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Last updated on January 7, 2024
PimpeIsland is one of the most idyllic of the Komodo archipelago, fringed by a small butinteresting reef and rich of fish but hard to reach. You can only visit as partof a cruise or of a snorkeling tour as the island is uninhabited.
Because there are no facilities on the island, the best way to visit this location is by joining a snorkeling tour from Labuan Bajo in the nearby bigger Flores Island. Alternatively, you may visit this spot as part of the multiple-day cruises that explore the Komodo National Park or along the way on the cruise that links Labuan Bajo with Lombok.
In these instances, you may not be able to request this specific spot as you will have to follow your captain’s schedule. If you rather be free you may consider renting a chartered yacht. Because there are no facilities on the island, there is no lifeguard and some of the cruises will not look after you while in the water hence you should always take all safety precautions.
The boat would generally anchor where the water is about 16 feet/5 meters deep and from there you may swim towards the island until you reach the drop-off.
This location is generally well sheltered from strong winds and waves thanks to the hilly nature of the small island hence you will generally be able to enjoy your snorkeling in very good conditions. We recommend swimming right on top of it as the coral is generally very healthy here and the depth ranges between 12 to 6 feet/4 to 2 meters.
The reef is almost exclusively built out of staghorn corals which may not sound so beautiful. However, the interesting part is that the sea is calm, the hard corals are very healthy, and the fish is extremely abundant.
Among the most common fish to spot at this location are damselfish (swimming by thousands above the corals), sergeants, wrasse, and parrotfish. If you explore further away you may notice that after the gentle staghorn drop off, the seabed is almost empty but the visibility is very good and generally above 10 meters.
You may encounter turtles or the very occasional manta if you are lucky enough. On the other hand, the seabed closer to the shore is made of dead corals and is of very little interest. If you decide to swim towards the beach extra care should be taken to prevent stepping on stingrays or stonefish.
The island has no amenities. If you participate in a snorkeling tour, lunch may be included – Check when you inquire.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
