Komodo · Indonesia · Wall · Reef
Yellow Wall
Southern drop-off with 20 m-plus visibility and reef sharks
Area photo: Siharaditia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Yellow Wall is in the south of Komodo National Park, where a drop-off and steep slope of coral reef and rubble falls to 40 m. The normal diving depth is 10 to 25 m, visibility runs to 20 m and more, and turtles and reef sharks are among the regulars. Medium to strong currents make it an advanced site.
Where it is and how deep
8.7992° S, 119.6745° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The bottom here is a mix of drop-off and steep slope, coral reef and rubble, and it keeps going to 40 m. The dive itself does not: the normal diving depth is 10 to 25 m, so the profile runs along the upper face rather than down it. Visibility of 20 m and more means the shape of the wall and anything moving along it is readable well ahead.
Currents are medium to strong, so the direction of travel is set by the water and the flow carries you along the face. Turtles work the coral and reef sharks patrol out from it, with smaller reef fish holding on the wall itself. Ascents come off the top of the drop-off, and in the south of the park it is worth remembering how much colder the water can be than the northern sites.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
- Sea turtles
| 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
- Currents run medium to strong on the wall and the ground below the normal 10 to 25 m profile drops away to 40 m: it is easy to go deeper than planned on a face this steep.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Yellow Wall in Komodo?+
The normal diving depth is 10 to 25 m, though the drop-off continues to a maximum of 40 m. Currents are medium to strong, which is why the site is rated advanced, and visibility is reported at 20 m and more.
What can you see at Yellow Wall?+
Reported species include reef sharks and turtles, along with clownfish, triggerfish and red snapper on a wall of coral reef and rubble. Visibility of 20 m and more makes the bigger animals visible at a distance.
Sources
- Yellow Wall Komodo - Scubago — Scubago
- Yellow Wall - Divezone — Divezone
In The Logbook
- Where to see reef sharks on your first divesBig animals · 14 min read
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