Channel · Drift · Reef · Coral-garden

Komodo’s most famous adrenaline dive funnels tidal water through the narrow channel between the two Gili Lawa islands. The dive builds in acts: a sandy slope with garden eels, a plankton-rich “fish bowl” where mantas and devil rays feed, then the crater-like Cauldron itself before the current compresses through a shallow constriction and fires divers over the lip like a cork from a bottle — the Shotgun. Venturi-accelerated flow can hit 3–4 knots at peak. Whitetip and grey reef sharks, giant trevally and snapper schools ride the same conveyor, and a hard-coral garden eases the exit.
Typical current strength at this dive site
Powerful current. Advanced certification and drift dive experience required. Follow guide instructions.
Strength Scale
None
Mild
Moderate
Strong
Monthly conditions and seasonal highlights — tap a month
Peak diving season with optimal visibility, calm seas, and best marine life encounters.
10 species recorded at this site
Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
Pygmy Seahorse
Hippocampus bargibanti
Grey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
Reef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
Spotted Eagle Ray
Aetobatus narinari
Giant Trevally
Caranx ignobilis
Dogtooth Tuna
Gymnosarda unicolor
Devil Ray
Mobula spp.
Spotted Garden Eel
Heteroconger hassi
Be aware of these potential hazards at this dive site
Strong current
High3–4kt venturi acceleration through the constriction
Current
HighNarrow tidal window, wrong timing reverses the drift
Entanglement
MediumGear snag risk at speed
Boat traffic
MediumFast shallow exit into busy channel, SMB mandatory
Certification Required
A minimum of Advanced Open Water certification is required to dive this site.
Immersive panoramic view of this dive site
360° panorama coming soon
Immersive underwater views will be available when panoramic imagery is uploaded
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Vertical range at this site
Minimum Depth
16 ft
Shallowest point
Average Depth
66 ft
Typical dive depth
Maximum Depth
92 ft
Deepest point
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