Castle Rock

Castle Rock is a prominent submerged pinnacle in northern Komodo National Park, with a castle-like summit lying about 4 to 5 m below the surface and steep walls descending to roughly 30 to 35 m. The summit and slopes support healthy hard corals, sponges and bommies, forming a thriving reef ecosystem. The site is renowned for large pelagic fish and frequent shark encounters, with schools of fusiliers, surgeonfish, butterflyfish, batfish and other predators drawn to the strong currents. Access is by boat only. Dives are advanced; typical entry is a negative (weighted, fins-up) entry with a quick descent into the blue to reach the pinnacle. Visibility is usually excellent, often 25 to 40 m, and water temperatures generally range from 25°C to 28°C. Currents are strong to very strong, especially near the surface, so divers must be skilled in drift diving, often use reef hooks to hold position on deeper ledges, and rely on careful timing by boat captains and guides to enter upstream and drop divers at depth. Typical routes descend on the current to the summit then follow the sloping sides to mid-depth plateaus around 15 to 25 m, with a drift back up to about 5 to 6 m for a safety stop.