It Is Pink, at the Right Hour

Yes, but fussily. Strongest at the waterline in morning or late-afternoon light. Overhead midday sun washes it toward beige, which is why photographs disagree so much.

Homotrema rubrum, a small reef organism with a hard red skeleton. Waves grind the skeletons into red particles that mix through white coral sand.

By boat, on the eastern side of Komodo Island — a short hop from the Loh Liang ranger station where the dragon treks start. Almost every operator pairs the two.

Better than its reputation. The reef starts about thirty metres off the sand and the coral is in better condition than at several easier-to-reach sites.

If you swim, yes. If you only want the photograph and your boat arrives at noon, you will probably think it was oversold.