Known locally as “The Shotgun”, this legendary site in the north of Komodo National Park is a natural channel between Gili Lawa Laut and Gili Lawa Darat. As tidal water rushes through, it creates a powerful surge that accelerates divers through a narrow passage — a truly exhilarating drift dive that’s earned its reputation as one of the most exciting in the region.

Specific dive conditions must be present in order to dive this site safely. The entry point is on the west side of the Gili Lawa Laut reef and is only accessible when the current flows from west to east — also known as a falling tide. After entering the water about 100 meters west of the canal, divers descend to around 20 meters over a sandy bottom where white tip reef sharks and rays are commonly seen. As you move east, the reef drops away and the current gains speed, leading you into The Cauldron itself — a crater-shaped basin around 30 meters deep and 40 meters wide.

Inside the Cauldron, sightings may include reef sharks, manta rays, snappers, and giant trevally. At its northern edge lies a crack called The Fish Bowl, home to dense schools of trevally, sweetlips, and snapper. The current then accelerates through the Shotgun — a narrow, 8-meter-deep channel that compresses the flow like a siphon. From here, you’ll be blasted out toward the China Shop, a stunning shallow reef often visited by juvenile manta rays, and filled with hard and soft coral and macro life.

The Cauldron / Shotgun is a highlight of our northern itineraries aboard Blue Lotus. Dive it with Azul Komodo’s expert guides who know exactly when to catch this ride at its wildest — and safest.