Perhaps one of the most well known and sought after dive regions of the world, Komodo National Park is the ultimate tropical diving destination in the heart of the coral triangle. As Komodo is a national park you can not stay on the island. Our recommendation if you want to be land based is to stay on the nearby island of Flores (East Nusa Tenggara). If you want to maximise your time here then a liveaboard is the best way to go, as it will allow you to stay in the surrounding protected marine park for longer, and access a greater range of amazing dive sites 

The region is located in the very middle of the Indonesian archipelago. The area was given protected park status in the 1980s to conserve the habitat of the Komodo Dragon. As time has gone on this protected status has expanded to provide a safe haven for native flora and fauna, both above and below the surface. As a result of these protections the area has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

The island is of volcanic origin, its terrain is rugged and dry. In fact Komodo is one of the driest areas in the whole of Indonesia. Vegetation is similar to what you would find in a savanna, with very few trees. Rocky slopes frame picturesque beaches that line glistening blue bays. 

Komodo National Park is located in the centre of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores in the Lesser Sunda Islands. Roughly 200 nautical miles east of Bali, it includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as some eighty smaller islands creating a total surface area (marine and land) of 1,817 kilometres.

Komodo National Park was established in 1980. Initially the main purpose of the Park was to conserve the unique Komodo Dragon and its habitat. However, over the years, the goals for the Park have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. In 1986, the Park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and later, a Man and Biosphere Reserve. 

The islands of Komodo National Park are volcanic in origin surrounded by fringing and patch coral reefs. The terrain is rugged and dry, consisting of barren sun scorched rolling hills and savannah vegetation with very few trees. Komodo is one of the driest regions of Indonesia. The picturesque beaches of Komodo are mostly deserted with a background of rocks and hills. 

The main gateway to Komodo is from the small fishing town of Labuan Bajo on the western tip of the island of Flores.