Komodo: Siaba Besar Dive Site – Komodo National Park

Site Overview

Siaba Besar is one of the most unique and accessible dive sites in Komodo National Park, famous for its reliable encounters with juvenile blacktip reef sharks in the shallow nursery areas near the island. Located in the eastern section of the park, the site features a gentle coral and seagrass slope descending from 3 meters to approximately 20 meters, with the juvenile sharks patrolling the sandy shallows at 3 to 8 meters in surprising numbers. The shallow areas serve as a natural nursery where young blacktip reef sharks find shelter and food during their early years, creating one of the most reliable shark encounters in the park — and one that is completely safe, as the juvenile sharks are small and non-threatening. Beyond the shark nursery, the coral slope offers excellent diving with healthy hard and soft corals, hawksbill turtles feeding on the reef, blue-spotted stingrays gliding across the sand channels, and schools of sweetlips and fusiliers swirling in the gentle current. The mix of coral reef, seagrass beds, and sandy channels creates a diverse habitat that supports an impressive variety of marine life. The gentle conditions make Siaba Besar ideal for beginner divers and Open Water courses, and the site is also excellent for snorkelers who can observe the juvenile sharks from the surface. Siaba Besar is best dived from April through December and is accessible from Labuan Bajo by speedboat, often paired with Siaba Kecil for a two-dive experience.