KOMODO
.png){kind=small}
Location Komodo - Indonesia
Duration 10 nights
Vessel Indo Master
Level from Advanced Open Water
Manta Expert TBC
HIGHLIGHTS
​
-
Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world
​
-
Located in the Coral Triangle, it offers some of the planet’s richest marine biodiversity.
​
-
The park features dramatic underwater landscapes including shallow reefs, drop-offs, and drift dives
​
-
Witness large aggregations of mantas at Karang Makassar and Manta Alley
​
-
Explore world renowned sites like Batu Bolong, Crystal Rock and Shotgun
​
-
Venture on-land and spot the legendary Komodo dragon
​
-
The expedition is tailored to maximize manta sightings, including rare black morph mantas​​
​​
Reef Manta
.png)
Grey Reef Shark
Komodo Dragon
The diversity of marine life in Komodo National Park is so unique, the park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, and is considered one of the seven nature wonders of the world! The combination of marine and land wildlife, reef and pelagic creatures, invertebrates and vertebrates, shallow reefs, drop-offs and drift dives, produces exceptional diving, as expected of a key site within the Coral Triangle - the epicentre for the planet’s marine biodiversity.
While on board we expect to visit multiple, globally-renowned manta ray sites within the marine park both in the north and south of Komodo and visit the famous manta cleaning stations of Karang Makassar and Manta Alley, where mantas often aggregate in large number to socialise and mate during this season.
But Komodo offers so much more than mantas, and we will have the opportunity to experience its caleidoscopic diversity throughout the expedition and dive famous sites such as Batu Bolong, Crystal Rock and Shotgun! Schools of trevally, white tip reef sharks, gardens of colourful soft coral, barracudas, bizarre nudibranches, and of course, a visit on-land to encounter the legendary Komodo dragon!
Critter life in Komodo is also extremely abundant and not to be missed! During this expedition we will offer the chance to experience it all through tailored night and day dives at sites such as Pink Beach, Wainilu and Tiga Dara where frogfish, ghostpipe fishes, cuttlefishes, mimic octopus and many more are common encounters!
The expedition will also include shore guided hikes with chances to encounter its unique terrestrial wildlife which includes monkeys, deers and buffalos as well as visiting some of the stunning viewpoints in the park.
The itinerary will vary depending on manta sightings, and will be aimed at maximising our encounters with these ocean giants. With one of the largest populations of reef manta rays in the world, resident year round, Komodo National Park is among the best destinations to encounter these inquisitive species. It also offers a chance to encounter the elegant black morph reef mantas that are typical of this region’s population!
​​
.png){kind=small}
A TYPICAL ITINERARY
Day 1:
Embarkation from 12:00 - 15:00
Onboard introductions, boat & safety briefings
Depending on guests' arrival, possible check dive in the afternoon
Day 2-9:
Up to 4 dives a dives, 3 day time dives and where/when possible a sunset/night dive. A typical day onboard is scheduled as follows:
- Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & dive 1
- Full Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & dive 2
- Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & dive 3
- Snacks and relaxation
- Briefing for Sunset or Night dive
- Dinner
Day 10:
Up to 2 morning dives. Vessel returns to port and remains at anchor overnight.
Day11:
Breakfast onboard, disembarkation no later than 10:00am
"
"
The Manta Expedition was an
epic trip from start to finish
great people, diving and boat!
Guest, Socorro 2023
MEET YOUR MANTA EXPERTS
As on all Socorro Manta Expeditions, two Manta Trust scientists will be onboard for its entire duration, offering everyone the opportunity to interact and learn from leading manta experts. The presence of Manta Trust scientists onboard will enhance your experience in a number of ways: • motivate and inspire you, by learning about the marine ecosystems you will be exploring • gain access to an accumulated wealth of knowledge and expertise, providing you the opportunity to become actively involved in cutting-edge scientific research. • offer you an educational and much more rewarding experience by making your underwater encounters more personal, and by involving you first-hand in marine research and conservation. • be environmentally aware and proactive and become an active member of an initiative which stands to have strong implications for the on-going persistence for manta rays worldwide. Collectively the Manta Trust and Manta Expeditions teams possess over three decades of experience working globally, studying manta populations and marine life and have assembled a vast amount of knowledge and expertise, knowledge you will have access to on this expedition. A core focus of the expeditions is not only to provide close encounters with manta rays but to enthuse and educate divers in marine conservation issues and the environment surrounding them. Through a series of activities and presentations on topics covering local marine species and habitats led by the Manta Trust expert, you are sure to leave with an increased awareness of the threats facing our oceans and, perhaps more importantly, how you can help. Using the knowledge of the Manta Trust scientists you will gain a brand-new perspective to diving and experiencing the underwater world; by understanding what you see you will gain a better appreciation and love for the ocean and its creatures. Ultimately, with the guidance of the Manta Trust researcher you will have the chance to give something back to the ocean which we believe is fundamental considering how much we take from it!
"
"
I love getting the additional information
on the mantas & other ocean life from the
experts on board.
It adds so much to my experience
Guest, Socorro 2022
YOUR IMPACT
.png)
.png)
