Komodo dive site SPOTLIGHT this week: Batu Bolong

A weekly blog about the most famous dive sites in Komodo reachable by day boat and liveaboard cruise.

We have had a closer look on what we could find on the internet regarding the dive sites in Komodo. Not much!
Therefore we will from now on try to have a weekly spotlight on one of the many favored dive sites of our day boat and Komodo liveaboard crew.
We will be covering the dive sites that are reachable by day trips as well as the more remote sites that are mainly in reach of Komodo liveaboard trips, the awesome overnight dive safaris that many dive centers have to offer.

So what could be our our first ever KOMODO DIVE SITE SPOTLIGHT of the week?
Of course, the notorious and often misunderstood “Batu Bolong”
Everybody wants to dive it but not everyone can?! Well this is partially correct, let us explain you the basics:

Name: Batu Bolong
Meaning of the name: Hole in a rock
Maximum depth: 30m+
Temperature: 27 to 29 Celsius
Current: Strong, but not where you dive (safe zone)
Famous for: Sharks, turtles, watching marine life playing and feeding in the down currents

You will get lost in down currents? The dive site is haunted? It is super hard to dive there? These are some rumors that we get to hear every now and then. But why? Yes, Batu Bolong is a sea-mount in the heart of the current affected waters of the Komodo national park. But how does it make this dive site so “special” and how can we dive it in a safe and enjoyable way?

Perfect timing is key!!!
You generally dive this site ONLY on strong falling or rising tide, the stronger the better as the current window is more predictable that these times.
As Batu Bolong is a tiny island in the middle of the Komodo channel, the currents on each side of the island can be pretty strong and form down currents. But that is NOT the place to dive at. You would always dive in the lee side of the current. If the current hits the island from the north, you would dive the southern slope. if the current hits the south you would dive the wall in the north. Diving close to tidal switch (slack tide) can be tricky as the currents can pick up pretty strong within a few minutes.

To assure a safe and still adventurous dive you would enter the dive site in the middle between the current edges (the safe zone) and dive straight down to your preferred depth, usually around 20 meters. Then you would slowly “zick zag” up the slope/wall swimming close to the edges where you can see the down currents just a few meters in front of you. This is usually where the sharks, GTs and Napoleos hunt and roam.
Sometimes they simply enjoy playing in the currents. Once you have reached the end, you turn around and swim all the way to the other side until you reach the current edge again…and so on and so on…

Sounds boring? It is surely not!
Sharks, turtles, reef fish, great macro, currents, pinnacles and a epic wall…these are just a few of the highlights of this amazing dive site here in Komodo.

There is probably nothing better than participating in a Batu Bolong sunrise dive off a Komodo liveabord. No other divers around, the fish just woke up and are full of energy, feeding frenzy and crystal clear water! Come and check it out :)

Please feel free to contact us for any further information on the dive sites of the Komodo national park or if you are looking for advice on day boat trips and Komodo liveaboard trips.

See you next week with another Komodo dive site SPOTLIGHT! What will it be? Manta Point, Tatawa, Siaba…we will see!

Cheers,

The Komodo Dive Center team