Police Corner

Overview

Police Corner, which Divernet says is sometimes known as Police Point, lies on the southern tip of Siaba Besar in the centre of Komodo National Park. Divernet describes it as notable for its topography and challenging currents. PADI's site page also places it at the tip of Siaba Besar and says it is named after a nearby ranger post.

The reef

According to Divernet, strong currents have forced the corals to grow cropped tightly to the crevassed rocks of the reef. Divernet describes descending the wall to around 15 metres, where it gives way to the site's main feature: a large crack that continues down a further seven metres and is wide enough for one diver at a time. Dragon Dive Komodo highlights huge overhangs between 22 and 35 metres that shelter large schools of fish avoiding sharks, and iDIVE Komodo also names a huge overhang as the site's highlight.

Red Whale Dive Center describes steep walls, overhangs and colourful coral formations, and says the site is known for moray eels, reef sharks and large schools of reef fish. PADI's page lists whitetip and grey reef sharks, stingrays, bumphead parrotfish, moray eels, giant trevally, grouper and barracuda, with mantis shrimp, frogfish and nudibranchs in the cracks and crevices. Divernet suggests watching the blue for passing rays and sharks while keeping close to the reef.

Conditions and level

Divernet says the site is best between 15 and 35 metres and, being subject to strong currents, suits more advanced divers. iDIVE Komodo rates its difficulty as advanced, and PADI's page also calls it an advanced dive site. Accounts of the current differ: Red Whale Dive Center calls it a moderate current site, PADI's page describes medium-to-strong currents sweeping the point, and Divernet describes strong currents. Depth figures also vary: Red Whale Dive Center gives a maximum dive depth of 30 metres, PADI's page describes overhangs and ledges from around 8 metres to a maximum of 30 metres and beyond, and Divernet and Dragon Dive Komodo both mention 35 metres.