The Cauldron
The Cauldron is the narrow passage between Gili Lawa Laut and Gili Lawa Darat. On the right tide the water accelerates through the channel: divers rise over a ridge, drop into a sandy bowl (the cauldron) at about 20 m and are then shot out over the reef on the far side. Schooling sweetlips, batfish, trevally and reef sharks line the ridge, and mantas and mobula rays sometimes feed in the channel. On slack tide it can be dived as a gentle reverse drift.
Facts
- Region: Komodo National Park
- Area: North Komodo (Gili Lawa)
- Depth: 5–25 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: strong
- Type: channel, drift
- Coordinates: -8.4604, 119.5611
- Highlights: shotgun drift, sand bowl, sweetlips, batfish, trevally, reef sharks, manta rays, mobula rays
- Tips: Once you are in, you cannot stop – stay with the guide and watch your computer on the rise over the ridge. Plan the timing with the operator; strong currents can make it undiveable.