Dive-site story
Located on the western flank of Pulau Tatawa in central Komodo National Park, Tatawa Besar is celebrated for its sweeping drift over extensive fields of orange soft corals and branching staghorn. Divers typically drop in near the northern corner and let the current carry them along a gentle slope, watching for feeding turtles and cruising pelagics. Towards the southern end of the reef, the slope tapers into coral bommies and rubble fields where macro critters shelter from the moving water.
Vast expanses of orange soft corals carpeting the reef slope
Frequent encounters with foraging hawksbill and green sea turtles
Effortless drift diving past schools of sweetlips and batfish
Occasional passing manta rays along the reef shoulder
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Calmest surface conditions and consistent visibility occur during the dry southeast monsoon season.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawksbill TurtleEretmochelys imbricata | Common | ||||||||||||
| Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Reef Manta RayMobula alfredi | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis | Common |
Marine forecast
