Liveaboard Diving in Crystal Rock

What To Expect On A Crystal Rock Liveaboard

Crystal Rock is renown as one of the finest dive sites in Komodo National Park close to Flores Island, making it a very popular site for diving liveaboards in Indonesia. The site is to the North of the island of Gili Lawa Laut, one of the small islets that sit at this end of Komodo Island. The area is full of beautiful sweeping bays with crystal clear water and green sloping hills. These islands are volcanic like most of Komodo and the underwater topography consists of volcanic rocks and some jet black sand.

Crystal Rock is one of many underwater sea mounts that can be found scattered around the island’s coast. These sea mounts are ideal for diving with a wide array of life and the topography is beautiful. The Crystal Rock sea mount is covered in hard and soft corals, with a host of critters living inside them. The change of the depth of the sea around the islands, mean that the currents across the sea mount can be very strong.

It is very important to stay close to the guide on this site and this isn’t really a dive for beginners. The payoff is well worth it though, the visibility can be spectacular sometimes more than 30 meters and the wildlife on show across the reef is simply stunning.

What You Can See

Numerous Komodo liveaboards that visit Crystal Rock are available and there is something for all kinds of divers here. The top of the sea mount is caked with hard and soft corals which are full to the brim with morays, lionfish and hundreds of tiny critters.  Huge shoals of trevally and snappers can be found all over, as well as some octopi and cuttlefish. Up above the reef and over the side in the blue there are curious batfish that might pop in to check divers out. Turtles can also be spotted feeding over the reef, the most common turtles found here are hawksbills.

Crystal Rock is also well known as a site for shark diving so you have a good chance of diving with several different kinds here. If you keep an eye out, you might also spot the tails of white tipped reef sharks sticking out of small caves. They can also be seen on the sand and swimming about on the reef, along with blacktips, grey reef sharks and giant napoleon wrasse.

Getting to Crystal Rock

The northern tip of Komodo Island where Crystal Rock is, can be accessed from various ports of departure. By far the best way to visit Komodo and Crystal Rock is on board a diving liveaboard. Komodo liveaboards can spend a few days in Gili Lawa Laut and the surrounding islands the stunning bays make for a beautiful and relaxing stay.

There are various types of diving Indonesian liveaboards available, to suit the different needs and budgets of divers who want to explore Komodo. There are luxurious motor vessels, these are custom designed for diving and a very comfortable stay on board. The most popular liveaboards for dive cruises in this area though, are traditional Indonesian sailing vessels. These beautiful luxurious boats are one of the most relaxed and enjoyable ways to visit Crystal Rock.

Most diving liveaboards depart from Labuan Bajo on Flores island. There are also a number of diving liveaboards that depart from Bali which often disembark in Flores at Labuan Bajo. Getting to Bali is fairly easy, Bali Airport offers flight from many international destinations and connecting flights to Labuan Bajo.


Crystal Rock Diving Reviews

  • 9.2 Superb
  • 70 Verified Reviews
  • 6.8 Review score
  • Phil M
  • United States United States

Supposed to have no current according to the guides but it had the worst current of the trip. We crossed the channel where there was less current and very colorful beautiful soft coral. One of the most colorful and beautiful dive sites.

Diving Crystal Rock in August on the Mermaid II

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • john C
  • United States United States

The diving in the Crystal Rock was one of a kind.

Diving Crystal Rock in July on the MV Samambaia

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Zack K
  • United States United States

Great, one of the best spots in Komodo.

Diving Crystal Rock in August on the Empress II

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Benjamin K
  • United States United States

excellent; so many coral and animal life! unbelievable clarity; decent number of reef sharks

Diving Crystal Rock in May on the Lady Denok

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Nick K
  • United States United States

Crystal Rock was a nice dive site

Diving Crystal Rock in June on the Empress II

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Fred G
  • United States United States

We dove during falling current which made the dive exciting and full of life.

Diving Crystal Rock in May on the Mermaid II

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Phillip M
  • United States United States

Healthy reef life and beautiful biodiversity

Diving Crystal Rock in June on the Mermaid II

  • 8.0 Very good
  • David G
  • United States United States

Lots of fish life, whitetip reef sharks, trevally, eagle rays and more

Diving Crystal Rock in July on the Mermaid II

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Martin B
  • United States United States

Good. It's a tough site, but well worth it

Diving Crystal Rock in August on the Empress II

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Matthew M
  • United States United States

We did two dives here. The first featured an incredibly "soup" of fish schools, and the second stronger currents that brought pelagics in.

Diving Crystal Rock in August on the Emperor Raja Laut

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Peter C
  • United States United States

So many fish. Schooling fish, hunting GTs

Diving Crystal Rock in October on the Cajoma IV

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Grant G
  • United States United States

My favorite! We hooked in and saw tons of sharks!

Diving Crystal Rock in October on the Sea Safari VII

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Andrew L
  • United States United States

One of the most fun dives of the trip. Drift dive with lots to see on the way and ends at a beautiful coral garden.

Diving Crystal Rock in November on the Komodo Sea Dragon

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Virginia M
  • Argentina Argentina

this one was the best diving site in the whole cruise

Diving Crystal Rock in June on the Cheng Ho Liveaboard

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Michael R
  • Canada Canada

Dive log says "very nice dive"

Diving Crystal Rock in July on the Mermaid I

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Nana Fie S
  • Denmark Denmark

One of the best dive sites!

Diving Crystal Rock in June on the Empress II

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Rula A
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Absolute magic. It is God's own garden!

Diving Crystal Rock in June on the Mermaid I

  • 7.2 Good
  • Aymeric L
  • France France

one of the best diving spot

Diving Crystal Rock in August on the Empress II

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Ngung Chia S
  • Singapore Singapore

Excellent - plenty of marine life diversity

Diving Crystal Rock in August on the Empress II

  • 6.4 Review score
  • Chuen Chu C
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong

Very good viz. Amazing dive

Diving Crystal Rock in September on the Empress II

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Michael R
  • Germany Germany

Perfect we did this dive twice. On the second dive we had a school of about 200 pacific Cow Nose Rays. Also we saw crocodile fish.

Diving Crystal Rock in September on the Mari

  • 7.2 Good
  • Lesley B
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

This was one of the best dives of the trip, which didn't suit one of the Poles as it had no currents! Very beautiful dive with fan corals, pygmy seahorses, and shoals of snapper, fusiliers, sweetlips, and an eagle ray.

Diving Crystal Rock in September on the Empress II

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Serene G
  • Singapore Singapore

Pristine water and we managed to see a shark!

Diving Crystal Rock in July on the Empress II

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Mei R
  • Australia Australia

Beautiful - so many large schools of fish

Diving Crystal Rock in July on the Cajoma IV

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Anja S
  • Germany Germany

Challenging because of the currents. Very good.

Diving Crystal Rock in August on the Emperor Raja Laut

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • peter G
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

The best site! Lots of sharks all the way down to mqcro life

Diving Crystal Rock in October on the Lalunia

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Olga S
  • Netherlands Netherlands

Just exciting as we did not yet had experienced drift dives but with the help of our dive guide (Alex) we have overcome our fear for currents !

Diving Crystal Rock in May on the Cajoma IV

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Lukas B
  • Switzerland Switzerland

Great with a lot of sharks!

Diving Crystal Rock in July on the Busy Girl

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Shizuku S
  • Japan Japan

The current is annoying but once you get through it, a beautiful heaven awaits.

Diving Crystal Rock in July on the Dragon Dive Komodo

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Roland W
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Excellent pinnacle dive, with good vis and lots of life.

Diving Crystal Rock in July on the Jaya

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Jenny T
  • Canada Canada

Amazing feeding frenzy to watch!

Diving Crystal Rock in September on the Akomo Isseki

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Lau Y
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong

Extremely strong current can’t break through but it worth’s a try! Like a taste of current!

Diving Crystal Rock in September on the Ratu Pelangi

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Carolina I
  • Italy Italy

strong current but really fun and a lot to see

Diving Crystal Rock in November on the Komodo Shalom

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Chit Her C
  • Malaysia Malaysia

One of the best site, and a pinnacle dive site.. strong current, good amount of marine life and healthy corals

Diving Crystal Rock in November on the Komodo Shalom

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Jonathan S
  • South Africa South Africa

Incredible amount of sea life

Diving Crystal Rock in June on the Mermaid I

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Jose A
  • Spain Spain

Fantastic, got to see white tip reef sharks

Diving Crystal Rock in July on the Nusantara

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Lee R
  • Australia Australia

Difficult variable current on the day resulted in early surface.

Diving Crystal Rock in July on the Indo Aggressor

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Christian S
  • Netherlands Netherlands

There was a lot of current so we only did leeward side, but the reef was amazing

Diving Crystal Rock in August on the Nusantara


Origin: US