About Banana Split
The Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Indonesia, is renowned for its extraordinary marine biodiversity. It is situated between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores, offering a diverse underwater environment that attracts experienced divers from around the globe. This region, accessible primarily from Labuan Bajo on Flores Island, features dramatic landscapes both above and below the surface, including rugged volcanic hills and vibrant coral ecosystems. Diving in Komodo often involves navigating strong currents across spectacular seascapes. Divers can expect to encounter vertical walls, expansive coral gardens, and the occasional active underwater volcano. The topography supports a rich variety of marine life, making each dive a dynamic experience. Sites often feature depth bands suitable for advanced exploration, requiring careful planning. The park is home to an impressive array of species, with over 3,000 types of fish and 600 coral species recorded. Encounters with pelagic life such as majestic manta rays, elusive sharks, and schools of barracuda are common. Green turtles are also frequently sighted across the park's vibrant reefs. While specific seasonality for all species varies, the area is consistently productive. Liveaboard expeditions are a popular way to explore Komodo, often including over 20 dives during a week-long trip. These dives frequently involve exhilarating drift conditions, necessitating advanced diving skills. The typical entry and exit strategies are adapted to the strong currents, often involving negative entries or reef hooks for positioning. This environment is best suited for advanced and experienced divers comfortable with challenging conditions.
Highlights
Season calendar
Mar – May & Sep – Nov (Mar–May, Sep–Nov)
Best overall conditions with comfortable temperatures. Southern mantas Apr–Jun, northern mantas Sep–Nov. Good visibility and manageable currents.
Dec – Feb (Dec–Feb)
Excellent visibility up to 30m. Warmer water temperatures. Good manta activity in transition. Busiest tourist period.
Jun – Aug (Jun–Aug)
Cooler water from upwellings (24–26°C) brings nutrient-rich plankton. Reduced visibility but exciting pelagic action. Fewer boats and lower prices.
Dive site facts: Banana Split
- Depth
- 0–30 m
- Current
- Moderate
- Entry
- Liveaboard only
- Level
- Advanced
- Dive type
- Channel, Reef
- Region / port
- Komodo, Indonesia
- Coordinates
- 8.4750° S, 119.4821° E
Conditions & Currents
Diving in Komodo National Park is characterized by strong currents, often leading to exhilarating drift dives that require advanced techniques and experience. The currents can be powerful and unpredictable, making careful dive planning essential. Liveaboards and dive operators typically schedule dives around tidal conditions to maximize safety and enjoyment, frequently utilizing slack or incoming tides for certain sites. Entry and exit procedures are tailored to these conditions, often involving negative entries to quickly descend below the strongest surface currents, and the use of reef hooks to maintain position and observe marine life without constantly finning. Surge can be present, particularly near reefs and in shallower areas, adding to the dynamic environment. Visibility is generally good but can fluctuate with the tides and current movements, though Komodo is known for its clear waters. Thermoclines are generally not a dominant feature, with water temperatures remaining warm. Due to these challenging conditions, divers should be certified as Advanced or equivalent and possess a high level of comfort and skill in strong currents.
Why dive Banana Split from a liveaboard?
Banana Split is one of Komodo, Indonesia's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.
Below are the liveaboards that include Banana Split on their Komodo, Indonesia itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Banana Split
These liveaboards may visit Banana Split on selected itineraries, the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Panunee
Indonesia

Naga Biru
Indonesia

Ecopro Duyung Baru
Indonesia

Wellenreng
Indonesia

Komodo Aggressor
Komodo, Indonesia

Blue Manta
Indonesia

Mari
Indonesia

Situju7
Komodo, Indonesia

Pindito
Indonesia

Mermaid II
Komodo, Indonesia

Putri Naga
Komodo, Indonesia

Mikumba Dua
Indonesia
Dive sites similar to Banana Split
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- Suitable for
- Beginner
- Current
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- Access
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- Depth
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Adonara Channel
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Adonara Channel stands as one of Alor's most iconic dive sites, celebrated for its dynamic currents and exceptionally rich biodiversity.
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Adonara Wall
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Adonara is an Indonesian island dive site, renowned for its vibrant underwater topography characterized by submerged seamounts.
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Agnay Fish Sanctuary
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Agnay Fish Sanctuary is nestled in a sheltered bay near the village of Agnay in Romblon, a province celebrated for its rich marine biodiversity.
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Ai Island Reef
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Ai Island Reef, nestled within the Banda Sea, offers a remarkable diving experience characterized by its rich marine biodiversity and varied underwater topography.
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Akitsushima
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The Akitsushima is a distinguished World War II Japanese seaplane tender, sunk in September 1944 during an American air raid in Coron Bay, Palawan.
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