Wildlife of Labuan Bajo: Manta Rays, Reef Fish and Corals

The waters around Labuan Bajo, on the western tip of Flores at the edge of Komodo National Park, hold shallow coral reefs and open coastal water. The author logged a giant oceanic manta ray in the coastal waters, and on the reefs near Kukusan Island found pagoda cup coral, long-spined sea urchins, black sea cucumbers, blue green chromis and schooling small fish. A long-tailed macaque was also seen on the coast near a settlement. Most sightings came in October, with one in April. The reef life was nearly all found in the mid-morning, around 10 to 11 am, while the manta was seen in the afternoon and the macaque around midday. This is a virtual guide written by someone who has been there, not a tour. You get the author's notes for each species and can message the author with questions about timing, habitats and what to expect, and they may introduce you to local people they met. Wildlife moves and conditions change, so sightings are never guaranteed.