About Komodo National Park

A place that has it all

Komodo National Park includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, located in the centre of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Established in 1980, the park now protects its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine.

The National Park is home to one of the richest marine environments in the world, more than 1,000 species of fish, 260 species of reef-building coral, and 70 different species of sponges.

Komodo has it all…from dolphins, sharks, manta rays, dugong, schooling jacks, barracudas, turtles at least 14 species of whales to pigmy seahorses, amazing critters, colourful nudibranchs, ghost pipe fish and many more - all make Komodo National Park their home.

The islands in Komodo National Park are volcanic in origin. The area is at the juncture of two continental plates: Sahul and Sunda. The friction of these two plates has led to large volcanic eruptions and caused the up-thrusting of coral reefs. 

A paradise dream in real life, underwater and above, breath taking topography, deserted beaches, spectacular wildlife, underwater pinnacles, slopes, caves, swim-throughs and walls.

The open waters in the Park are between 100 and 200 m deep. The straits between Rinca and Flores and between Padar and Rinca, are relatively shallow (30 to 70 m deep), Strong currents and upwellings transport nutrient-rich waters throughout the Park's marine area and help support a wealth of biodiversity
Water temperature ranges between 25 – 29°C in the North of the Park. The temperatures are lowest in the South, ranging from 22 – 28°C.

Diving Komodo is rewarding at all times of the year. Komodo National Park has the lowest annual rainfall in all of Indonesia. For most of the year Komodo is dry and hot, parched by arid winds from the Australian desert. Maximum temperatures reach 43 C, with minimums of 17 C in August.

The most famous of Komodo National Park's reptiles is the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). It is among the world's largest reptiles reaching 3 meters in length and more than 136kg. The heaviest lizard on earth…