If you are a scuba diver and have the Komodo National Park in your list, you are on the right path. This secluded frontier is not only known for its carnivore, cannibal dragons from prehistoric era, but also for its incredibly rich underwater. Beneath Komodo’s savannah and barren lands, the ocean is bursting with diversity. The Pacific and Indian Ocean collides in this pocket, bringing in strong streams of currents overridden with planktons of which the fishes, corals, and macro creatures feeds on. The result is a mind-blowing explosions of marine life. One needs a multiple days trip with Komodo diving liveaboard to truly appreciate the sheer affluence of Komodo’s underwater. To help you prepare a spectacular dive trip in the land of dragons, here are few things you should notice before hopping onboard.
Minimum Requirements to Hop on Komodo Diving Liveaboard
As you know, diving liveaboard has their own requirements. And diving liveaboard in Komodo is no exception. To be able to dive in Komodo, you are required to have at least Open Water Certification and it’s recommended to have minimum 30 dives in your dive log. Some Komodo boats do have try diving course onboard where total beginners can have their first dive. However, there’s no way you can have a week full of dive trip just by relying on completing a try diving. You still need to obtain that certification.
Dive Sessions in Komodo Diving Liveaboard
Most Komodo diving liveaboard features two to four dives per day. Sometimes it’s an all-day diving, other times it’s combined with island excursions. Prepare your best stamina for this. Taking some downtime between the dives is essentials. Not only does it help you to recuperate, but it also give you time to log your dives. You just witness one of the most incredible marine life in earth. Journaling each dive sites right after the dive give you chance to revisit the memory every time you want. Don’t postpone it cause after 10 dives, all the experiences will start to blend together
More Considerations in Certifications
The majority of dive sites in Komodo are deep and strong in currents. Some of the itineraries might expect you to have Advanced Open Water Diver. You will need to dive more than 20 meters and handle some drifts. Unless you want to charter the whole Komodo diving liveaboard so you can adjust the itinerary to your level, you need to obtain the certifications. Invest a month before the trip took place to get the certification and prepare the dives!
Stick to Realistic Expectations
Don’t hope too much. If you have heard people telling about meeting dolphins and dugongs in Komodo’s water, doesn’t mean that you are also guaranteed to see one. Keep in mind that there are chances to see rare/ endangered animals during the dives, but you also have half probabilities to not see one and that’s okay.
Don’t Forget to See the Dragons!
You are in Komodo after all! Don’t miss the chance to see the only dragons in the world who still roams freely in the wild. Choose liveaboard that combines the dive trip with visitation to Komodo Island, Padar, and other island destinations.
More Travelling Stories:
Diving in Komodo: Other Side of the Trip You Should Prepare
The Dos and Don’ts of Snorkeling in Komodo
The Sleeping Arrangements
There are several types of Komodo diving liveaboard out there in Labuan Bajo. The mid-upper to first class fleet usually features cabins with twin/ king size beds. The mid to low budget liveaboard usually have bunkbeds in smaller cabins. The lowest budget diving liveaboard even doesn’t have any cabins. All passengers onboard would get a mattress and everyone sleep together in one of the deck. Not the best sleeping arrangement, but some of the most adventurous backpackers seems to not mind it. That is to say, knowing your preferred sleeping arrangements upon choosing a Komodo diving liveaboard is essentials to experience the trip to its most.
