Golden Passage Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Site Overview
Dive Centres
Site Type: Drift dive
Depth: Top: 5M Median: 15M Bottom: 20M
Location: The channel between Gili Lawa Darat and Komodo Island

This dive site is the channel between Gili Lawa Darat and Komodo Island. Also known as Darat Passage, not sure if the golden refers to school of sweetlips or the golden sandy bottom where garden eels sway in the steady currents. It’s best done as a drift dive in rising tide when the current pushes from east to west.

The dive then starts in the shallow eastern bay and the current takes you westwards through a beautiful coral garden.

Gorgonian Seawhip diving Golden Passage at Komodo National Park Indonesia Credit Moana

You cross the channel at about 20m surrounded by diverse landscapes.

No fining required diving Golden Passage at Komodo National Park Indonesia Credit Moana

On the way you’ll probably see sweetlips, trevally, turtles and black and white tipped reef sharks. But also have a look in the nooks and crannies – you never know what you might see.

Leaf scorpionfish diving Golden Passage at Komodo National Park Indonesia Credit Moana

The dive ends at the opposite side of the channel where divers can enjoy the bright corals during the safety stop like many other sites when diving Komodo.

Turtle on the reef diving Golden Passage at Komodo National Park Indonesia Credit Moana
Turtle on the reef diving Golden Passage at Komodo National Park Indonesia Credit Moana 4669

Images courtesy of Moana Cruising.