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The Cauldron

The Cauldron, also known as Shotgun, is an immensely popular dive site in Komodo, Indonesia. Situated at the northern end of the park, this site attracts thrill-seeking divers with its exhilarating currents that propel you into China Shop, a stunning protected coral garden. With its deep, bowl-like topography, The Cauldron offers a thrilling and exciting experience for advanced and expert divers.

Diving in The Cauldron is an opportunity to witness the rich diversity of marine life that Komodo has to offer. This includes the presence of majestic sharks and graceful mantas, which are drawn to the strong currents prevalent in the area.

As you begin your dive in The Cauldron, you may encounter cleaning stations before descending into the bowl-shaped structure. With its walls adorned by gorgonian fans and soft corals, and a sandy bottom, the bowl reaches a depth of approximately 25 meters. Thanks to its unique shape, The Cauldron provides protection from the current. As you emerge from the bowl, prepare to be thrilled by the rush of currents passing over you, offering a mesmerizing view of the big pelagics gracefully navigating through the water. Finally, let the current launch you, like a shotgun, into the second part of the dive site called China Shop. This magnificent section boasts a beautiful reef composed of both hard and soft corals, providing a habitat for a wide range of marine life.

With excellent visibility reaching up to 18 meters and a maximum depth of 20 meters, The Cauldron is an ideal dive site for diving enthusiasts seeking thrilling underwater adventures. Its location in Komodo, Manggarai Barat, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, makes it easily accessible for divers exploring the region.

Diving Conditions Score for The Cauldron

7.3
Good

Good diving conditions!
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.

Dive Site Overview for The Cauldron

Depth

20m

Visibility

18m

Experience Level

advanced
expert

Weather Conditions for The Cauldron

Wave Height

0.3m

Wind Speed

7.5 m/s

Water Temp

29.4°C

Visibility

7.44km

Cloud Cover

1%

Wave Period

5.25s

Air Temperature

30.7°C

Precipitation

0 mm

Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for The Cauldron
Alpha

Dive Score Chart for The Cauldron

Best time to dive: 8:00 with score 8.475054320987654/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.28m, Wind 5.8 m/s.Best night dive time: 20:00 with score 8.079237457044673/10.

Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.

Sunrise at The Cauldron: 06:00
Sunset at The Cauldron: 18:00

Optimal diving conditions at The Cauldron are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.

🌞
Best Overall
8:00

Score: 8.5/10
Waves: 0.28m (5.4s), Wind: 5.8 m/s

🌙
Best Night
20:00

Score: 8.1/10
Waves: 0.32m, Wind: 4.8 m/s

Seasonal Analysis for The Cauldron
Alpha

Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at The Cauldron

The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.

Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Seasonal DiveScore Chart

This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Best Season for The Cauldron

Winter

Avg. Score: 10.0/10

Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.

Best Months for The Cauldron

January
Score: 10.0
February
Score: 10.0
March
Score: 10.0

Ideal Conditions for The Cauldron

Water Temp

Thermometer Emoji

26.9°C / 80.4°F

July

Visibility

Telescope Emoji

14.1m / 46.3ft

April

Wave Height

Wave Emoji

1.3m / 4.3ft

February

Wave Period

Wave Emoji

8.0s

January

Seasonal Insights for The Cauldron

The Cauldron follows southern hemisphere patterns with May being the warmest month (28.0°C) and January the coldest (23.1°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in February with average wave heights of 1.3m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in February with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). July is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during February to April, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.

Scoring Legend:
9-10 (Excellent)
7-8 (Good)
5-6 (Average)
3-4 (Poor)
1-2 (Dangerous)

Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 19, 2026

Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.

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