the waters around Bali. This results in a very high diversity of species.
Komodo Island
Located 300 miles east of the cultural center of Bali, Komodo Island is a remote, seemingly prehistoric part of the sprawling island nation of Indonesia. Komodo Island offers two totally different marine environments. In the north the warm clear waters flow from the Flores and Banda seas. Typical of most tropical locations throughout the world. The hard coral reefs are extensive and in pristine condition. To the south, cooler waters flow from deep in the Indian Ocean.
SAMPLE ITINERARY:
1. Day: Bali – Padang Bai - Tulamben
Transfer from your Hotel to the 'MOANA' at Serangan/Turtle Island, South Bali.
09:00 AM Embarkation. After a refreshing welcome drink, we set sail heading north-east. Now it’s time for a short introduction to the facilities of our vessel, the diving operation and the tour program. Afterwards, there is only one thing left to do: relax and enjoy great views, while we are steaming along the shores of Bali, through Lombok Street, towards our first stop around 14:00h: Padang Bai – check-out dive “Blue Lagoon”. Cruise along the shore of Bali to Tulamben – possible night dive at “Liberty Ship Wreck”. 
2. Day: Tulamben – Gili Islands - Moyo
Early morning dive at “Liberty Ship Wreck”. Departure 8:30 AM. Enjoy breakfast and lunch onboard while cruising towards Gili Islands/Lombok. Diving Gili Trawangan or Gili Meno. Departure at 15:00 PM for overnight cruise to Moyo.
3. Day: Moyo – Satonda
Arrival 6:00 AM. Dive Moyo Bay. Land excursion to Waterfall. During lunch we sail towards Satonda. We dive Lake Entrance Bay and in the late afternoon Sand Chute. There is also an interesting on-shore excursion to the mysterious crater lake: local people come here to tie pieces of stones or corals with thin strings to the branches of the trees around the lake, trusting, that once the stone falls into the water of the lake, a wish will come true… 19:00 PM: after Sunset Dinner depart for Sangeang.
4. Day: Wera “Boatbuilder Village” - Sangeang - Gili Banta
Around 7:00 AM we arrive at Tanjung Wera and visit a tr
aditional boat builder Village. 3 hours cruise to Sangeang Volcano. The black lava sand offers a beautiful contrast to the colorful corals. Dive through a bed of bubbles coming up through the sand of the still active Volcano. Dive “Black River” and “Hot Springs”. Great Makro! After lunch departure to Gili Banta. Gili Banta is the first of the islands in the Komodo Archipelago. Located in North Komodo, this island provides a crescent shaped bay that offers beautiful anchorage from where several dives may be conducted. Great place for a night dive! Lots of Lion fish and a regular Stargazer.
5. Day: Banta Island – Gili Lawa Laut - Komodo National Park
Early morning dive at the famous “Dive GPS Point“, a submerged seamount which is one of the best sites to see sharks, jacks, dogtooth tuna, schools of barracuda and surgeonfish. Second dive at Banta Bay east, a drop off in front of a beautiful white beach. During lunch we move forward to Gili Lawa Laut – dive the surrealistic gullies and crevices in the channel of Gili Lawa Laut “Passage”. This reef is extremely rich and full of fish live.
6. Day: Komodo National Park 
Early morning dive at “Castle Rock”, a submerged seamount. Usually excellent visibility but is prone to strong currents. The top of the rock offers shelter and is a good place to explore during safety stops. Dive “Crystal Rock”, the top of the site is exposed at low tide. Excellent dives worth doing twice. Alternative dive: “Lighthouse”. Cruise to Komodo Island. Late afternoon dive “Dive Pink Beach“: Thousands of fish of every colour and shape are here including regal angelfish, checkerboard wrasse and masked unicornfish, against a beautiful backdrop of acripora corals, gorgonian fans and sponges.
7. Day: Komodo National Park – Dragon Walk
At 7:00 AM we start our 2hours “Dragon walk” to see the last representative of the Jurassic Park on earth, the infamous Komodo Lizard. Dive “Pink Beach”. 2 hours cruise to dive “Batu Bolong” (Current City), one of the top diving locations in the Park. It’s 
a tiny rocky outcropping in the strait between Tatawa Kecil and Komodo Island. Lot’s of colorful corals, invertebrate life and thousands of brilliant reef fish. Along the steep walls in deeper water many large fishes including sharks, napoleon wrasse, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, and large schools of rainbow runners. Late afternoon dive at “Tatawa Besar” or “Sabayor Kecil”, depending on the current.
8. Day: Komodo National Park
Early morning dive at “Sabayor Kecil”. Dive “Tatawa Besar” or “Tatawa Kecil” depending on current. Rocks, caves and beautiful coral gardens. Good drift dives. In the afternoon we dive again the famous “Batu Bolong”. Overnight at Gili Lawa Darat. 
9. Day: Komodo National Park - Rinca
Morning dive at “Gili Lawa Darat or Passage”, cruise to our last dive site: “Pulau Pengah” – a really fantastic spot! The afternoon we will spend at Rinca Island: say goodbye to the Dragons.
10. Day: Labuhan Bajo - Bali
Breakfast. Last swimming and snorkeling at the white beach of Pulau Bidadari. 30 minutes cruising to the Harbour of Labuhan Bajo. Around 11:00 AM you will be transferred to the airport where your airplane to Bali is waiting for you. Departure 12:15, arrival Bali 14:00.
(Please note: at 8 days cruises we spent 2 days less in Komodo National Park)
Come and Discover Indonesia Islands with us!
Lombok (1990 pop. 2,403,025) is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It is part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. It is roughly circular, with a "tail" to the southwest, about 70 km across and a total area of about 4,725 km² (1,825 sq mi). The administrative capital and largest city on the island is Mataram.
Island is a remote, seemingly prehistoric part of the sprawling island nation of Indonesia. Komodo Island offers two totally different marine environments. In the north the warm clear waters flow from the Flores and Banda seas. Typical of most tropical locations throughout the world. The hard coral reefs are extensive and in pristine condition. To the south, cooler waters flow from deep in the Indian Ocean.
Morning flight from Bali. On arrival in Labuan Bajo, direct transfer to the harbor and get on board Ms FELICIA and disembark to Sebayur Island. Afternoon and night dive will be arranged around Sabolon. Meals and overnight are on board.
Early morning sailing to Nusa Kode. After breakfast having your 2 morning dives around Nusa Kode & Manta Alley. Afternoon lunch take your afternoon dive at Nusa Kode and another night dive at Padar. Meals and overnight are on board.
After breakfast take your 2 morning dives at Padar and Tengah Island. Afternoon transfer to Loh Buaya in Rinca for trekking to see the Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. Beach barbeque dinner will be provided subject to weather condition. Overnight is on board.
grey and white-tip reef sharks, as well as eagle rays and at some times of the year, hammerheads. The site always offers a lot of diversity, and even if there are no predatory fish, you are bound to come across turtles and napoleons. Back on the reef top, we pass a coral block with leaf fish and snails. Before we surface, we have a look under a table coral where some small sharks offer them accommodation.
stunning with something to offer for every underwater photographer and videographer. On my dives I found here ribbon eel ( Rhinomuraena quaesita ), robust ghost pipefish ( Solenostomus cyanopterus ), yellownose partner goby ( Stonogobiops xanthorhinica ), Shaded batfish juvenile ( Platax pinnatus ), leaf scorpion fish ( Taenianotus triacanthus ), many jawfish, several nice nudibranchs and a cleaning station with three different kinds of shrimp. In the shallow area I also found Pyjama cardinalfish ( Sphaeramia nematoptera ).
s, silver tip sharks, grey reef sharks, barracudas, and napoleon wrass. This site though, is reserved for advanced divers only as current can get a bit rough at times.
