The island of Komodo is home to the famous Komodo dragon ---- the world's largest monitor lizard, whose carnivorous reputation has spun tales of terror for centuries. Ancient mariners' maps documented their existence by penning the words "here be dragons" on the islands that are now known as Indonesia, but it was not until the early 1900s that scientists confirmed their existence. The dragons only inhabit the island of Komodo and a few nearby islands. They are formidable predators, feeding mainly on the wildlife (particularly the Timor deer) that share the dragon's territory, but they have been responsible for many human deaths as well. A visit to the island reveals that the locals build their houses on stilts to protect themselves from unexpected visitors.
But these incredible animals are not the only big draw to this area of the world. The diving is just as spectacular, and the best way to experience it is from the Peter Hughes Komodo Dancer, a 100-foot, traditionally crafted, two-masted wooden motor sailor. Seven- or 11-night trips through the Lesser Sunda Islands depart from Bali and venture as far east as Komodo, where you can dive the islands of Satonda, Sangeang and Banta along the way to sites within the Komodo National Park. The park was originally established in 1980, primarily to protect the dragon, but over the years, the park has expanded to protect not only its terrestrial turf, but its underwater environs as well. In 1986, UNESCO declared the park a World Heritage Site. More than 1,000 species of fish inhabit its waters along with 260 species of coral and 70 species of sponges. Big animals such as mantas, sharks, whales, dolphins, sea turtles and Napoleon wrasse also frequent the reefs of Komodo National Park. Divers have even seen the occasional whale shark and dugong in the area. But the smaller species often steal the show ---- pygmy seahorses, stargazers, ghost pipefish and nudibranchs are what draw many photographers to this part of the world.
More and more divers are finding their way to this remote area of Indonesia to see the Komodo dragons for themselves, but what they don't realize is that the dragons are very good swimmers. And while there are no reported sightings of these creatures on the reefs, the possibility does exist, however remotely, making divers ever mindful of dragons in the deep.
