Komodo · Indonesia · Wall · Reef
Pillarsteen
Swim-throughs in a swell-washed rock wall south of Padar
Area photo: Siharaditia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pillarsteen, or Pillar Rock, is a rocky sloping wall south-east of Padar Island, cut by swim-throughs and dressed in soft coral. Open to the Indian Ocean swell, it mixes macro life such as sea apples and whip coral shrimp with passing manta and devil rays.
Also known as Pillar Rock, Pillaarsteen.
Where it is and how deep
8.6938° S, 119.5709° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The wall slopes from 3 m down to 30 m, its rock broken by swim-throughs and covered in soft coral. Snapper, barracuda and scorpionfish hold along the rock, while stingrays, devil rays and manta rays turn up off it. Diving is particularly good around 30-40 m. On days when the swell is calm, the wall gives up its macro life: sea apples and the partner shrimp that live on whip corals.
Marine life and season
- Manta rays
- Mobula rays
- Stingrays
- Barracuda
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Good | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Prime |
Season follows Komodo: Liveaboards run all year: April is often rated the best month, July to September is the big-fish peak, and the rainy months bring the best visibility and the mantas.
Know before you go
- The site has no shelter from the Indian Ocean swell, so surge is to be expected on the rock and through the swim-throughs.
Questions divers ask
When is the macro best at Pillarsteen?+
On days when the swell is calm. The site is open to the Indian Ocean, so surge is to be expected on the rock otherwise.
Sources
- Komodo dive sites — Pinta Liveaboard
- Pillarsteen dive site — Scubago
- Komodo National Park dive sites — komodonationalpark.org
- Komodo dive sites — Dive The World
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