Crystal Rock

Named for water so clear the reef seems lit from within, Crystal Rock is a seamount whose dark tip barely breaks the surface at low tide, a short hop from its big sibling Castle Rock. Below, two peaks joined by a 20m saddle are carpeted in some of Komodo’s most vibrant orange and yellow soft corals. Grey reef and whitetip sharks patrol the up-current point — a whitetip “nursery” gathers around 17m — while giant trevally, Spanish mackerel and eagle rays sweep through clouds of anthias. Slightly more sheltered than Castle Rock, it still demands respect when the tide runs.