Thalassa
Thalassa Phinisi
Taka Makassar sandbar: low-tide sand, shallow reef
Updated 23 October 2026
Taka Makassar is a crescent sandbar with shallow reef, 30 to 60 minutes of swimming that shows only at low tide. It takes one slot with Manta Point on day 2 of the Thalassa 3D2N, and the captain picks which one by tide.
A sandbar the tide decides
Taka Makassar is a crescent of sand in open water, with shallow reef around it. At low tide the sand stands clear of the sea and you can walk on it. At high tide the bar is underwater, and the stop becomes a swim over reef with nothing to walk on.
That is why the captain, not the schedule, picks the hour. On the Thalassa 3D2N the stop comes on day 2, after Pink Beach, and it shares one slot with Manta Point. The captain picks which of the two by tide, and the card is the plan, not the rule.
The 2D1N does not reach Taka Makassar. Kanawa closes the 3D2N on day 3, and it is a different kind of stop: a white beach on an island, not a bar in open water.
- Best window
- morning
- Time ashore / in water
- 30–60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Depth
- 1–5 m
- Current
- mild
- Tide
- Depends on tide
- Busiest months
- July, August
What it is not: the sandbar is visible only at low tide · not a place to walk if the tide is high: it may be underwater
Shallow reef, easy swimming
Water depth runs from 1 to 5 meters, and the current is mild. For most of the group this is the easy swim of the trip: a mask, a slow kick and a reef within reach of the surface. Children and anxious swimmers do well here, and a guest who found the Manta Point drift too much will find this one gentler.
Plan for 30 to 60 minutes. The tender takes guests from the boat to the bar, and anyone who wants to stay on the sand can stay there while the others swim.
A canoe or SUP board from the boat gives a different view of the crescent. Both boats carry them, and they are free to use. The captain decides if the wind allows it.
Photo supplied by the boats' owner · 12 photos
Shade, hats and reef-safe sunscreen
There is almost no shade on the sand. A hat, a long-sleeve rash guard and reef-safe sunscreen are the three things that matter. Bring a light towel for the tender too, because the ride back is in the wind.
The sand holds heat at midday and the glare off the water is strong. Sunglasses with a strap save a pair that would otherwise end up on the bottom.
Crowds follow the calendar. July and August are the busiest months, and in those weeks the bar can hold other boats' guests. A shoulder month gives the crescent to the group.
When the tide takes the sandbar back
The bar is visible only at low tide, and it is not a place to stand when the tide is rising. Watch the water line, and when the crew calls the group back, walk to the tender without a last photograph.
If the tide is wrong when the boat arrives, the stop becomes a reef swim, and the captain moves the stop to the end of the afternoon. Nothing is lost except the walk on the sand.
The sandbar lies inside the park, where entry costs IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor per day, IDR 50,000 per Indonesian citizen on weekdays and IDR 75,000 at weekends. Komodo National Park tickets and ranger fees are never part of the fare.
FAQ
How long is the Taka Makassar stop?
Plan on 30 to 60 minutes. The tender takes the group to the bar at low tide, and the crew calls everyone back when the water rises. If the tide is wrong on arrival the stop shifts later in the afternoon, and the captain decides whether it becomes a reef swim.
Which day of the 3D2N is Taka Makassar on?
Day 2. It follows Pink Beach and shares one slot with Manta Point, and the tide picks which one. The 2D1N does not include Taka Makassar. Day 3 of the 3D2N goes to Kanawa and the harbor, with the return time confirmed in writing.
Can children enjoy Taka Makassar?
Yes. The water is 1 to 5 meters deep, the current is mild and the reef is close to the surface, so it is the easy swim of the trip. A child in a life jacket with an adult does well here. Shade is thin, so bring a hat and a rash guard.
What should I bring to the sandbar?
Bring a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, a long-sleeve rash guard, sunglasses with a strap and a light towel for the tender ride. Water shoes help on the reef edge. The boat provides snorkeling gear free of charge, and your own mask is welcome if it fits better.
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.