Learning to dive in Komodo means starting at the very top: your training dives will be on some of the richest reefs on the planet. The PADI Open Water Diver course gives you the international certification to dive to 18 metres with a buddy anywhere in the world.
How the course works
- Online theory (eLearning) before you arrive or at the Labuan Bajo center.
- Practice in confined or shallow water.
- Four open-water dives at sheltered sites in the park.
- Marine life: turtles, Napoleon wrasse, rays, nudibranchs and perhaps mantas.
Who it is for
Anyone aged 10 or over who can swim and is reasonably fit. You fill in a medical questionnaire and, if you answer yes to any question, a doctor’s approval is needed. Komodo has strong-current areas: during the course only calm sites are used.
What to bring
- Swimwear, towel and reef-safe sunscreen.
- Prescription glasses if you use them.
- Cash for the daily park fees.
Best time to go
April to November, with calmer seas and good visibility. Plan not to fly on the day of your last dive. When you finish, you receive your digital PADI certification and can keep diving Komodo on day trips or a liveaboard.
Included
- PADI instructor
- 4 open-water dives and practice sessions
- Full equipment and boat
- Lunch on board on sea days
- PADI certification
FAQs
How many days does it take?
Between 3 and 4 days depending on pace and whether you do the theory online first.
Are park fees included?
Not in the base fare; they are charged per dive day and can be added.
Is it dangerous to learn in Komodo?
No, the course uses sheltered sites without strong current.
