Pillarsteen - Komodo
Pillarsteen, or Pillar Rock as some call it, sits southeast of Padar Island, a bit of a journey but always worth it. We love this site for its sheer drama, especially when the current is up. Our favourite approach is to drop at the southern pinnacle and let the water push us west. It’s a exhilarating drift, with the surge pulling you along, past walls painted in dense yellows, greens, and oranges. You’ll want to keep an eye on the deeper water to the south, where we’ve found midnight snappers lurking and even some huge boxfish. The caves and chimneys down there are a proper adventure, but mind the current; it can be a beast. What really makes Pillarsteen special, though, is the sheer variety of smaller stuff. We’ve spotted flasher-wrasses doing their display dances, and countless combtooth-blennies peeking from their holes. It’s a site that demands attention, perfect for experienced divers who appreciate a lively, current-swept reef and aren't afraid of a bit of a ride.
- Location
- Komodo, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- -8.694626, 119.567600
Marine Protected Area: Parc national de 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 Pillarsteen
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 Pillarsteen
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