Lotus Malaillo Itinerary

Wakatobi - Takabonerate - Komodo

Day 1: Embarkation Baubau (BUW)
Guests embark at Baubau Harbor. After a general boat and dive briefing, the vessel sets sail overnight toward if possible check dive at Wanci Island, the gateway to the Wakatobi region.

Day 2: Wanci Island (4 Dives)
Dive 1 – Blue Mosque: A stunning hard coral garden from 3–5 meters that transitions into a steep slope. Expect fusiliers, black snappers, turtles, reef sharks, and excellent macro life including nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses.
Dive 2 – Aquarium: A sheltered bay ideal for macro photography. Sandy slope with coral patches— look out for ghost pipefish, gobies, octopuses, cuttlefish, and nudibranchs.
Dive 3 – Marina Tugu: A shallow wall that slopes gently into coral patches. Great for macro with a chance to spot turtles.
Night Dive – Marina Tugu: Excellent night critter life including crustaceans and cephalopods.

Day 3: Kaledupa Island (4 Dives)
Dive 1 – Fish Market: A dramatic wall dive featuring caverns, barrel sponges, black coral, and gorgonians. Fish life includes pyramid butterflies, fusiliers, and jacks.
Dive 2 – Outer Pinnacle: A submerged reef rising to 5 meters with rich coral ridges and fantastic fish life. Sightings may include reef sharks, turtles, and eagle rays.
Dive 3 – Hoga Ridge: Connected to the previous site, this ridge has lush coral gardens and dense sponge and gorgonian coverage. Fish life mirrors Outer Pinnacle.
Night Dive – Hoga Bui: A mini-wall dive with a variety of crustaceans, nudibranchs, and octopuses.

Day 4: Tomia Island (4 Dives)
Dive 1 – Lorenzo Delight: A mix of wall and slope with pristine coral, reef fish, and remarkable macro life, including multiple species of pygmy seahorses.
Dive 2 – Valentine Point: A drift dive along a dramatic drop-off with overhangs and coral-covered caverns. Rich with reef fish, sponges, and black coral.
Dive 3 – Starship: Another striking wall dive echoing the marine richness and structure of earlier sites.
Night Dive – Waitii Ridge: A ridge bordered by a wall and slope. Excellent for crustaceans, squid, cuttlefish, and a variety of nudibranchs.

Day 5: Takabonerate Islands/Atoll
Dive 1 – Exploration Dive.
Dive 2 – Exploration Dive.
Island/Atoll Visit: Explore the stunning atoll landscape.
Dive 3 – Exploration Dive Overnight cruise toward Komodo National Park.

Day 6: Komodo
Dive 1 – Sebayor Ridge A stunning ridge ranging from 8–23m, featuring a sandy slope on the east and a sloping reef to the west. Hard coral dominates the top, with frequent sightings of large cuttlefish, schools of yellow snapper, and rich macro life.
Dive 2 – Tatawa Besar Famous for its expansive hard coral garden from 3–8m, followed by a gentle slope. Expect excellent fish life—reef sharks and turtles are common, along with vibrant orange soft corals.
Dive 3 – Shotgun (only when tide is falling) Located between two islands, this thrilling drift dive is current-dependent. Ideal for experienced divers who enjoy a "shotgun" ride through the channel. Frequent encounters with giant trevally, reef sharks, turtles, and occasional manta rays.
Night Dive – Teluk Lawa A calm bay perfect for night diving. Keep an eye out for Spanish Dancers, various nudibranchs, and crustaceans.

Day 7: Gili Lawa Laut (North Komodo)
Dive 1 – Castle Rock A submerged reef rising to 5m with a gentle slope. Coral is moderate, but the fish life is spectacular—schools of fish, white-tip reef sharks, trevallies, napoleons, and occasional grey reef sharks.
Dive 2 – Crystal Rock A rocky pinnacle breaking the surface with vibrant soft corals and excellent fish activity. Frequent sightings of reef sharks, rainbow runners, turtles, and napoleons.
Dive 3 – Siaba Kecil An untouched hard coral garden stretching from 2–12m, with black coral and coral bommies. Common sightings include black-tip reef sharks, turtles, and clouds of anthias.
Night Dive – Pink Beach A vibrant dive site with a mix of coral gardens and sandy slope—great for spotting frogfish, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, shrimps, and crabs.

Day 8: South Komodo & Padar
Dive 1 & 2 – Manta Alley A top spot for manta encounters! Cooler waters (23–25°C) with strong surge near the surface. Besides mantas, expect turtles and reef sharks.
Dive 3 – Secret Garden – Padar A macro paradise with sloping reef, mini walls, and soft coral. Home to cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, crabs, and shrimp.
Trekking – Padar Viewpoint An iconic viewpoint offering breathtaking panoramic views—perfect for photos and sunset lovers.
Night Dive – Padar Bay Gentle sandy slopes with coral patches and leather coral—expect frogfish, ghost pipefish, and Spanish Dancers.

Day 9: Central Komodo
Batu Bolong – One of the well know dive site in Komodo and often we only be able to dive on one side Either North or south depend on the current. Nice coral on top of the reef, good fish life. Turtle, Reef shark, Trevally, Dogtooth Tuna, Napoleon are very common.
Karang Makassar – A good place for Manta sighting, great drift a long the reef while looking for manta. Reef Shark, Turtle are very common, and Eagle ray show up from Time to time.
Trekking – Komodo trekking in Rinca Island.
Dinner/BBQ around Pulau Kalong while watching the fruit bats.

Day 10: Disembarkation Labuan Bajo (LBJ)
Guests disembark Malaillo by 10:00 AM at the latest and will be escorted to Labuan Bajo Airport or their hotels in the city.
 
Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics, and local regulations.