Dive Site of the Month

Over the past month the North of the Komodo National Park has been on FIRE!!! The visibility has been absolutely stunning, the marine life has been incredible, and we've once again been debating the best dive sites in the National Park...

Where is the Cauldron? 
The Cauldron is in the North of the Komodo National Park. It sits in-between Gilli Lawa Laut (island close to the water) and Gilli Lawa Darat (island close to the sea). The strong currents that channel between these two island has created an incredibly interesting topography and it truly is one of the dive sites that give the Komodo National Park it's name for currents!



What does the divesite look it? 

This site starts as a beautiful sloping coral reef, as you head East the reef starts to plateau out before reaching a drop - this is the cauldron. This is a huge basin that has been carved into the seabed by the impressive currents racing back and forth through this channel. The edge of the Cauldron is at 15m and drops down to about 22m. If you stick to the edge of the Cauldron you can make your way around to the fish bowl - a large cavern where schooling surgeon fish and snappers congregate. After that there is a rocky wall and up from there is the famous shotgun! As the currents whips up from the bottom of the basin, you'll enter the shotgun at around 12m and feel the thrill of the currents thrusting you up and into a channel at around 9m. Here you'll cruise along the rubble bottom, looking out for mantas and enjoying the ride! After this fun exhilarating bit of current you finish your dive in an absolutely stunning hard coral garden called 'The China Shop'






When do you dive it?

As with all dive sites in the Komodo National Park we must consider the tides, and therefore the currents, when planning this site. It is possible to dive this site on slack, amble along the stunning reef and find some incredible macro - ranging from pygmy seahorses to frogfish, even the odd hairy squat lobster. Dived in this way, this is a beautiful site - but not what makes it one of our top dive sites. Dived on a falling tide, things get really fun! The falling tide brings the water movement from West to East. Drop in, and you'll feel the water pulling you towards the famous Cauldron. The closer you get, the faster the current will be. If conditions allow your dive guide will place their reef hook on the rocky area of the shotgun and hook you in - this is where you will feel the full power of the currents! It's an incredible experience, watching sharks, trevally, mantas and much more play in the currents on this unique dive spot.

This dive site is stunning all year round, but visibility is at it's best from April - November. Around May - August we tend to see more Mantas at this site as an added bonus!



What can we see there? 

The Cauldron is most of the most diverse dive spots in the Park! From tiny critters such a frogfish and nudibranchs, to majestic mantas rays and hunting sharks - the marine life here in mind-blowing! Coupled with the impressive topography and fun currents, we are yet to meet anyone who didn't fall in love with this dive spot!





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