Tatawa Besar

Tatawa Besar is the gentle counterpoint to Komodo's more adrenaline-pumping dive sites, offering a beautiful, relaxed reef dive that showcases the national park's softer side. The site features a long, gradually sloping reef that descends from the shallows to about 20 metres, covered in some of the most vibrant and dense soft coral gardens in the park. Dendronephthya soft corals in brilliant pinks, purples, and oranges compete for space with leather corals, sponges, and healthy hard coral formations, creating an underwater garden that glows with colour even on overcast days. The gentle slope and mild currents make Tatawa Besar ideal for beginner divers and those who prefer a more relaxed pace, but the reef's beauty ensures that experienced divers and photographers are equally enchanted. Sea turtles are a highlight — both green and hawksbill turtles frequent the reef, often seen resting in coral alcoves or munching on sponges. The reef hosts a healthy population of resident reef fish, including sweetlips, butterflyfish, and angelfish. Eagle rays occasionally pass along the deeper edges, and reef sharks may cruise the blue during current changes. For photographers, the combination of colourful soft corals, excellent natural light in the shallows, and cooperative turtle subjects makes Tatawa Besar one of the most productive sites in Komodo for wide-angle reef photography. The site is easily accessible from Labuan Bajo and is often included as a first or last dive on Komodo day trips.

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