GPS
Point, Gili Banta Island, North East of Komodo
GPS Point is a submerged rock of the north west of Banta Island’s
largest bay. This is one of the only site where shark are regulary
found and up to five species can be identified in a single dive.Invariably
divers encounter strong currents here, which is way GPS Point is
swarming with jacks, tuna and schools of baracuda and surgeonfish.
On any given dive, be prepare to scan gorgonian fans for pigmy sea
horses and the deep blue for eagle rays and mantas.
GPS Point is famous dive site and must on any liveaboard cruise
here and is often considered the best northern site in Komodo scuba
diving. It attracts lots and lots of fish.
The top of this small sea mount rises to just 5 metres of the surface
and hosts snowflake morays, cowries, spider and hermit crabs, nudibranchs,
scorpionfish and cuttlefish.
us.
The soft coral growth at GPS Point in particular is excellent,
and the entire surface of the sea mound is richly overgrown with
invertebrates. In some areas there are dense fields of staghorn
corals overflowing with gold and orange anthias.
The deep waters provide the opportunity for encounters with hammerhead
sharks and Napoleon wrasse as well as the more common snappers,
batfish, white-tips, grey reef sharks and nurse sharks.
If the currents are running too strong on GPS Point, operator have
other option only minutes away. Star Wars is gentke slope that bottoms
out in sandy floor at 30 meters. He currents, which can range from
calm to raging, tipically flow eastward, away from the shallow point.
Strong currents often to 3 knots can sweep the top of the mount
making safety stops a little problematic. Things settle down at
around 25 metres deep or so, but this is not really a beginners
dive. Visibility here is variable, and can drop below 10 metres
due to plankton, but it is usually clearer at depth.
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