Sabolan Besar - Komodo

Target Reef, despite its rather grim namesake as a former military target, has developed into something quite unique. We’ve always found it a bit of an oddball, but in the best possible way. The reef itself is small, maybe 40 meters across, but it’s the large concrete structure that really grabs your attention – a block full of holes you can navigate through. It’s a proper swim-through, but do keep an eye out for scorpionfish, they blend in beautifully with the concrete. The artificial structures, those wide metal beams and concrete blocks, are now home to a surprising amount of life. We've seen Atlantic limpets clinging to the surfaces and kelp fish darting between the cracks. Visibility here can be a real challenge; four meters is about average, so be prepared for a more intimate dive. When the swell picks up, the currents can be quite lively too, so we’d suggest timing your dive for calmer days and slack tide. We've had some fantastic encounters with schools of red-eye here, their silver scales flashing in the murk. It's a site that rewards those who enjoy exploring man-made structures and have a keen eye for smaller, camouflaged critters.

Location
Komodo, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
-8.400900, 119.807500
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

Nearest Dive Centres to Sabolan Besar

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 Sabolan Besar

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