Komodo: Mawan Dive Site – Komodo National Park

Site Overview

Mawan is a small, picturesque island in the southern section of Komodo National Park that offers one of the most relaxed and enjoyable diving experiences in the park. The island is surrounded by a gentle coral slope descending from 3 meters to approximately 20 meters, with healthy hard and soft corals covering the reef in all directions. The light current and shallow depth make Mawan one of the most accessible dive sites in Komodo, ideal for beginners, Open Water courses, and families with mixed diving and snorkeling groups. Despite the easy conditions, the marine life at Mawan is diverse and rewarding. Hawksbill turtles are regularly encountered feeding on the reef, blue-spotted stingrays glide across the sand channels, and clownfish inhabit the numerous anemones scattered across the coral slope. Macro photographers will find a wealth of subjects including nudibranchs, seagrass ghost pipefish, and a variety of shrimp and crabs in the crevices and overhangs. The seagrass beds between the coral patches provide a different habitat that supports specialized critters not found on the reef itself. The white sand beach surrounding the island provides a beautiful lunch spot between dives and excellent snorkeling opportunities. Mawan is best dived from April through December and is accessible from Labuan Bajo by speedboat. The site is often included in southern Komodo itineraries alongside Manta Alley and Pink Beach, providing a relaxing contrast to the more intense current-diving sites.