Indonesia - Komodo NP: Pink Beach (Pantai Merah)

Setting

The first dive (11:29) was a ripping current dive. We kept getting swept off the main wall part of the reef, but we eventually encountered corals (hard and soft) as we drifted along. Visibility was 10 m. The water temperature was 24-25°C. We actually had to relocate after 1-2 minutes to find a place with less current. Reef ended at 15-17 m in most places, but extended down to 25-30 m in one particularly lush area. The reef ended in sand, so staying on it was a struggle. The afternoon critter-section dive was very calm, 25°C, 10-m viz.

General benthic features

Anderson's dive log lists Seriatopora caliendrum and Stylophora pistillata among the most common corals at the site (e.g., Image 3).

3

Eventually we started drifting and encountered acres upon acres of soft corals interspersed with seriatoporids and acroporids (e.g., Image 4).

4

Finally we reached large chunks of hard coral again. Soft coral was prevalent in abundance at all depths. Tubastraea, Pocillopora acuta (e.g., Image 1), and Isopora grew in a beautiful mixed community of hard and soft corals at 5-6 m.

1

There were some small poritids and large Acropora colonies at 3-4 m. We reached a pier with a beautiful hard and soft coral garden at its base, extending below 10 m. The afternoon critter-section dive (15:08) found virtually no corals, just a sandy slope with all manner of cool critters. In 2-4 m, there were some corals, including an impressive Porites bommie and some Acropora. Galaxea, a flounder, and a crab wearing a sponge that was too big for it were also seen.

Coral cover

• Reference: Claude CV point count (this site's photos)
• Coral cover: 25% — a blind Claude computer-vision point count of 71 of Anderson's edited photographs (20 points per photo; water, fish, and obstructions excluded). Other computer-vision methods are listed in the method table. The deep wall was very complex with nice, hard coral cover (20-40%, maybe more in areas).

Stressors

On the first dive, most Seriatopora caliendrum and Stylophora pistillata colonies were fluorescent green or normal yellow/orange (e.g., Image 2); Anderson logged that fewer were bleached than at the previous site.

2

The few Seriatopora caliendrum seen on the critter-section dive were sickly looking. On the night dive, Anderson's photographs show litter on the reef: a printed white cup or package wedged under a ledge and a crumpled printed can on the sand beside a cuttlefish (e.g., Image 51, Image 52).

5152

One brown branching colony has about half its branches stark white, with a sharp boundary and no algal film, recent mortality, cause not stated (e.g., Image 48).

48

Fish and other fauna

High density and diversity of small reef fish, though only a few large snapper were seen. A white crab, totally camouflaged, lived in the soft coral. Sergeant majors were present by the thousands (e.g., Image 5).

5

There were plenty of upside-down jellyfish, one of which was bouncing down the slope. Two beautiful pipefish were seen, one of which was disguised as algae. A remora was seen, the first of the trip. A dogtooth tuna was seen. Other sightings were an enormous jellyfish, two species of cuttlefish (one large and one small), and two species of squid, including the trip's lone large (30 cm) squid. Also seen were eels (2-3 species), tiny pipefish, a large snail, and a huge crab.

Comparisons with other data

We found no other surveys confirmed at this site as of 2026. If you would like to share yours, please email us.

Dive record

The main dive was dive 2 of 24 January 2019 (trip dive 21). It ran from 11:29 to 12:31 (62 min). Maximum depth was 25.6 m. The average water temperature was 26.1°C. The breathing gas was 30% oxygen. The critter-section dive was dive 3 of 24 January 2019 (trip dive 22). It ran from 15:08 to 16:09 (61 min). Maximum depth was 20.1 m. The average water temperature was 26.2°C. The night dive was dive 4 of 24 January 2019 (trip dive 23). It ran from 18:57 to 19:52 (55 min). Maximum depth was 16.2 m. The average water temperature was 26.5°C (Anderson's note gives 26.1°C). The breathing gas was 30% oxygen.