Siaba Besar is a very calm, shallow bay with bright white sand and clear waters. There is some spectacularly big lettuce coral growth here amongst which several turtles have made their home.
Turtle on the corals, Siaba Besar, Komodo, August 2024 © [email protected]
Siaba Besar is a gloriously pretty dive, especially if it’s good weather and the dive site is drenched in sunshine. The sun reflects off the white sand and coral, while the turtles are not really bothered by divers and will let you approach quite close if you move slowly and calmly towards them. There’s so many turtles that have made Siaba Besar home the dive site is nicknamed “Turtle City”.
Sweetlips getting its mouth cleaned, Siaba Besar, Komodo, August 2024 © [email protected]
It’s also a great spot for snorkellers, as the site is shallow enough to get a great panoramic view of the stacks and stacks of lettuce coral that covers this site. Snorkellers can also have face to face encounters with turtles when they periodically come up to the surface to breathe.
Turtle amongst the lettuce corals, Siaba Besar, Komodo, August 2024 © [email protected]
Given its calm conditions, Siaba Besar is a very popular site for liveaboards to do check out dives and for day boats to bring brand new divers to experience open water diving. The dive site is only around four to six metres deep.
Fish over the corals, Siaba Besar, Komodo, August 2024 © [email protected]
While it’s pretty busy underwater with other divers, the corals and the turtles are well worth seeing. Siaba Besar is so named as it’s located at Palau Siaba Besar.
Turtle on the move, Siaba Besar, Komodo, August 2024 © [email protected]
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Komodo Dive Sites
- Manta Alley
- Cannibal Rock
- Yellow Wall
- Batu Bolong
- Pengah Kecil
- Castle Rock
- Crystal Rock
- Mawan
- Siaba Besar (Turtle City)
- Sebayur Kecil
- Tanjung Batu Besar
- Galley Rock
- Saleh Bay Whale Sharks
- Komodo Dive Sites Overview
Komodo Liveaboard And Resort Trip Reports
- Kalimaya Dive Resort Trip Report July 2025
- Komodo Liveaboard trip report August 2022 - MSY Damai 2
- Komodo Liveaboard trip report November 2009 - MSY Damai 1
- Komodo Liveaboard trip report September 2008 - Indo Siren
- Komodo Liveaboard trip report December 2006 - Komodo Dancer
Komodo Diving Podcasts
Komodo Dive Site Locations
Komodo Dive Sites
Manta Alley
A truly epic dive site above and below water, Manta Alley is one of the most dramatic dive sites in Indonesia to see manta rays. Read More
Cannibal Rock
A dive site with an atmosphere all of its own, Cannibal Rock is one of Komodo’s don’t miss dive sites Read More
Yellow Wall
Yellow Wall is a spectacular mix of top reef and wall covered in corals, sea cucumbers and featherstars. Read More
Batu Bolong
Batu Bolong is one of Komodo’s signature dive site with lots to see and some interesting currents to avoid. Read More
Castle Rock
Sharks and super fishy action are the main draw of Castle Rock, one of Komodo’s most exciting dive sites Read More
Crystal Rock
One of Komodo’s most famous dive sites, Crystal Rock is a spectacular array of colourful coral reefs and big schools of fish Read More
Pengah Kecil
Pengah Kecil provides some interesting ledges and slopes on its rocky walls where marine life gathers. Read More
Sebayur Kecil
Sebayur Kecil is a steep, white sand curved slope heading down into a channel, covered with an impressive coral garden Read More
Siaba Besar
Siaba Besar is a very calm, shallow bay with bright white sand, big lettuce corals and a group of resident turtles. Read More
Tanjung Batu Besar
An impressive hard coral garden on a black sand slope, Tanjung Batu Besar is great for reef noodling and critter hunting alike. Read More
