About This Place
Castle Rock is a fully submerged seamount in the open water north of Komodo Island. Its summit rises to roughly 4–7 metres below the surface, while the surrounding bottom drops beyond normal recreational depth. The rock interrupts the tidal flow through northern Komodo and concentrates schooling fish around its current-facing side.
On a well-timed dive, fusiliers stream over the pinnacle while giant and bigeye trevally, dogtooth tuna and reef sharks work the edge of the school. The reef itself supports hard and soft coral, anthias, surgeonfish and smaller subjects, but Castle Rock is chiefly valued for the scale and speed of its blue-water action.
This is an exposed, current-dependent site. The exact entry, descent line and protected side change with the tide, so a local guide must check the water immediately before entry. Castle Rock belongs on an experienced diver's north-Komodo itinerary, not on a fixed promise made days in advance.
At a Glance
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Also known asCastle Rock Komodo, Batu Bintang
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TypeDive Site
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Inside Komodo National ParkYes
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How to get thereLiveaboard, Speedboat Day Trip
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Travel time from Labuan BajoAbout 2-3 hours from Labuan Bajo by liveaboard; faster by dive speedboat
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LandingMooring / dinghy
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Last checked2026-09-12
What to Expect
The standard profile starts with a negative or prompt descent to the current-facing shoulder of the seamount. Divers normally settle behind rock or reef structure rather than fighting the flow in open water. The busiest fish action often sits where moving water first meets the pinnacle.
Large schools of fusiliers and trevally can fill the water column. Grey reef and whitetip reef sharks, tuna, barracuda, Napoleon wrasse, turtles and eagle rays are all recorded in northern Komodo, but no animal is guaranteed on one dive. The lee side provides a calmer route for the middle and end of the dive.
Typical recreational profiles use about 16–30 metres, with a safety stop completed in blue water or over the shallowest reef that conditions allow.
Crowds and Timing
Castle Rock has no beach or visitor platform, so crowding means several dive tenders arriving for the same short tidal window. Good operators sequence entries and keep groups separated. If too many boats are on the site, a later tide or nearby Crystal Rock is preferable to stacking divers on one descent line.
Dive and Snorkel Profile
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Depth range5-30 m
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CurrentExpert only
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Dive typePinnacle, Drift
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Visibility15-30 m
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CertificationAdvanced + drift experience
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EntryNegative entry, Backroll
How to Visit
Visit with a licensed Komodo dive operator that knows northern tide planning. Day boats can reach the area from Labuan Bajo, while liveaboards can wait closer to Gili Lawa and choose a more precise window. The skipper and guide decide the final entry only after a surface current check; an itinerary mention is never a guarantee that conditions will permit the dive.
Boats That Sail Here
Compare 12 bookable boats that include Castle Rock on published itineraries.
Who This Suits
Best for Advanced divers who are comfortable with negative entries, rapid descents, strong current, blue-water safety stops and disciplined group positioning. It is a poor first drift dive. Snorkeling is not treated as a substitute because the summit is submerged and surface flow can be fast.
What to Bring
- Advanced certification card and recent logged-dive details
- Dive computer and delayed surface marker buoy
- Reef hook only if the operator permits it, used on bare rock
- Streamlined camera rig with a secure lanyard
- Exposure protection suitable for 25–28°C water
Safety Notes
Castle Rock can produce strong lateral flow, turbulence and separation risk. Carry a delayed surface marker buoy, keep a computer on every diver, stay close to the guide and agree on lost-buddy and pickup procedures before entry.
Do not hook into living coral. A guide may change the route, delay the dive or cancel it after checking the tide; that is sound site management. Divers who cannot descend promptly or hold position without damaging the reef should use a more sheltered site.
Photography Notes
Wide-angle suits the schooling fish and open-water scale. Set exposure before entry, use a fast shutter for trevally and sharks, and keep strobes tucked in during a negative descent. Macro subjects exist on the reef, but changing lenses for them can miss what makes Castle Rock distinctive. Never leave the group or cross into the current for a photograph.
Entrance Fee
This site is inside Komodo National Park. Statutory park, activity and vessel charges may apply and can be separate from the operator fare. Ask the operator to itemise the current charges before payment; conditions and permitted activities are confirmed through the park and operator process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep is Castle Rock?
The summit is usually reported around 4–7 metres below the surface. Recreational dives commonly work between about 16 and 30 metres, while the surrounding seafloor continues deeper.
How strong is the current?
It can be very strong and may change direction or intensity with the tide. The guide must check the site immediately before entry and may wait, move the entry point or cancel.
What certification is appropriate?
Advanced certification plus real experience in current and negative entries is the practical minimum. A certification card alone does not replace recent, controlled drift-diving experience.
What marine life is common?
Schooling fusiliers and trevally are signatures. Reef sharks, tuna, barracuda, Napoleon wrasse, turtles and eagle rays are possible, but wildlife varies by tide and day.
Can beginners dive Castle Rock?
It is normally unsuitable for beginners. Northern Komodo has calmer reefs where a guide can assess skills before considering a more exposed dive.
When is Castle Rock usually included?
It is most often included on north-Komodo dive days and liveaboard routes during suitable sea and tide conditions, commonly in the drier part of the year.
Can I snorkel at Castle Rock?
It is not a routine snorkeling site. The rock is submerged and surface current can be fast, leaving little protected water for a normal snorkel session.
Are park charges included in a dive trip?
That depends on the operator. Ask for boat, diving and statutory park charges to be itemised before payment because they may be collected separately.
What the Park Costs
| What you pay | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Park entrance, foreign visitor | Rp 250,000 ≈ $14 | per person, per day The statutory Class I entrance rate. The 150% holiday rule applies to Indonesian visitor and student rates, not this foreign visitor rate. |
| Park entrance, Indonesian visitor, normal day | Rp 50,000 ≈ $3 | per person, per day The normal-day Class I entrance rate. |
| Park entrance, Indonesian visitor, holiday or collective leave | Rp 75,000 ≈ $4 | per person, per day 150% of the normal Indonesian visitor rate on the dates covered by the statutory holiday rule. |
| Indonesian student group, normal day | Rp 25,000 ≈ $1 | per person, per day For Indonesian student groups of at least five people. |
| Indonesian student group, holiday or collective leave | Rp 37,500 ≈ $2 | per person, per day 150% of the normal student-group rate; the minimum group size remains five. |
| Scuba diving activity | Rp 25,000 ≈ $1 | per diver, per day A separate activity charge in addition to the applicable entrance fee. |
| Motorised vessel entry | Rp 100,000–200,000 per boat, per day | Rp 100,000 for 40–100 HP, Rp 150,000 for 101–500 HP, and Rp 200,000 above 500 HP. |
| Drone use | Rp 2,000,000 ≈ $112 | per unit, per day A separate special-use charge. Complete the required SiOra/SIMAKSI process before travel. |
- SiOra is the park’s e-ticketing and SIMAKSI system. Reserve before travel; Ministry guidance recommends completing the reservation by H-1. An operator can assist, and self-service is available at the Komodo Visitor Center and KP3 terminal.
- Payment is cashless through the methods available in SiOra, including BRIVA or bank transfer and supported e-wallets. Keep the e-ticket and ensure the traveller details are correct.
- A 1,000-visitor daily quota has applied since 1 April 2026 to the main visitor islands and 23 dive sites. Availability therefore depends on the travel date and registered itinerary.
- The final SiOra total can include entrance, activity, vessel and special-use charges. Ask the handling operator for an itemised total before issuance.
- Official public guidance does not state one universal refund or rescheduling rule for every reservation. Confirm the current SiOra terms in writing before the ticket is issued, including treatment of weather disruption.
Statutory fees under Peraturan Pemerintah No. 36 Tahun 2024, in force since 30 October 2024. Verified 31 August 2026 against the official PP 36/2024 schedule, the Ministry of Forestry SiOra notice and the Ministry’s 2026 quota notice. Amounts are payable in rupiah; dollar figures are courtesy estimates converted at Rp 17,900 and rounded.
Marine Life
Activities
Cruise Areas
Location
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Castle Rock, northern Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
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