Komodo and Raja Ampat- Reef and Big Fish
It’s a question we often get asked, which is better Komodo or Raja Ampat? Well now you don’t need to make that decision, during October and May each year there is a short period of time where both regions offer good conditions topside (the diving is consistently brilliant throughout the year) and so we decided it was time to create an itinerary which combines the two. Enjoy this trip and make up your own mind as we dive and explore arguably two of the world’s premier reef diving locations in one complete trip.
Where the islands of Komodo are grassy and Savannah like, Raja Ampat is lush and tropical, topside they are vastly different yet equally pleasing on the eye. There’s differences in the diving too, Raja Ampat boasts magnitudes of marine life, rich reefs beyond belief and schooling pelagics in abundance. Komodo is a hotspot for mantas and by and large you’re more likely to see sharks here, the critter life is also more concentrated.
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Begin at the beautiful Komodo Resort. Just 16 beach side bungalows are set on Sebayur Island with stunning views to the islands of Komodo National Park. Within close range are manta cleaning stations, incredible reef diving sites like Batu Bolong and fringing reefs which are home to critters in abundance. Make 2 dives in the morning before returning to the resort for lunch and then a single tank trip in the afternoon with optional night dive. A trip to see the legendary Komodo Dragons is highly recommended on the last day whilst we off gas before heading north to Raja Ampat.
Leaving Komodo Resort, head to Makassar in Sulawesi to overnight on route to Raja Ampat. The rugged terrain of Komodo gives way to lush tropical forest and palm fringed beaches – the contrast between the locations is vast. For this week you’ll be based from Papua Paradise Eco Resort, stilted over water bungalows line the coast of Birie Island and offers superb access to premier dive sites in central Raja Ampat. As with Komodo there is a chance to dive with manta, wobbegong sharks are also quite common here whilst they are rarely seen in Komodo, if at all. Masses of soft corals, big schools of fish and exciting diving make the experience of diving Raja Ampat different day by day.
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