Updated: May 2026

Komododivingtour — Komodo Diving Tour FAQ | Certification, Cos…

Komodo Diving Tour FAQ

What Is the Most-Asked Question About Komodo Diving Tours?

The most-asked question about Komodo diving tours is what minimum certification level is required, with a close second being whether non-divers can join the trip and a third being how much a typical 3-day tour costs. This FAQ answers those three plus 12 additional questions our reservation team handles every week, organized by certification, non-diver participation, equipment, medical fitness, cost, season, current handling, marine park fees, refresher requirements, dive insurance, photography, and what happens if weather scrubs a dive day. All answers reflect our 2026 operating standards and have been reviewed by our chief instructor for technical accuracy. Komodo National Park (UNESCO)

What is the minimum certification level required for a Komodo diving tour?

Open Water certification (PADI, SSI or equivalent) with a minimum 15 logged dives within the past 24 months is the absolute minimum for a day trip to Manta Point and Tatawa Besar. Advanced Open Water with 25 logged dives is required for Batu Bolong and Crystal Rock. Advanced Open Water with 50 logged dives, drift specialty preferred, is required for Castle Rock and The Cauldron. We do not accept Discover Scuba Diving guests, Open Water students mid-certification, or divers with a logged inactive period exceeding 24 months without a refresher dive at our Labuan Bajo training pool first. The 3D2N southern park safari requires Advanced Open Water with deep specialty endorsement.

Can non-divers join the boat trip?

Yes, non-divers (including children over age 8 and pregnant women) can join the 2D1N and 3D2N safari boats as snorkel-and-photography guests at a 50 percent reduction on the dive fare. Non-divers participate in surface activities including snorkeling at Manta Point, Pink Beach visit, Padar Island sunrise hike and the Komodo dragon tour at Loh Liang ranger station. The day trip 3-dive tier is dive-only and does not accept non-divers. Snorkel guests must wear a personal flotation device at all times in open water and snorkel only with an assigned guide.

What dive equipment do I need to bring versus rent?

Bring at minimum your own mask, fins, dive computer and personal SMB with finger spool. We strongly recommend bringing your own regulator with octopus secondary and your own current hook because rental availability for these is limited. Rent the BCD, wetsuit (3mm full-length central park or 5mm hooded southern park) and tanks. Full equipment rental costs $30 per diver per day and includes Aqualung or Scubapro grade equipment with annual service certificates. Nitrox 32 fills cost $35 per diver per day. Underwater photography rental Olympus TG-7 with strobe costs $25 per dive.

What medical conditions disqualify a diver from Komodo?

Active asthma requiring rescue inhaler within the past 5 years, untreated sleep apnea, recent (within 12 months) cardiac event including stent placement, recent ear surgery within 6 months, pregnancy, recent (within 30 days) decompression illness episode, current chemotherapy treatment, and uncontrolled seizure disorder are absolute disqualifiers. Controlled diabetes, controlled hypertension, controlled hypothyroidism, asthma in remission for over 5 years, and history of mild ear barotrauma are conditional and require a current dive medical clearance from a DAN-recognized physician within the past 12 months. We will request the dive medical clearance via email upon booking and will not splash a diver without it.

How much does a Komodo diving tour cost in 2026?

Day Trip 3-Dive: $185 per certified diver, all-inclusive of marine park fees, tanks, weights, lunch, transfer and instructor guide. 2D1N Mini Safari: $465 per diver including 6 logged dives, twin-share air-conditioned cabin, 5 meals and overnight at Gili Lawa Laut. 3D2N Full Park Safari: $795 per diver including 9 to 11 logged dives, twin-share AC cabin, 9 meals, central and southern park coverage. Equipment rental adds $30 per day. Nitrox upgrade adds $35 per day. Photography rental adds $25 per dive. Dive insurance is mandatory and not included.

What is the best season to dive Komodo?

April through October is dry season with calm seas, 20 to 30 metre visibility in the central park, ideal for shark and trevally action at Castle Rock. November through March is wet season with green water and reduced surface conditions but is the peak window for mola-mola in the south and resident manta aggregations at Manta Alley. The shoulder months April-May and September-October offer the best balance of conditions and crowd density. Peak July-August commands a 15 percent uplift on hotel inventory in Labuan Bajo but our dive package pricing does not change seasonally.

How strong are Komodo currents and can a beginner handle them?

Komodo currents range from gentle 0.5 knot drifts at Manta Point and Tatawa Besar (suitable for Open Water with 15 logged dives) to extreme 5 to 8 knot tidal flushes at The Cauldron and Castle Rock peak tide (require Advanced Open Water with 50 logged dives and a current hook). Beginners under 25 logged dives are restricted to Manta Point, Tatawa Besar, Sebayur Kecil and Pink Beach Reef, all of which are gentle drift profiles. We do not allow under-experienced divers on the central channel sites. See our Diver’s Guide to Komodo Currents for technical detail on current types and SMB protocols.

What marine park fees do I pay and are they included?

Komodo National Park entrance fee is 250,000 IDR per foreign diver per day (approximately $17), conservation tax 25,000 IDR per dive ($1.65), camera permit 10,000 IDR one-time ($0.65), boat ramp fee and harbour master clearance 50,000 IDR ($3.30). All fees are bundled into the published price of every Komodo Diving Tour Voyages package and we provide a printed receipt for each fee. You do not pay anything at the dock. Indonesian nationals pay 5,000 IDR per day for the park entrance.

Do I need a refresher dive if I have not dived in over 12 months?

Yes, we strongly recommend a refresher pool session at our Labuan Bajo training pool the day before your tour for $35 if your last logged dive was more than 12 months ago. The session covers regulator clearing, mask clearing, buoyancy, current-hook deployment and SMB deployment from 5 metres. We require a refresher session for any diver with an inactive period exceeding 24 months. The session does not count as one of your tour dives.

What dive insurance is required?

DAN World, DiveAssure or equivalent dive insurance covering hyperbaric chamber treatment, evacuation and medical repatriation is mandatory. Travel insurance from credit card programs typically excludes scuba diving and is not acceptable. We require proof of dive insurance via email before splashing on day one and will rebook divers without insurance on a non-diving snorkel-and-photography day at no penalty. The nearest hyperbaric chamber is in Bali, four hours by air ambulance.

Can I bring my underwater camera?

Yes, all underwater photography equipment is welcome including housed mirrorless, GoPro, action cameras and strobes. Komodo National Park requires a one-time 10,000 IDR camera permit per housed camera which we include in our published price. Wide-angle is optimal for Castle Rock shark-tornado and Crystal Rock soft coral. Macro is optimal for Wainilu critter dives and Cannibal Rock crinoid forest. We provide a freshwater rinse tank for camera gear on every boat and a dedicated camera table on the 2D1N and 3D2N tiers.

What happens if weather scrubs a dive day?

If weather scrubs a dive day, we will reschedule within the contingency window of your trip at no charge. If you have no contingency days remaining, we credit a future booking valid 36 months for the missed dive day but cannot reimburse cash. Build a contingency buffer of one extra day in Labuan Bajo on the back end of your trip. Komodo’s wet season November to March has afternoon thunderstorms that can scrub afternoon dives, and even in dry season the southern park can have 2 to 3 metre swell that closes Manta Alley and Cannibal Rock for safety.

How do I get from Bali to Labuan Bajo?

Daily flights from Bali Denpasar (DPS) to Labuan Bajo (LBJ) on Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Wings Air and Citilink. Flight time 75 minutes, round-trip economy fares $90 to $180. We strongly recommend the morning Garuda flight (typically 06:30 from DPS) because afternoon flights are frequently delayed by Komodo’s afternoon thunderstorm pattern. Build a one-day buffer on each end. Excess baggage for dive gear is allowed by Garuda at 5 kg sports equipment supplement on top of the 20 kg standard at no extra fee.

Can I combine a Komodo trip with Bali or Raja Ampat?

Yes, most divers spend 2 to 3 days in Bali for arrival, jet-lag adjustment and surface intervals before flying to Labuan Bajo. Raja Ampat is a 4-hour flight from Bali (DPS to Sorong) and is best done as a separate 7 to 10 day trip rather than combined back-to-back with Komodo because the two parks have different optimal seasons. Some guests pair Komodo (April-October) with Raja Ampat (October-April) on different trips for maximum-quality conditions.

Have a Question Not Answered Here?

Email our reservation team at bd@juaraholding.com or WhatsApp +62 811 3941 4563 with your specific question and we will reply within 6 hours. For full tier and price comparison see our Komodo Diving Tour package page. For dive site detail see our guide to Komodo’s top 15 dive sites. For trip planning and visa logistics see Planning Your Komodo Diving Trip 2026.

Lock in your 2026 dive dates today. Email bd@juaraholding.com or WhatsApp +62 811 3941 4563 with your tier choice, dates, certification level and logged-dive count.

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