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COM
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| Location |
Unlike
most dive sites in Timor-Leste, the Com Wharf is man made
and severely impacted by humans. Found literally at the
eastern most point of the north coast road, it is at the end
of Com village about four hours drive from Dili. The wharf
is on the western side of a U-shape dredged channel.
Shipping navigation markers are found at either side of the
entrance to the channel with the lighthouse at the southern
end or bottom of the U. Since its construction in the
mid-1980s, much refuse and debris has thrown off of it into
the sea and cast over the side of docking ships. It was used
as a military port and shell casings have been found amongst
the debris, so be careful to leave alone anything that might
look like unused military ordinance. |
| Entry |
Entry points
can be either straight off the wharf with a giant leap on
the seaside where the water is more than 10m. Currents have
been known to give a gentle pull north south, or out to sea
at the mouth of the bay. The exit point is always on the
sandy beach at the point where you drive onto the
wharf. If you come in close to the wharf look for the sunken
boat. Be aware that the beach does have a boat ramp and is
often used by patrons of the
nearby resort to launch fishing boats. Also fishing off the
wharf is a common pass time and beware of fishing lines. |
| UW profile
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If
you are wanting to dive the eastern side of the channel, try
descending at the lighthouse. The sandy bottom is about five
meters deep and makes a good safety stop. Large lion fish
are often found around the pylons. Navigating east
from the lighthouse you can follow the reefs around at about
15m for a pleasant dive. The sandy bottom has a variety of
rays, with a black spotted ray almost a meter across has
been sited here. Also look seaward for turtles and sharks. |
| Points of interest |
The
impact of humans doesn't mean the sea life don't like this
spot. In fact, to contrary large fish like to lurk day
and night under the wharf, hiding in the cracks and crevices
created by a lattice work of fallen concrete from the
wharf's underside. There's plenty to see just on the pylons
of the wharf, particularly at night when the dozens of lion
fish of
all sizes come out. Moray eels lurk under the rocks, puffer
fish too like the pylons as do scribbly leather
jackets. Seaward towards the navigational marker is a
large giant clam. The wharf makes for a spooky night dive
with visibility generally good. You can either stick closer
to the pylons which make navigation easier or search through
the field of debris which stretches down to the sandy bottom
at about 18m. Also seen: Giant clams, moray, large fish,
abundant lion fish, sand eels, black
spotted rays, turtles, sharks, large worms, blue spotted
rays, scribbled leather jackets, abundant puffer fish. |
| Topside |
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| GPS
reference |
S 08° 21.716' - E127°
03.728' |
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Interesting Sightings
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