Sabolin Kecil is a small island north of Labuan Bajo, outside the busiest park zone. The dive starts on the north side, down a slope, then across the sand to a seamount. The top of that mount is about 22 m. Garden eels are on the sand. Sea fans and coral are on the mount.
While crossing, look into the blue: barracuda, schools of batfish, and sharks often pass. On the reef there are turtles, Napoleon wrasse, surgeonfish, frogfish, pygmy seahorses, scorpionfish, banded pipefish, and nudibranchs. The current is mild to strong. Visibility is about 10–30 m. Entry is by boat. The safety stop goes back to the coral on top of the slope.
- Map coordinate
- −8.3934, 119.7973
- Dive type
- Reef
- Entry
- Boat
- Depth
- The seamount tops at about 22 m. Routes reach about 30 m.
- Water
- Salt water
Marine life
Barracuda shark
Over the sand between the slope and the seamount.
Batfish shark
Over the sand between the slope and the seamount.
Shark
Over the sand between the slope and the seamount.
Turtle
On the reef. Approach slowly.
Napoleon wrasse
On the reef. Approach slowly.
Macro life
The sand and the fans are the close-up ground. For macro photos, use a macro lens and a focus light.
Garden eel
A colony on the sand crossed toward the seamount.
Pygmy seahorse
On the coral, with frogfish, scorpionfish, and banded pipefish.
Nudibranch
On the coral, with frogfish, scorpionfish, and banded pipefish.
An animal on this list is not guaranteed on every dive.