Dragons, Manta Rays and Conservation in Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park is known for two things: giant lizards and incredible drift dives. After spending a couple of weeks exploring both above and below, I was absolutely blown away by the region and made a vow to return as soon as possible! We've planned a trip back next year in July 2027 for an Underwater Photography and Conservation Liveaboard!

Drift Dive Galore

The diving at Komodo is truly unlike any other destination. Komodo sits between the islands of Flores and Sumbawa, where large volumes of water are pushed between narrow channels between the islands. Because of the tides and topography, the currents can change dramatically throughout a dive.

This is also one of the reasons that Komodo supports such an incredible abundance of marine life. The nutrient rich waters bring plankton and support huge schools of pelagic fish and manta rays. Naturally, Manta Point is a particular highlight, as well as sites such as Batu Bolong and the Cauldrons with the strong currents and reefs exploding with life.

Manta Rays: Image by Tiani Dun

While I was there, I had unfortunately broken my toe and was swimming along with one fin. This meant I missed out on some of the more advanced dives (and a lot of the fun)! Luckily, our local guide was very knowledgeable and took us to many sites where we could drift along stress-free with the gentle currents with so many fish it seemed like we were diving in an aquarium!

From Mantas to Dragons

I'd wanted to see the Komodo dragons ever since researching them for a science project in Grade 1. So we traded our fins for hiking shoes and trekked along the path to see the dragons on their natural habitat. While walking along in the heat, I could feel my inner little Tiani squeal as all her giant lizard-like dreams were about to come true.

Komodo Dragon by Tiani Dun

Komodo dragons can reach around three metres in length and are only found naturally here in Indonesia. We were lucky enough to encounter several of these prehistoric animals, along with wild deer, birds, bulls and pigs! Photographers, don't forget to pack your wildlife lenses, because photographing the land animals lazing in the sun makes the perfect dry-day activity!

Conservation in Komodo

Komodo National Park protects both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and there are a number of organisations working to make sure they remain healthy.

The Komodo Survival Program is an Indonesian non-profit dedicated specifically to the conservation of Komodo dragons and their habitat. Their work includes scientific research and population monitoring, training and education with local communities. They also collaborate directly with Komodo National Park and government authorities.

Underwater, Global Conservation has supported the improvements to ranger facilities, including a rapid sea patrol vessel and marine radar designed to help detect illegal vessels. Other conservation initiatives such as IndoOcean and the Coral Triangle Center work to protect and monitor the coral reefs.

The Coral Triangle Center works in the region through programs such as Green Fins, helping dive operators reduce their environmental impact and protect fragile coral reefs. For divers, conservation can be as simple as maintaining good buoyancy, avoiding contact with coral and making sure equipment doesn't drag across the reef. Small actions really do add up when thousands of divers visit these sites every year.

Manta fishing was banned in Komodo in 2013, followed by nationwide protection across Indonesia in 2014. Divers can also contribute to research through MantaMatcher, which uses the unique spot patterns on manta bellies to identify and track individual animals. So next time you photograph a manta, you can submit your image and potentially contribute to research on Komodo's manta populations.

Why It Matters

For me, Komodo is a perfect reminder that conservation is interconnected, and a lot can be achieved when we work together to protect something important. Our trip to Komodo wouldn't have been complete without meeting the park's most famous resident dragons and manta rays. Despite coming from different worlds, these two species rely on the protection of the same region for their survival.