Cauldron

Cauldron, also known locally as The Cauldron or Shotgun, sits near Gili Lawa Laut at the northern end of Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara. It is known for a strong, funneling current that pushes divers through a narrow channel between two rocky outcrops, an effect that gives the site its name, with divers rising over a shallower plateau once the flow eases. The reef bottom reaches a maximum depth of around 25 metres, visibility is generally good, and it is rated an advanced dive due to strong currents, with divers describing speeds up to 8 knots, downwellings, and real separation and depth risk in the channel at peak flow. Manta rays and trevally are regularly encountered, and divers have also reported barracuda, tuna, sweetlips, snapper, grouper, Napoleon wrasse, fusiliers, garden eels, nudibranchs, frogfish, and leaf scorpionfish here. Given the speed and unpredictability of the water movement, it is best dived with a guide who knows the timing of the tides.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• SnapperSnapperReported here · unconfirmed
• FusilierFusilierReported here · unconfirmed
• TrevallyTrevallyConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
• Manta rayManta rayConfirmed present · 6 independent sources
• Leaf scorpionfishLeaf scorpionfishReported here · unconfirmed
• FrogfishFrogfishReported here · unconfirmed
• NudibranchNudibranchReported here · unconfirmed
• Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesusReported here · unconfirmed
• Bignose UnicornfishNaso vlamingiiReported here · unconfirmed
• Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicusReported here · unconfirmed
• Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilisReported here · unconfirmed
• Schooling BannerfishHeniochus diphreutesReported here · unconfirmed
• Moorish IdolZanclus cornutusReported here · unconfirmed
• Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkiiReported here · unconfirmed
• Midnight SnapperMacolor macularisReported here · unconfirmed
• Yellow BoxfishOstracion cubicumReported here · unconfirmed
• Sixband AngelfishPomacanthus sexstriatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Garden eelGarden eelReported here · unconfirmed
• SweetlipsSweetlipsReported here · unconfirmed
• BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
• Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseReported here · unconfirmed
• TunaTunaReported here · unconfirmed
• GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed