Jurassic experience above water, and a pretty magical experience below water. Pink Beach is the jewel in the crown at the Komodo National Park and surrounding islands and offered a fantastic snorkel, with one of the most diverse coral reefs I’ve seen with many Clownfish.
Pros
Cons
Where is Pink Beach?
The snorkel spot is located on the Komodo Island in the Komodo National Park, in Indonesia, South-East Asia.
Snorkel Spot
Snorkel Review
Highlights
Coral present
1-3 Meters Average Depth
Good visibility (Varied)
Medium to hard difficulty
No Toilets Facilities
No Shower Facilities
No Cafe’s at Islands
Tours approx $150 USD
Sea Urchins Present
Unlikely
Clownfish at Pink Beach
Pink Beach is one of the highlights of the Komodo Islands trip, located on Komodo Island itself. It is a unique beach due to the pink colour the sand posses, due to red coral fragments. The popular tourist spot is home to a stunning coral reef and marine life only 5-10 meters from the beach. There was a strong current pulling to the left-hand side if you’re looking from the beach. The strongest current was at the far left of the beach, so be careful entering, I think the center of the beach is sensible to enter.
Snorkel spot
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Coral Reef
The coral reef filled the sea bed from 5-10 meters from the beach. There was a range of soft and hard coral species which were mainly in large patches or attached to the sea bed. Coral species that I saw include Branch, Stoney Acroporidae, Folded, Brain, Red Fan, Boulder corals, and many more.
Clownfish & Anemonefish
One of the stand-out Marine species was the number of Anemonefish and Clownfish off the beach. These fish were as close as 10 meters from shore in varied species of Anemone. The most common species I saw was the Tomato Anemonefish which has a largely dark orange body with a distinctive white line running down its face. I also saw a school of Blackback Butterflyfish, Parrotfish, Damselfish, Moorish Idol, Rabbitfish, and Triggerfish.
Safety Tip:
You are going to be in the middle of nowhere when you visit Komodo Island, be sure to have a first aid kit with you in case of any emergency, as there was an incident on the boat I was staying on where an individual required medical attention and we were 4 hours from the nearest port.
The current was very strong on the left side of the beach when entering, trying to pull you around the side of the island. Flippers are advised, and swim within your limits.
Summary
Overall, snorkeling at Pink Beach was a great experience and one of my top for the coral reef and marine diversity in such a small area. The most diverse coral reefs I’ve ever seen.
The left-hand side of the Beach did have strong currents when snorkeling, causing the visibility to vary.
The tour I went on had next to no safety standards, and I don’t think would have been safe if the weather conditions are poor. I think it is important to research the company before the trip. If I was to do it again, I’d fly to Flores and book a trip departing and returning to Flores. This will likely be more costly, but I think it is worth it from a safety perspective.
Tour Guide Options
There is the option to fly to Labuan Bajo airport and join a trip to Komodo for a half-day or day. The other option is to take a boat trip from Lombok which is 3x nights and 4x days. I went on the boat option travelling to the starting point at Lombok from the neighbouring island of Gili Meno. If I was to visit the Komodo Islands again, this is what I’d do.
As the health and safety was non-existent, and the waves, currents, and weather conditions also made it challenging, I would book a return flight to Flores, Labuan Bajo Airport, and book a 1-2 day boat trip to the Komodo Islands, Pink Beach, and Padar Island. I think it is worth paying the extra money for safety, and experience.
Best Snorkel Spot
In my opinion, the best snorkel spot was Pink Beach at Komodo Island due to the coral reef only 10 meters from the beach. It also had many fish, Clownfish, and unusual species of coral. The only downside was the strong current on the left-hand side of the beach which was trying to push me around the island. You also had the chance to relax on the beach, and there was a small viewpoint looking over the beach. I didn’t have a chance to walk up.
The best spot at Pink Beach was 5-10 meters from the Beach in the centre, where there were large patches of Folded Corals, encrusted coral, and Anemone.
Best Time Of Year
The best time to visit and snorkel Komodo National Park and the surrounding islands is in Indonesia’s dry season which runs from April to October. Trips by boat can be dangerous and carry risk if there is bad weather as the waves and currents are strong. Check the weather and only travel if it is safe to do so. These are remote islands, so there is limited assistance and first-aid, it is definitely worth having a first aid kit.
Popular Marine Life
Tomato Clownfish
Sergeant Major Damselfish
Parrotfish
Moorish Idol
Butterflyfish
Picasso Triggerfish
Rare Marine Life
Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray
Pufferfish
Titan Triggerfish
Clark’s Anemonefish
Blacktip Reef Shark
Feather Duster Worm
Coral Reef
Table Coral
Branch Coral
Brain Coral
Acroporidae
Fan Coral
Boulder Coral
Folded Coral
Encrusted Coral
What I Saw
(Seen on April, 2023)
| Tomato Anemonefish | Clark’s Anemonefish |
| Bluebarred Parrotfish | Blackback Butterflyfish |
| Blackback Butterflyfish | Forktail Rabbitfish |
| Orangestriped Triggerfish | Neon Damselfish |
| Klein’s Butterflyfish | Moorish Idol |
| Chameleon Parrotfish | Picasso Triggerfish |
| Sixbar Wrasse | Teardrop Butterflyfish |
| Picasso Triggerfish | Sergeant Major Damselfish |
| Crescent Wrasse | Golden Gregory |
| Brain Coral | Massive Boulder Coral |
| Branch Coral | Red Fan Coral |
| Table Coral | Leather Coral |
| Stoney Acroporidae Coral | Soft Coral |
| Encrusting Coral | Boulder Coral |
Indonesia Snorkel Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
There are two ways to get to Komodo National Park, either sailing from Lombok to Komodo which can take 3 days, or the easier option of flying to Lebuan Bajo and joining a tour.
Snorkel trips to the Komodo Islands vary whether you depart from Lebuan Bajo, or from Bali/Lombok.
I would say your chances of seeing Clownfish at Pink Beach are pretty likely, as I saw multiple patches of Anemone which were pretty much all occupied by Anemonefish.
I went on a tour called Kareem, which was advertised in the hostel I was staying in, on Gili Meno.
Luke
FOUNDER
Luke is a passionate snorkeler who started Snorkelverse to live his dream of combining his passions for snorkeling, marine life, protecting marine ecosystems, and helping others.
Indonesia Snorkel Reviews
