This group of south eastern islands run east of Bali from Lombok in the west to Timor in the east, and are just a few degrees south of the equator.

These arid tropical islands are a contrast to many of the lush tropical islands of Indonesia. The region is divided into three provinces, Barat (west) which includes Lombok and Sumbawa. Nusa Tengarra Timur (east) which includes Sumba, Flores and West Timur. The third province is East Timur, which is a province all by itself. Some 40 volcanoes have been identified in the island group; 25 of them are still active. Geologically, Komodo and Rinca are part of Flores, separated from Sumbawa to the west by the Sape Strait.

Whale sharks can be spotted in this area usually around Kode Island, which is between Komodo and Flores. The north side of Kode Island faces a protected channel. The south faces the deep strait between Flores and Sumba. On the south face of Kode Islands, which supplies a wide bay on the southernmost extension of Rinca Island, one can find some of the most exciting diving in the world. Here are the Great Cliffs, jagged pinnacles jutting out of the water. Underneath these pinnacles are gorgonians and soft and hard corals.

Komodo offers a variety of diving from current-swept sea mounds, with groups of sharks, tuna and other big fish, to calm colorful reefs alive with invertebrates and hundreds of reef fish. The diversity of marine life in the Komodo area rivals the world's best.