My last post was about my adventures above and below the surface with the amazing Bajau communities of Wakatobi in Sulawesi. Today we move a little further East and down to the main Indonesian archipelago where the island of Komodo is. Komodo is world famous for the Komodo Dragons that are found only on that island and the neighbouring island of Rinca. What many people don't know however is that Komodo offers some of the best diving in all of Indonesia and for today's video I turn my camera to the reefs and marinelife in the shallow waters around Komodo.
The currents around Komodo are very strong and diving there can be very challenging. You should be very aware of this if you choose to dive or snorkel there. Make sure you go with a reputable tour operator. If you are snorkeling make sure you know your limits and be aware of the water conditions. For divers if your experience is limited or you are not yet comfortable diving in strong currents - make sure you inform the dive operator so they can be sure to plan the dive sites with your limits in mind.
I was filming for the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism on this trip and we had along with us one the regions most experienced dive guides to show me some "secret spots". I have many 1000's of dives logged in all kinds of conditions around Asia but even I was surprised by just how strong the current were. Often we would surface miles away from the boat, but our boat captain was well aware of the currents and he always knew where to pick us up at the end of each dive.
The waters around Komodo are deep - like ocean deep, as in hundreds of metres. This great depth often sends nutrient rich cold water up in to the shallow areas unexpectedly where the corals live and the reef fishes spend their days. As a diver this combination of strong currents and cooler waters creates 2 things - the most challenging conditions and the most amazing marinelife you can expect to see on any dive site on the planet. On the video below you will see the sheer amount of coral coverage is just as good as it gets and the number of different species you see in every shot is simply mind boggling. I was also lucky enough to meet a Hawksbill Turtle cruising around the reef and feeding. These turtles are listed as critically endangered so every time I meet one I make an extra effort to film her/him for as long as possible conditions permitting.
I hope you like the video. Anyone here that is considering a dive or snorkel trip to Indonesia I cant recommend enough a visit to Komodo!