Manta Point - Komodo
Patriot Reef. What a spot. We love it because it’s exactly what you picture when you think of a Fijian soft coral dive, but with a real sense of place. The highlight, for us, is that big swim-through. It starts shallow, maybe two metres down, and then just opens up, dropping you onto a sandy bottom at about 18 metres. The walls inside? Absolutely covered in yellow soft corals. They sway gently, almost glowing, as you fin through. You’ll definitely feel the current here, especially on an incoming tide, which is the prime time to dive it. When you emerge, you’re often greeted by schools of Ambon Pullers and Deep Reef Chromis. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too. Bicolor Blennies are common, as are Moorea Pygmygobies if you look closely at the sand. We’ve seen Spotted Pufferfish tucked into crevices and once, a Big-spot Angler just sitting out on a coral head. The reef top is fantastic for snorkelling, honestly some of the healthiest Staghorn and Brain Root corals you’ll see in the shallows, with plenty of Saddleback Butterflyfish flitting about. Patriot Reef is perfect for divers who appreciate vibrant soft corals and aren’t afraid of a bit of a push from the current.
- Location
- Komodo, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- -8.555100, 119.581200
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Komodo
Best Time to Dive in Komodo
The warmest water temperatures in Komodo occur in November, averaging 30.3°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 27.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.2°C
- February: 28.9°C
- March: 29.4°C
- April: 29.7°C
- May: 29.4°C
- June: 28.9°C
- July: 28.1°C
- August: 27.9°C
- September: 28.2°C
- October: 29.2°C
- November: 30.3°C
- December: 30.2°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Komodo
- 3 Sisters
- Amelia (reef)
- ARDADELDALI - 0m (wreck)
- Bahuluang Wall (reef)
- Batu Bolong
- Batu Bolong Dive Site
- Batu Bolong Komodo (reef)
- Batu Bolong Komodo (reef)
- Batu Tiga (drift)
- Batu Tiga (reef)
- Batu Tiga Dive Site
- Bhayangkara (reef)
- Bhayangkara
- Bidadari (reef)
- Bidadari (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Manta Point
Marine Life in Komodo
Home to 220 recorded species including 95 reef fish, 92 hard corals, 13 seagrass & algae, 5 sharks & rays, 4 sea cucumbers, 3 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) - Reef Fish
- chocolate chip sea star (Protoreaster nodosus) - Starfish
- Pinkfish (Holothuria edulis) - Sea Cucumbers
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Common Mushroom Coral (Fungia fungites) - Hard Corals
- Bowl coral (Halomitra pileus) - Hard Corals
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Fluted clam (Tridacna squamosa) - Clams & Mussels
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Feather Coral (Polyphyllia talpina) - Hard Corals
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
Recommended Packing List for Manta Point
Based on average water temperature of 29.1°C, currents 5 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories