Tatawa Besar – A Drift Diver’s Paradise in Komodo

Tatawa Besar – Dive Site of the Month

Tatawa Besar means ‘big laugh’ in bahasa Indonesian and is one of Komodo National Park’s most picturesque dive sites. Known for its vibrant coral gardens, thriving marine life, and relaxed drift dives Tatawa Besar offers an unforgettable underwater experience suitable for all levels of divers

1. Location & Overview

Tatawa Besar is located in the central area of Komodo National Park, north east of Komodo Island. The island is dived on the north easterly side which faces the open ocean so there is always the chance to see something special gliding past in the blue!

Tatawa Besar is one of the two ‘Tatawa’ islands in the area with the other smaller island being called Tatawa Kecil or ‘little laugh!!’ The island itself is a beautiful mix of arid rocky mass, white sand beaches and healthy mangroves.

This site is perfect for divers looking to combine vibrant coral scenery with the thrill of drifting alongside marine life, all with relatively minimal effort.

2. Topography & Depth

The dive site features a sloping coral reef that transitions into sandy patches and bommies. The shallow top reef in front of the white sandy beach is about 4-5 metres and this is often where our dive boat will drop us to start the dive. The top reef plateaus out from the island and then gently slopes to a depth of 35-40 meters.

In good visibility it is possible to see where the bottom spans out away from the sloping reef.

Hard corals dominate the topography, with expansive fields of table corals, soft corals, sponges, and sea fans.

The expanse of the shallow top reef and usually excellent visibility also makes this an excellent site for snorkeling.

3. Currents & Dive Strategy

Currents are a key feature of Tatawa Besar and can range from mild to strong. Most dives here are drift dives, but it is often considered one of the more relaxing drifts in the National Park. Although that doesn’t mean it still isn’t speedy at times!

We dive Tatawa Besar on a falling tide with the reef on our right shoulder. We drop north westerly tip and head in a south easterly direction. There can be parts of the reef where we experience some up & down current due to the changing topography but this can easily be countered for through changes in body and fin position.

Tips to Stay Safe:

• Listen closely to your dive site briefing – the guide will talk about the currents and what to expect.
• Stay behind your guide at all times.
• Stay at the same level as your dive guides (currents can do diffferent things at different depths because of the topography)
• Stay close to your guide.
• Stay close to the reef.
• Follow any instructions your guide gives you underwater.
• Maintain neutral buoyancy, watch where your fins are, try not to touch the reef

4. Marine Life & Biodiversity

Tatawa Besar is rich in marine biodiversity and part of the Coral Triangle. The dive site is especially famous for the colourful corals including table top corals, giant sponges, fields of staghorn coral.

• Large pelagics:
  • Reef sharks – White Tip & Black Tip Reef Sharks. Be sure to check under the table top corals for resting / baby white tips.
  • Mantas – There is a manta cleaning station near the start point of the dive at 3-4 metres as well as some deeper points long the reef
  • Eagle Rays – gliding by in the deeper blue!
• Turtles:
  • Hawksbill
  • Green
• Reef fish and macro life:
  • Schools of fusiliers
  • Schools of red tooth triggerfish
  • Anthias
  • Snappers
  • Butterflyfish
  • Emperor fish
  • Octopus
  • Frogfish – Check the sponges that branch out from the reef
• The Rare Something Special:
  • Dolphins

5. Ideal Conditions & Timing

Best season: April to November – The dry season provides the calmest conditions and best visibility.

Visibility: 15–30 metres. Especially good during the dry season (June to September).

Water temperature: 26 – 29°C

Final Thoughts

Tatawa Besar offers a scenic and colourful experience that will excite experienced divers, but is a little more relaxed for newer divers seeking there first drift experience. Whether you’re watching turtles cruise by, flying past vibrant coral gardens, or enjoying the sheer beauty of Komodo’s underwater landscapes, Tatawa Besar is a site you’ll want to revisit again & again! And remember always keep your eyes in the blue for ‘that something special’

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