Kalimaya Dive Resort, Komodo
Sumbawa’s premier boutique resort offering unique dive experiences and easy access to West Komodo
per person, full board
Overview
- Dives in West Komodo, Gili Banta, Sangeang, and Sumbawa by boat, and unlimited shore access to the house reef
- Chic boutique resort ambience with luxurious yet eco-conscious touches
- Explore secret sites pioneered by the resort where you are guaranteed to be the only divers in the water
- Stunning and remote setting perfect for a tranquil retreat into nature
Kalimaya Dive Resort is East Sumbawa’s first dive resort and the only land-based operator currently providing access to the untouched dive sites around West Komodo, Gili Banta and Sangeang. Nestled away in a private bay on a beautiful stretch of beach, this tropical hideaway offers a totally tranquil atmosphere ideal for relaxing and unwinding - in a truly remote and pristine part of Indonesia. In addition to stylish design and modern luxury, this resort features world-class facilities for divers with a state-of-the-art camera room, custom speedboats, and an expert team of local guides and macro spotters.
Rooms
Waterfront bungalow
1 x Queen bed, sleeps 2
Air conditioning, Ensuite bathroom, Private terrace...from $150 /night
Hillside bungalow
2 x Twin beds, sleeps 2
Air conditioning, Ensuite bathroom, Private terrace...from $150 /night
Resort checklist
Meal plans:
- Full Board
Diving in Komodo
Grey reef sharkYear round
Whitetip reef sharkYear round
Manta RaysYear round
Schooling reef fishYear round
Unique crabs & shrimpsYear round
Pygmy seahorseYear round
Exotic NudisYear round
Plentiful reef lifeYear round
Soft coralsYear round
Healthy coralsYear round
TurtlesNot frequently
Diving Komodo National Park is simply world-class. Guests can dive with manta rays, sharks and giant trevally in the morning, drift over pristine corals for lunch, then search the muck for macro life in the afternoon. All without ever leaving the boundaries of the park! Komodo diving includes over 50 sites offering a complete range of experiences. From current-swept channels to walls, caves, boulder-strewn slopes, colourful reefs and barren sandy muck sites, Komodo has it all.
The diving in Komodo’s north and south is quite distinct, with each offering its own particular set of conditions and habitats. Yet despite their differences, Komodo’s dive sites all share one common trait, currents. No trip to Komodo is complete without a swirling drift dive through a channel. And, whilst they can sometimes make life difficult, these currents are what make Komodo’s diving so incredible.
North Komodo diving
The diving in north Komodo is typical of other parts of Indonesia, with warm, clear water and vibrant coral reefs. North Komodo diving focuses on several channels and isolated reefs, including classic sites such as Castle Rock, Crystal Bommie, Gili Lawa Laut, Shotgun and Tatawa. Castle Rock is the best northern site for bigger fish, and sightings of reef sharks, eagle rays, big tuna, giant trevallies and even dolphins are possible. Darat’s ‘Shotgun’ is also ideal for spotting bigger species that gather in the strong currents. And for those that need their manta fix, Karang Makassar is well known for congregations of rays when conditions are right.
South Komodo diving
The diving in Komodo’s southern region is dominated by cold-water upwellings. Filter-feeders thrive in these cooler, plankton-rich waters, and hard corals give way to soft corals, fans and sponges. Smaller animals also become more diverse, and diving in the south often focuses on critter hunting. That said, the south is actually home to the best manta diving in Komodo, particularly at the aptly named Manta Alley. Here, divers can witness flying squadrons of feeding mantas, or get up close and personal as they hover over the cleaning station.
Visitors will also find plenty of diving on Komodo Island’s southern coast and across to Padar and Rinca. Sites such as End of the World, Cannibal Rock, Pillarsteen, Three sisters, Nusa Kode and Yellow Wall can be explored again and again. Every one, packed with unusual nudibranchs, crabs, shrimps, fire urchins and sea apples, as well as rarely-seen fish such as torpedo rays.
