Thalassa
Thalassa Phinisi
Manta Point snorkeling, Komodo: a guided drift for confident swimmers
Updated 23 October 2026
Manta Point snorkeling in Komodo is a guided drift of 30 to 60 minutes along the reef with the current. It shares one slot on day 2 of the Thalassa 3D2N with Taka Makassar, and the tide picks which. Mantas feed here in season; no crew can promise them on a given day. The best months run December to February and July to September.
How the drift works
Manta Point is not a calm lagoon. The current can be strong, so the boat does not anchor over one spot. The tender drops swimmers up-current, the group drifts along the reef with the water, and the tender collects them at the end. The snorkeling is guided, and the drift lasts 30 to 60 minutes.
Also known as Karang Makassar, the stop lies in the central park. On the Thalassa 3D2N it falls on day 2, after Pink Beach, and it takes the same slot as Taka Makassar, and the tide and the captain pick which one. The captain makes that call on the day, so the order on a card is a plan and not a promise.
Neither the 2D1N nor any shorter route reaches this stop. If mantas are your reason for sailing, book the 3D2N.
- Best window
- morning
- Time ashore / in water
- 30–60 min
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Depth
- 3–15 m
- Current
- strong
- Tide
- Depends on tide
- Busiest months
- July, August, September
What it is not: wild animals: no crew can promise mantas on a given day · not a calm lagoon: currents can be strong and snorkeling is guided
Months for mantas
Manta rays are wild animals and a sighting depends on tide and current. Mantas feed here in season. We never promise a sighting.
The best months run roughly from December to February and from July to September. Those windows come with a trade. December to February is the wet season, with rougher seas and lower visibility, and July and August are windy and the busiest months of the year. September brings easier winds, clearer water and mantas still in the area, which makes it a strong month for this stop.
Aside from the high-season dates in your quote, the Thalassa rate is the same all year, so choosing a month is a choice of water, not of price. Our page on the best time to go sets the months side by side.
Photo supplied by the boats' owner · 12 photos
Who should sit this one out
The drift asks for a confident swimmer. The depth runs from about 3 to 15 meters and the current is strong. A life jacket is advised for anyone less sure, and wearing one is better than cutting the stop short.
Guests who prefer to stay dry can watch from the tender, which follows the swimmers along the reef.
A child who swims well and wears a jacket can join the drift. A small child, or a guest with a heart or breathing condition, is better placed on the tender. Tell us before you sail, so the briefing on board fits the group.
Photographs in current
A camera in current needs a strap and a free hand. An action camera on a wrist strap suits the drift. A phone in a waterproof pouch is a risk, because a pouch that slips in a drift is gone for good.
Photographs of the swim by a photographer are not part of the private fare. On a private charter the guide and photo and video documentation are not included; both are available on request and quoted separately.
The park charges by the person and the day: IDR 250,000 for foreign visitors, IDR 50,000 for Indonesian citizens on weekdays and IDR 75,000 at weekends. Snorkeling has no separate park levy. Komodo National Park tickets and ranger fees are never part of the fare.
FAQ
How long is the Manta Point stop?
The guided drift lasts 30 to 60 minutes. The tender drops the group up-current and collects it downstream, so the time depends on the water that day. The captain also decides whether the slot goes to Manta Point or to Taka Makassar, and one tide rarely suits both stops.
Which day of the 3D2N is Manta Point on?
It falls on day 2, after Padar, Komodo and Pink Beach, and it takes the same afternoon slot as Taka Makassar. The two stops can swap places by tide. The 2D1N does not include either, and Kanawa closes the 3D2N on day 3.
Will we see manta rays?
Mantas feed here in season, and we never promise a sighting. A sighting depends on tide and current, and the swim is a drift, not a feeding station. The better windows run December to February and July to September, and we do not promise a sighting in any quote.
Is Manta Point safe for children?
It is safe for confident swimmers in a life jacket, and the current is strong. A child who swims well can join the drift with a jacket and an adult. A small child, or anyone unsure in open water, can watch from the tender, which follows the group along the reef.
Check availability: Thalassa
Thalassa is published and booked by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia, a booking partner for Thalassa 1 and Thalassa 2. The boats belong to their owner.