By VMI Vinca Voyages | Labuan Bajo, Indonesia
Ask any experienced diver who has explored Komodo National Park to name their single favourite site, and the answer is most often Batu Bolong. This small, isolated rock that breaks the surface between Komodo Island and Tatawa Island conceals beneath its waterline one of the most extravagant assemblages of marine life and coral that the dive world has to offer. Batu Bolong is routinely listed among the top dive sites in the world, and it fully deserves the acclaim.
The Dive
Batu Bolong is typically dived as a drift dive, riding the current that sweeps around the pinnacle. The descent reveals a wall of extraordinary coral coverage — hard corals in branching, table, and massive formations are draped over by layer upon layer of soft corals in brilliant oranges, purples, and reds. The density and colour of the coral here is unlike anything most divers have encountered elsewhere.
As you drift with the current along the wall, the fish life accumulates around you in ever greater numbers. Schools of anthias numbering in the hundreds of thousands create shimmering clouds of orange and pink. Groups of surgeonfish and unicornfish sweep past. Napoleon wrasse, some reaching a metre in length, cruise with aristocratic calm. Below, on the deeper sections of the wall, reef sharks patrol in groups, and occasional eagle rays and giant trevally add to the spectacle.
Conditions and Requirements
Batu Bolong is best dived at slack tide or with a gentle current, as very strong current makes maintaining position on the wall difficult and reduces the quality of the dive. Your VMI Vinca Voyages dive guide will plan the dive timing based on the day's tide tables. The site is suitable for intermediate and advanced divers with good buoyancy control — the current can increase unexpectedly, and the ability to hold position comfortably and ascend in a controlled manner is important.
Photography at Batu Bolong
Batu Bolong is a paradise for underwater photographers. The density and colour of the marine life makes every frame dramatic, and the combination of wide-angle coral and fish scenes with more intimate macro subjects creates almost unlimited photographic opportunity. A wide-angle lens captures the full splendour of the coral walls and fish aggregations. Macro photographers will find nudibranchs, frogfish, ghost pipefish, and countless other small species sheltering in the coral colonies.
Dive and Snorkel with VMI Vinca Voyages
VMI Vinca Voyages offers Phinisi liveaboard and speed boat tours with dedicated diving and snorkeling programs throughout Komodo National Park. Our experienced dive guides, quality equipment, and carefully chosen itineraries take you to the very best underwater sites in one of the world's premier marine destinations. Book your dive trip today.