Gili Lawa Darat in Komodo National Park

Experience Thrilling Drift Dives and Mesmerizing Marine Life

What you need to know about Gili Lawa Darat

Gili Lawa Darat, located in the northern part of Komodo National Park, is a prime destination for divers seeking adventure and natural beauty. This small island is renowned for its exciting drift dives and rich marine biodiversity. The crystal-clear waters surrounding Gili Lawa Darat provide excellent visibility, making it perfect for underwater photography and exploring vibrant coral reefs.

Diving at Gili Lawa Darat offers encounters with a wide variety of marine life, including manta rays, reef sharks, and schools of trevally and barracuda. The island's dive sites, such as The Cauldron and Shotgun, are famous for their strong currents, which create exhilarating drift dives and bring in large pelagic species. Divers can also enjoy the colorful coral gardens teeming with small reef fish and macro life, adding to the site's allure.

Above water, Gili Lawa Darat's stunning landscapes feature rolling hills and picturesque beaches, ideal for trekking and relaxation. Non-divers can indulge in snorkeling, sunbathing, and hiking to the island's viewpoints, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding islands and azure waters.

Interesting facts about Gili Lawa Darat

Getting there: The best way to explore Gili Lawa Darat is by liveaboard, offering seamless access to the most pristine dive sites. Alternatively, you can reach it by boat from Labuan Bajo.

Best time to visit Gili Lawa Darat: The best time for diving is from April to November, with water temperatures ranging from 27°C to 30°C (81°F to 86°F). The dry season ensures calm seas and optimal diving conditions.

Diving Conditions: Expect water depths from 5 to 40 meters (16 to 131 feet) with varying currents, suitable for all levels. Stronger currents in some areas offer exhilarating drift dives.

Our liveaboard trips: Several liveaboard vessels operate in this region, offering trips that typically last 7-10 days. These trips often include visits to other iconic Komodo sites like Batu Bolong and Manta Point.

A little-known fact: Gili Lawa Darat is also known for its spectacular hilltop viewpoints, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding islands and the azure waters of Komodo National Park.

Pictures of Gili Lawa Darat

Highlights in Gili Lawa Darat

The Cauldron

Located in the narrow passage between Gili Lawa Laut and Gili Lawa Darat, The Cauldron in Komodo is not for the faint-hearted. This dive site is renowned for its exhilarating currents that spiral through faults in the reef, creating an adrenaline-pumping experience. The dive site features a large sinkhole, aptly named The Cauldron, reaching depths of 22 meters. Divers can expect to see an array of marine life including reef sharks, giant trevally, schooling jacks, and even manta rays.

The site’s unique topography, with walled edges, overhangs, and crevices covered in both soft and hard corals, makes for a visually stunning dive. Divers can cross the channel to a rubble plateau at 12 meters and observe the vibrant marine activity. The Shot Gun and Sling Shot sections of the site provide an exhilarating ride through strong currents, ending in the calm, shallow waters of Gili Lawa Laut.

For non-divers, the surrounding islands offer spectacular viewpoints, pristine beaches, and opportunities for snorkeling, making The Cauldron a perfect destination for adventurers and nature lovers alike.

Crystal Rock

Crystal Rock is a standout dive site in Komodo National Park, celebrated for its stunning underwater topography and vibrant marine life. This submerged pinnacle, located in the northern region of the park, offers divers an exhilarating experience with a chance to see an array of pelagic species. The site is named for its clear, crystalline waters that provide exceptional visibility, often exceeding 30 meters.

Diving at Crystal Rock, you'll encounter a bustling underwater ecosystem. The site is frequented by white tip reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, and schools of jacks and trevally. The coral gardens here are rich with both hard and soft corals, creating a colorful backdrop teeming with life. Nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, and frogfish are some of the macro delights awaiting keen-eyed divers. The currents can be strong, adding to the thrill and making this site best suited for experienced divers.

The dive typically starts with a negative entry, descending quickly to avoid being swept away by the currents. As you navigate the reef, you'll witness a symphony of marine life, from the vivid coral formations to the schools of fish darting through the water. The pinnacle rises to within a few meters of the surface, making the safety stop equally mesmerizing with the shallow coral gardens.

Castle Rock

Castle Rock, located in Komodo National Park, is a diver's paradise renowned for its stunning underwater topography and vibrant marine life. This submerged seamount is famed for its thrilling currents and frequent sightings of sharks and pelagics, making it a must-visit for experienced divers.

What sets Castle Rock apart is its incredible biodiversity and the dramatic scenery it offers. Divers can expect to see white tip reef sharks patrolling the deeper sections, while giant trevallies, tunas, and Napoleons glide through the blue. The reef is a colorful mix of hard corals, sponges, and sea squirts, providing shelter for a myriad of smaller reef fish and invertebrates. The shallow areas are perfect for spotting cleaner shrimp, glassfish, and other critters hiding in the crevices and overhangs of the reef.

For non-divers, the surrounding Komodo National Park offers stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, and opportunities for snorkeling, hiking, and observing the famous Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. Whether you are exploring the underwater world or the rugged terrain above, Castle Rock and its surroundings promise an unforgettable adventure.