As we’ll be visiting Komodo National Park, Indonesia many times in 2008, I wish to write down some simple fact about the sea in the area.

For other fact such as the history, the dragon story, anyone can just visit its Park webpage and UNESCO Heritage Site webpage.

Below is the map of the national park. It’s situated in between 2 oceans, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. It’s in the area where 2 big continents collided (the new (America) and old world (Asia) - visit Wallacea to understand more) many many years ago. Then it’s also in the area where the Throughflow (ocean major current) passing. The Nusa Tenggara topography formed a lot of isolated sea while the sea level fell, and reunite while the sea level rise again - all these made up Komodo a very unique ecology for living thing, and difficulty of diving.

Unique + difficulty 1)

There is a consistent sea level different between Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean (8 - 15 inches); well, water will flow from higher to lower level - both sides of Komodo are deep Ocean - any fluctuation in the deep sea will bring in the area deep sea water; plus it’s on the way where the Throughflow is - conclusion, many smaller fish were isolated by the strong current and developed it own unique species; Komodo dragon are restricted to the area only; and we’ll have to be prepared to dive this area. In the last visit on September 2007, we didn’t faced too much difficulty during the dive, as most of the time the experienced dive master planned for a drift - but the drift is fast. Therefore diver do NEED to prepare signaling tube, reef hook (not to hook on the reef, just the rock to climb, especially when encounter with down current) or glove, secondary torch while doing night dive - just in case if got drifted. A pair of good fins is a must - do refer to equipment on last post - not big, thick and expensive you should be looking for! Read this page, it gives good explanation about current in Komodo

Unique + difficulty 2

Both sides of Komodo are very near to the deep ocean (especially Southern). The oceanic deep sea water is cold and rich of nutrient (the tiny tiny krill, plankton…). When we dive in Komodo, it’s a normal 28 - 30 C tropical water - but certain area (especially the south), you may encounter a 23 - 25 C water, to the extreme case, 18 C, and from 30 m to 3 m visibility in the area. It’s cold, but it’s also the same water that provide the animal underwater all sort of food that shape its feeding behavior. If you are well prepared, it shouldn’t be any problem - 90% of heat lost from your head and connecting join (such as your arm pit, spines) - hood certainly helps, glove and diving socks or booties will be great (but not to misuse it on damaging coral!!! Sometimes I don’t even know should I advise on using those items…). For photographer, do prepare more effective ‘water sucker’ (I mean silica gel or the thirsty hippo thing), or else the foggy lens will cost you no images.

Unique + difficulty 3

June -Octobr is dry southwest monsoon (vegetation turns brown), December - March is wet northwest monsoon (vegetation turns green)- but it only refers to rainfall… although the travel books wrote southwest monsoon is time to dive the north, while northwest monsoon to dive the south (opposite, we want to run away from trade wind!), but the last September we dive both north and south… and the experienced dive master told me - year round diving, depending on your luck - but there are so many island to hide and dive - well, the difficulty is to answer the diver customer’s question actually… “where they will be diving?” - the 2 trade winds bring strong surface current and rotate the sea water, which bring more deep sea water shallow.

Therefore I would say, get prepared, and Komodo is a place of wonder. Don’t restrict your self in ‘which famous dive site’, cause weather and sea condition (or whatever safety reason) sometimes leave no choice to us, and we may ended up an amazing encounter - 20+ mantas last visit, unexpectedly.

Will write more when I read more - endemic nudibranch, residences of fire urchin, gentle giant, beautiful coral garden, the drift… enjoy your dive.

Gan (PADI dive instructor#465342)

This entry was posted on Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 10:23 am and is filed under destination. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.