Schooling bannerfish near Gili Lawa, Komodo National Park

Golden Passage (Darat Passage)

Gili Lawa Darat, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

  • Advanced
  • Strong current
  • Best Apr to Nov

Golden Passage is an advanced dive site in Gili Lawa Darat, Komodo National Park, Indonesia. Dives run from 5 to 25 m, in strong current. The best months are April to November. Marine life here includes green sea turtle, white-tip reef shark and triggerfish. 7 dive shops on Scubalo run trips here.

Updated

Conditions at Golden Passage

Max depth
20 m
Depth range
5–25 m
Current
Strong
Level
Advanced
Depth profile: dives from 5 m to 25 m.

Safety

Current
Can be strong; dive it with a surface marker buoy.

About Golden Passage

Golden Passage, also called Darat Passage, is the channel between Komodo Island and Gili Lawa Darat in the north of the park, dived as a drift on a rising tide from a shallow bay through a coral garden. The current is strong and steady.

Golden Passage is the channel between Komodo Island and Gili Lawa Darat, in the north of Komodo National Park, and is also known as Darat Passage. It is dived as a drift, ideally on a rising tide when the current runs from east to west. The dive starts in a shallow bay on the eastern side and the flow carries you west through a wide coral garden.

The current is strong and sustained, often estimated at 2 to 4 knots, and the ride is long and smooth rather than violent. Schools of bumphead parrotfish are often seen along the way. Depths stay moderate, mostly above 25 metres.

Because of the steady current, it suits advanced divers comfortable drifting, and dive centres time it carefully to the tide.

When to dive Golden Passage

Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November.

Season

Right now
Best months
April to December, for the best conditions and visibility.
Good to know
Dives are timed to the tide, as the current is strongest between tides.

Marine life at Golden Passage

What divers report seeing here. Tap one to see where else it turns up.

Type of diving

Location

Questions about Golden Passage

Where is Golden Passage?

It is the channel between Komodo Island and Gili Lawa Darat, in the north of Komodo National Park. It is also called Darat Passage.

How strong is the current at Golden Passage?

Strong and steady, often estimated at 2 to 4 knots. Dive centres prefer a rising tide, when the current runs east to west.

How deep is Golden Passage?

Moderate. Most of the dive stays above about 25 metres as you drift through the coral garden.

What can you see at Golden Passage?

A long coral garden in the channel, with schools of bumphead parrotfish often seen along the drift.

Who can dive Golden Passage?

Advanced divers comfortable in a strong drift. Ask your dive centre about the day's tide before you go.

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Dive shops that go to Golden Passage

7 shops in the directory run trips here.

Dive sites near Golden Passage

All dive sites in Komodo

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