Frequently Asked Questions

You need to be Open Water certified to dive with us. Advanced certification is recommended for some sites, but not required. If you are not certified, you are still very welcome to join as a snorkeler. Komodo’s reefs are just as spectacular from the surface.

Most trips include up to four dives on a full day, although the exact plan always depends on the route, weather, and the group’s experience level. On the first day, we usually do a check dive followed by a night dive. On a full day, the rhythm is typically an early-morning dive, a late-morning dive around 10:30, an afternoon dive, and an optional night dive.

On the final dive day, we usually plan one or two dives plus the Komodo dragon hike. Night dives are offered, never pushed. Some guests prefer a sunset hike or afternoon snacks on a pristine beach, and on many days a dive can still follow afterwards. Safety and enjoyment always come first.

Komodo has more than 50 named dive sites. We choose each day’s sites according to conditions, currents, visibility, weather, and the experience of the group. That can include well-known sites such as Manta Point, Batu Bolong, Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, and Siaba Besar, as well as quieter sites that are excellent on that particular day.

We do not promise a fixed list of dive sites in advance. Our goal is simple: you should return home saying the trip was 12 out of 10 and want to come back with your friends. A poor dive can stay in someone’s memory longer than several great ones, so we would rather make the right call for the day than chase a famous site when conditions are not right.

Currents are part of what makes Komodo so rich, but they are not constant and they are not the same at every site. They depend on the moon cycle, season, month, tides, wind, and local conditions. There are also weeks in Komodo with very little current.

Many dive sites have reefs, bays, or sections that are naturally sheltered from the water flow. Our guides read the conditions and choose the right entry point, timing, route, and site for the group. That is why Komodo can be a genuinely rewarding destination for every level of diver, from newly certified guests to very experienced divers.

We never force a site or a dive. Safety, comfort, and a good experience come first. Reef hooks are available to use when appropriate.

Of course. Many guests bring their own mask, dive computer, and wetsuit. We provide tanks, weights, BCDs, regulators, and everything else you need. If you prefer to travel light, full equipment rental is available on board.

Water temperatures in Komodo range from 25 °C to 30 °C (77–86 °F), with an average of around 28 °C (82 °F), depending on the season and dive site. A 3 mm wetsuit is usually enough, though some divers prefer 5 mm for deeper or cooler sites in the south. Wetsuits are available for rent on board.

Not at all. Many of our guests are snorkelers. Our three guides lead separate snorkel groups while divers are underwater, so you never feel like an afterthought.

You join a separate snorkel group while divers are underwater. A dedicated guide takes you by speedboat to a site chosen for the conditions, so you have your own proper session rather than waiting for divers to surface.

You can use our mask, snorkel, boots and fins throughout the trip. You are also welcome to bring your own. If you want extra warmth or sun protection, you can rent a wetsuit, bring a rashguard, or wear a T-shirt. We also have snorkel buoys to hold onto and to make you more visible in the water.

Yes. If you are new to snorkelling, your guide chooses calmer, sheltered water and stays close. Life jackets and flotation aids are available, and you can always take a break or sit out a session.

Yes. You can snorkel on some sessions and dive on others. You can book as a snorkelling guest and add individual dives on board; if you end up diving more, you will not pay more than the diver price plus any equipment you need.

A maximum of 10 guests, looked after by an 11-person crew. That is eight boat and hospitality crew plus three dedicated dive and snorkel guides. Moana is deliberately small for a more personal, relaxed experience.

You usually start with coffee and an early water session, followed by a second breakfast, another dive or snorkel, lunch, an afternoon session and time to relax. Night dives are offered when they fit the plan, but never pushed. You can also choose a sunset hike, beach time or a long drink and good conversation on deck.

Moana usually operates from mid-March to mid-December. Every part of that season has something good to offer, including the busy July and August period. Conditions, visibility, wind and current change through the year, so the Cruise Director adapts the route to what is genuinely best for that day rather than promising one fixed season or site.

Wi-Fi and mobile data are generally quite good around much of Komodo, although there can be weaker areas between islands. It is enough for most normal messages, sharing and light work, but we would not promise uninterrupted high-bandwidth access on a moving boat.

You will spend much of the trip in sheltered water between islands, so many guests feel fine. If you are sensitive, bring motion-sickness medication and take it before you feel unwell. The crew also chooses calm anchorages whenever conditions allow.

You stay in one of five cosy, comfortable and practical cabins, each with a private ensuite bathroom, individually controlled air-conditioning and a fan. The cabins are not designed to be flashy. We expect you will spend most of your time in the relaxed deck spaces and out in Komodo.

If you travel alone, you normally share a twin cabin with another guest of the same gender. You can book single occupancy for an extra charge, subject to availability. Sometimes a twin remains unshared, but we do not promise that. If you are unsure, ask us what the current cabin allocation looks like before you book.

You receive full board: an early light breakfast, a second warm breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and dinner. You can help yourself to coffee, tea, water, fruit and snacks, and we serve fresh juice in the morning. We stock generously, but this is a boat with finite storage, so we do not make an unrealistic unlimited-supply promise.

Yes. Tell us your dietary requirements when you book, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free needs or allergies, and we will plan with the chef. The earlier you tell us, the better we can prepare.

You fly to Komodo Airport (LBJ) in Labuan Bajo. For a normal departure, plan to be aboard Moana by 11:00, so choose an early flight from Bali, usually departing around 07:30 to 08:30. On the final day you check out around 11:00, so book a flight after 13:00. You do not need to stay in Labuan Bajo before or after the trip, although some guests enjoy doing so. We usually wait when flights are delayed, but cannot take responsibility for delays. Book domestic flights early once you have confirmed your trip.

Pack light and casual: swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a light long-sleeve shirt for sun protection, comfortable walking shoes for island treks, and a waterproof bag for electronics. Snorkel equipment is provided; divers can bring their own regulator, BCD and computer or rent on board. We will send the practical packing information before your trip.

No. Dive insurance is not included in the trip price. We strongly recommend arranging suitable dive, travel and trip-cancellation insurance before departure. See the insurance information and provider link on our Prices page.

The fastest option is to book online from the live Trips page, using the payment methods offered at checkout. If you would rather talk first, send us a WhatsApp message, email us or use the contact form. We can answer practical questions and, where possible, arrange a temporary reservation while you decide.