Sudamala to Open 5-Star Diving Resort Close to Komodo National Park in Indonesia

Sudamala will open its third luxury resort at Pulau Sebayur Besar (Sebayur Island) on the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara, a prime jumping off point to some of the world's most incredible diving in and around Komodo National Park, home of the famous Komodo Dragons.

The architect chosen for the Sudamala Komodo Villas and Dive Resort is Yori Antar of Han Awal & Partners Architects while Hidajat Endramukti of Endramukti Design will take on the interior design.

The resort is scheduled to open in summer 2017.

Resorts Director, and daughter of the owner, Emily Subrata said the national park and surrounding islands were 'pure diving nirvana' and guests would encounter an other-worldly wonderland with architecture in the vernacular Labuan Bajo style, reminiscent of Papuan architecture, lush tropical jungle and pristine waters as their playground, and the group's renowned touches of art and artisanship also be a feature.

"We expect around 80% of our guests will be divers," Ms Subrata said. "We are talking about very pristine and protected dive sites. Sea turtles, manta rays, mum and dad sharks deposit the baby sharks in the local mangrove. We have established our dive centres at Sanur and Lombok and this will be the extension of that as well as the jewel in our crown. We must be as mindful and sustainable as we can. We will be using recycled materials where we can. We will need to generate our own power and desalinate our own water, so it's a big undertaking.

Komodo National Park is located in the centre of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores, and was set up to protect the only known habitat of the unique and fearsome Komodo dragon (Varanus Komodoensis), huge monitor lizards that can bring down a cow or adult human, and represent a living link to the dinosaurs.

The national park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 and includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands creating a total surface area (marine and land) of 1,817km. It is also home to the orange-footed scrub fowl and the Timor deer, as well as one of the richest marine environments including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts, and semi-enclosed bays, harbouring more than 1,000 species of fish, some 260 species of reef-building coral, and 70 species of sponges. Dugong, sharks, manta rays, at least 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles also make Komodo National Park their home.

"Sebayur Island, 30 minutes on boat from the nearest domestic airport of Labuan Bajo, is still quite remote, with the biggest resort on the same island now about 25 rooms. It's an exciting part of the world to visit; Flores itself is 450km long and you have triple-coloured crater lakes, smoke belching volcanos, and at the other end they still harpoon sperm whales like in Moby Dick. Komodo is like a real life Jurassic Park, so that will be a big draw of course. But mostly, it's going to be about the diving," said Ms Subrata.

Sudamala Resorts also operates Sudamala Suites & Villas, Sanur, Bali and Sudamala Suites & Villas, Senggigi, Lombok.

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