I've been to both Komodo and the Maldives ... and although current pretty much defines the diving in both places, it's not anything alike. Current in the Maldives is strong and steady ... water moving into and out of large lagoons through relatively small, deep channels. It can be oh-my-god strong, but it's moving in pretty much one direction or the other. Current in Komodo can be mild, wild, steady, or washing-machine ... because the flow can come from different directions and mix and mingle depending on the topography. It can be an easy drift, an exciting ride along the reef, a game of hide-behind-the-pinnacle, or an every-which-way-but-loose ride on an aquatic bull. It all depends on the dive site.
The dive sites themselves are varied ... from shallow reefs with steep and deep dropoffs to pinnacles to sheltered coves to large rocks sticking up in the middle of nowhere.
Don't go by the calendar ... go by the moon cycle, as highdesert suggested. The strength of the current is going to be determined by the tidal flow ... which is determined by the phase of the moon. Look at what the moon's doing during the week you'll be there and you can get a relative idea how strong to expect the tides to be. But keep in mind that, generally speaking, the best dive sites are going to be the ones with the strongest current. The guides have all sorts of ways to deal with it ... and it's important to listen to the dive briefing and stick to the dive plan to avoid getting swept on some of them.
But by all means go ... Komodo's one of my all-time favorite places ... way better (to my concern) than the Maldives.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
