Ilike Liveaboard: Bali and Komodo, 9 nights

Your first day is just to settle you into your new living quarters. During your first night, you will be rocked to sleep while we travel to Moyo and Satonda Islands. We spend 2 days here, including an early morning search for Whale Sharks in Saleh Bay. Satonda island is formed by a volcanic eruption at a 1000meter depth, and has a saltwater lake in the middle. Diving around this island is fantastic to start discovering the amazing critters that can be found in this never-ending Archipelago.

Coming closer to the Komodo National Parc will make a stop on another volcanic island Sangeyang, that last erupted in 2015. There are still a few islanders remaining on this island. The diving is spectacular. There are fantastic black sandy slopes with amazing macro. Hot Rocks is a one-of-a-kind dive as tiny little bubbles emerge from the bottom and the rocks, giving the site a never seen before effect.

Entering Komodo National Park in the North, where the water temperature is usually still nice and warm from the Flores Sea. There is an abundance of fish on these underwater pinnacles, schooling surgeons, big eye jacks, snapper or barracudas and pelagic are a common sight. The diversity of sites is unbelievable here in Komodo. From underwater pinnacles to sloping sandy bottoms with manta cleaning stations to driving along a beautiful coral reef.

The further South we travel the water temperature will also drop. Nusa Kode is one of the favorites. Because the Indian Ocean brings lots of nutrients into this horseshoe-shaped bay, the corals are stunning. Not only in the rainbow of colors but also in the size. Fish live in abundance and creatures you may have never seen before in your life, may remind you of the monsters that live under your bed as a child. These nutrients also bring bigger pelagic fish, like the majestic manta rays. We can see them chasing each other or getting cleaned at the cleaning station. Also, there have been sightings of the elusive sunfish or Mola Mola.

Your trip is not complete without a meeting with the last living dinosaurs, the Komodo Dragons. You will get to chance to see them up close at the National Park. With a bit of luck, you will also see the macaque monkeys, some deer, wild pigs, and wild horses.