Flores: Labuan Bajo Area – Pede Dive Site – Flores Island

Site Overview

Pede is a sheltered reef site located approximately 15 minutes by speedboat from Labuan Bajo on the western tip of Flores Island, offering diverse coral formations and abundant reef fish in a beginner-friendly setting. The site features a gradual coral slope descending from 3 meters to approximately 25 meters, with a mix of hard and soft coral gardens, small wall sections, and sandy patches. The shallower sections at 3 to 8 meters are covered in staghorn, plate, and brain corals, providing habitat for damselfish, anthias, and juvenile reef fish. The slope at 8 to 16 meters features larger coral formations, barrel sponges, and sea fans that attract schools of fusiliers, snapper, and sweetlips. Moray eels, lionfish, and scorpionfish are common in the crevices. The deeper sections at 16 to 25 meters have scattered bommies on sandy substrate where blue-spotted stingrays, garden eels, and occasional whitetip reef sharks patrol. Hawksbill and green turtles are regular visitors to the reef throughout the dive. Pede is best dived from April through December when the dry season provides optimal visibility. The site is popular with dive centers in Labuan Bajo for both morning and afternoon trips, and its varied topography offers interest for all certification levels. Pede is also suitable for night diving, when nocturnal species such as Spanish dancers, hunting moray eels, and sleeping turtles can be observed under torch light. The site's proximity to Labuan Bajo makes it an excellent choice when time is limited or as a warm-up dive before heading further afield.