Dark clouds and rough seas are forcing travelers around Komodo National Park to rethink their plans. Just as tourist activity remains busy in Labuan Bajo, authorities have temporarily halted tourist boat trips to two of the region’s most famous islands after dangerous wave forecasts raised safety concerns across local waters.
The restriction will affect trips to Komodo Island and Padar Island on May 29, 2026. During that day, tourist vessels will only be allowed to sail to Rinca Island, another major habitat of the Komodo dragon within the Komodo National Park area.
The decision was announced by the Head of the Class III Labuan Bajo Harbormaster and Port Authority Office, Stephanus Risdiyanto. Authorities expect wave heights to exceed two meters in several waters surrounding the national park.
“Currently, it only applies for May 29,” Stephanus said on Wednesday (27/5/2026), as quoted by detikBali.
According to him, the temporary restriction follows maritime weather forecasts issued by BMKG’s Tenau Kupang Maritime Station. The forecast warned of wave heights reaching up to 2.1 meters in the southern waters of the Sape Strait and around Komodo National Park.
Because of those conditions, sailing permits or Surat Persetujuan Berlayar (SPB) for tourism vessels will be limited only to routes heading toward Rinca Island.
“So for May 29, 2026, sailing permits for tourism activities will only be granted for trips to Rinca Island, while tourism activities in Komodo National Park waters and the southern Sape Strait must be avoided,” Stephanus explained.
The restriction is considered necessary to reduce the risk of maritime accidents during unstable weather conditions. Waters surrounding Komodo, Padar, and the southern Sape Strait are known to become highly dangerous during periods of strong winds and high waves.
To strengthen safety measures, the Labuan Bajo KSOP has also distributed an official sailing advisory to all ship captains operating in the area.
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Captains are instructed to ensure the seaworthiness of their vessels before departure. They are also required to independently monitor weather developments during the voyage and take immediate action if emergency situations occur.
Authorities additionally reminded all operators to conduct safety briefings before every trip. Night sailing has been temporarily prohibited, while captains are urged to avoid dangerous maritime zones during bad weather.
The advisory also instructs captains to warn nearby vessels if severe weather conditions emerge during navigation. If sea conditions worsen, ships are expected to immediately seek shelter and coordinate with local harbormasters as well as Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, Basarnas.
“Harbormasters have the authority to delay sailing permits at any time if weather forecasts are considered unsafe for navigation,” Stephanus stated.
Despite the temporary restriction, tourism activity in Labuan Bajo is expected to continue through alternative destinations such as Rinca Island, which remains accessible during the one-day limitation.
Komodo National Park continues to be one of Indonesia’s most popular tourism destinations, attracting thousands of domestic and international visitors every year. The area is famous not only for the Komodo dragon, but also for its dramatic islands, diving locations, and marine biodiversity.
Still, authorities continue to emphasize that visitor safety must come before tourism activity, especially during periods of unpredictable maritime weather in eastern Indonesia.
