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World famous for good reason, this action-packed dive site gets its name from the castle-like peak of the seamount just below the water’s surface.
World famous for good reason, this action-packed dive site gets its name from the castle-like peak of the seamount just below the water’s surface. Castle Rock is in the north of Komodo National Park. It’s actually north of the main island (Komodo Island) and then about another 2km north of a smaller island called Gili Lawa Darat. Because of the far-out location the best way to see this site is defiantly by liveaboard.
And with this line up of sea life, you want to get in to see it before the crowds. The big attraction is the hunting sharks playing around in the current, and the typical species are White Tip and Black Tip Reef Sharks, as well as some huge Grey Reef Sharks. But the other hunters you will see on the site include BlueFin and Giant Trevallies getting stuck into the schools of Fusiliers.
You will also see Surgeonfish, Batfish, Napoleon Wrasse, swarms of Butterfly Fish, Scorpion Fish, Tuna, Barracuda, Groupers, Giant Jacks, Banner Fish, Spanish Mackerel, Unicorn Fish, Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, Octopus and Turtles. If you can take your eyes away from all this amazing big stuff for a while, then try scouring the Gorgonian Sea Fans for some tiny Pygmy Seahorses or check the rocks and coral for colourful Nudibranchs.
To dive this site, we want to drop in on the top of the pinnacle, which is about 4m below the surface. Depending on the current we may make this drop in around 30m up current from the pinnacle to hit it with the right timing. Being strong currents on the surface, it will be a negatively buoyant entry, so no air in your BCD, bankroll in and fin upside down straight in the water to hit the pinnacle and get out of the current.
The current is much stronger on the surface and in the shallow water then it is at a bit more depth. From here we go down the pinnacle to the 12m plateau and continue along here till we reach the current spilt point at the 23m reef ledge. This is where all the action is, so we reef hook on here for as long as our no deco bottom time will allow us to enjoy the Shark show. When our time is up, we unhook and we will raise our profile a bit and continue to explore along the sites amazing slopes and plateaus teeming with all sorts of fish and other sea creatures.
When its time to start thinking about ending the dive and heading for a safety stop, we head back up to the pinnacle again. We can reef hook onto this rocky spot to float at 5m and enjoy the show of hunting Trevallies one more time before heading back to the surface.
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Topography: Huge Submerged Seamount
Max Depth: 35 meters
Typical Current: Strong
Best For: Sharks hunting in the current on one of the best dive sites in Indonesia
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