On a three-or-four-dive day in current, nitrox is not a luxury — it is what keeps your fourth dive from being a fifteen-minute no-decompression scramble. Most Komodo liveaboards offer EAN32 as standard for a per-day or per-trip fee, run aluminium 12-litre tanks with 15-litre available on request, and expect you to bring your own computer.
Gas, tanks and computers are the least romantic part of planning a Komodo trip and the part that most changes how much diving you actually get. Here is what the equipment side really looks like.
Why does nitrox matter more in Komodo?
Because of the dive profile, not the depth. A typical liveaboard day is three dives plus an optional night dive, repeated for four to seven days, much of it in the 15–30 metre band where nitrogen loading accumulates fastest relative to the time you want to spend there.
On air, your no-decompression limits tighten with every repetitive dive, and by the afternoon you are surfacing before the site is finished. On EAN32 the same profiles give you meaningful extra bottom time, and many divers report feeling less fatigued across a multi-day week — a subjective effect, but a widely reported one.
| Gas | Typical maximum operating depth (1.4 ata ppO₂) | Cost band | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air (21%) | ~56 m (well beyond recreational limits) | Included | Anyone; fine for shallow, low-repetition days |
| EAN32 | ~33 m | Commonly a per-day or flat per-trip supplement | The default choice for a repetitive Komodo week |
| EAN36 | ~29 m | Where offered, similar or slightly higher supplement | Shallow, long, repetitive profiles — manta plateaus, macro |
Note the trade-off in that middle column: richer mixes give you more bottom time but a shallower depth ceiling. EAN32 is the sensible default for Komodo because it comfortably covers the 25–30 metre profiles most sites are dived at while still extending your limits.
Nitrox certification is required to use it. Many boats can run the course on board over a couple of days — see our dive courses page.
What tanks and valves should you expect?
Aluminium 12-litre (roughly 80 cubic foot) cylinders are the standard across Indonesian liveaboards. 15-litre tanks are usually available on request — ask when you book rather than on the dive deck, because boats carry a limited number and they go to whoever asked first.
On valves: both DIN and yoke are common in Indonesia, and most boats carry adaptors, but do not assume. If you dive DIN, bring your own adaptor. It weighs nothing and removes the most annoying possible problem on day one.
Weights are provided, usually as blocks on a belt, sometimes as integrated pouches depending on the rental BCDs carried. If you use a specific weight system, say so in advance. And do a proper weight check on the first dive rather than assuming your home-water figure transfers — salinity, exposure suit and aluminium tanks all shift it.
How should you set your computer for a Komodo week?
Three settings deserve deliberate thought before you get on the boat.
Gas mix, entered every dive. If you are diving nitrox, the computer must be set to the actual mix, and the actual mix must be verified with the analyser on the deck by you, not by someone else. Analyse, log it, tag it, set the computer. Every tank, every time. This is the single non-negotiable habit of nitrox diving.
Conservatism. Multi-day repetitive diving is exactly the scenario where a more conservative setting earns its keep. Cold water on southern sites, hard finning in current and mild dehydration are all real on this itinerary. Dialling up conservatism costs you a few minutes per dive and buys margin.
Alarms you will actually respond to. Ascent-rate alarms matter here more than usual, because current dives often end with a fast, distracted ascent while managing an SMB. Set it, and heed it.
Bring a backup — a second computer or at least a depth gauge and timer with tables. Boats carry rentals but not always in the model you know, and a failed computer mid-week on a full liveaboard schedule is a genuinely trip-limiting event.
What does the fly-after-dive rule do to your last day?
It ends your diving earlier than you think. Standard guidance for repetitive multi-day diving is a minimum surface interval before flying — commonly cited as around 18 hours, with 24 hours widely used as the conservative planning figure. Follow your training agency’s guidance and your computer’s own recommendation.
In practice this means the last dive of a Komodo liveaboard is usually the morning of the penultimate day, not the final morning. Good operators build the schedule this way automatically. It also means that any land plans on your final day need to fit that window — which is exactly what a Flores extension is for, as covered in our guide to Wae Rebo, Cunca Wulang and Batu Cermin.
Note that this also affects altitude travel by road, not just flying. If you are heading up into the Flores highlands, discuss the timing with your dive guide.
What gear should you bring rather than rent?
Mask, computer and, if you own them, exposure suit and fins. Masks are personal and a leaking rental ruins a dive; computers are personal because you know their behaviour. Rental BCDs and regulators on a well-maintained boat are generally fine.
On exposure protection, do not underpack. Northern sites run comfortably warm, but southern sites in the middle of the year can be several degrees cooler because of upwelling — a 3 mm suit that is fine at Castle Rock in July can be inadequate at Horseshoe Bay the same week. A hooded vest weighs little and is frequently the difference between a good third dive and a cold one. Full packing detail is in our divers versus snorkellers packing lists.
Frequently asked questions
Is nitrox worth it in Komodo?
On a multi-day itinerary with three or four dives a day, yes for most divers — the extra no-decompression time in the 15–30 m band is where the entire value sits. On a short trip with two shallow dives a day, the benefit is marginal.
Do I need a nitrox certification to use it on board?
Yes. Operators will not fill you on nitrox without one. Many boats can run the course during the trip if you decide once you are aboard.
What tank sizes do Komodo liveaboards use?
Aluminium 12 L (about 80 cf) as standard, with 15 L usually available on request. Request larger tanks at booking rather than on the dive deck — boats carry limited numbers.
Should I bring a DIN adaptor?
If you dive DIN, yes. Most boats carry adaptors and most also carry both valve types, but bringing your own removes the variable entirely.
How long after diving can I fly from Labuan Bajo?
Follow your agency’s guidance — commonly a minimum of around 18 hours after repetitive multi-day diving, with 24 hours as the conservative option. Your liveaboard schedule will normally be built to respect this.
Do I need dive insurance for a Komodo liveaboard?
You should treat it as essential, with cover that explicitly includes recreational scuba and, ideally, chamber and evacuation. Details in health and insurance for Komodo liveaboards.
Matching gear to the itinerary
Which mix and which tank size actually matter depends on your route — the northern pinnacle circuit runs deeper and harder than the central reefs. Compare the profiles on our boat specs and dive deck comparison and the difficulty picture in our site-by-site current guide.
Dive operations are run by Komodo Luxury, part of Juara Holding Group, diving these sites since 2015. To confirm nitrox availability, tank sizes and rental gear for a specific departure, WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com.
Published for the 2027 season. Gas, depth and surface-interval figures are general recreational diving guidance, not a substitute for your training, your computer or a diving physician.