Marine Life

Wainilu is all about small and strange. Expect to find frogfish in various colors and sizes, ghost pipefish mimicking crinoids, flamboyant cuttlefish, ribbon eels, and mantis shrimp tucked into the sand. Look closely and you may spot dragonets, seahorses, or even ambon scorpionfish.

It’s also a haven for nudibranch lovers — from vibrant Thecacera pacifica to Melibe colemani, there’s a surprise around every rock or patch of algae.

Macro magic awaits

Wainilu is one of Komodo’s most rewarding sites for spotting rare, weird, and wonderful critters—many of which are nearly invisible without a trained eye. Its silty slope, coral rubble, and patchy soft corals provide the perfect habitat for small marine life that thrives in calm, shallow waters.

You might encounter:

• Flamboyant Cuttlefish – Tiny and colorful, known for their pulsing patterns and walking arms.

• Mandarinfish – Flashy reef dwellers famous for their vivid stripes and dusk-time mating rituals.

• Ornate Ghost Pipefish – Masters of disguise, hovering near feather stars or crinoids.

• Frogfish – Camouflaged ambush predators that “walk” across the bottom with their fins.

• Nudibranchs – Brightly colored sea slugs in dozens of species, from the common to the never-before-seen.

• Seahorses – From the well-camouflaged thorny to the shy, pygmy varieties clinging to rubble and coral.

• Harlequin Shrimp – Striking in color and behavior, these shrimp feed exclusively on starfish.

• Bobtail Squid – No bigger than a marble, with bioluminescent spots and curious behavior.

• Mimic Octopus – Shape-shifting tricksters that imitate lionfish, flatfish, and even sea snakes.

Wainilu is not a site for rushing. Many divers hover just inches from the bottom, scanning every shell and seaweed patch. Patient observation—paired with a skilled guide—often reveals rare encounters you’d miss anywhere else in Komodo.