Pantai Merah - Komodo

Pantai Merah, or Red Beach, always feels a bit like diving in a giant aquarium. It's just across from Komodo Village, right where the old dragon feeding station used to be. We usually drop in around the middle of the beach, where the sloping reef edge really starts to drop, hitting about 25 metres. The real appeal here is the colour, not just from the corals – those green branching cup corals are particularly vibrant – but from the sheer volume of small reef fish. You’ll see schools of yellow-striped cardinalfish, blackstripe coris, and sapphire demoiselles darting everywhere. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too; we often spot fringe-eye flatheads tucked into the sand and the comical eyelash harptail-blennies peeking from their holes. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a brownbanded bamboo shark hiding under a ledge. We love Pantai Merah for its calm conditions and consistent visibility, making it a solid choice for an easy afternoon dive, especially if you're keen on macro life and don't want to fight a strong current. It’s a great spot for photographers and anyone looking for a relaxed dive that still delivers plenty of action.

Location
Komodo, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
-8.600965, 119.526184

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Pantai Merah

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

Recommended Packing List for Pantai Merah

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