Maheswari
Maheswari Phinisi
Manta Point: a drift snorkel for confident swimmers
Updated 20 October 2026
Maheswari reaches Manta Point on day 2 of the 3D2N and the 4D3N only. It is a drift snorkel of 30 to 60 minutes in a strong current, over water 3 to 15 metres deep. Manta rays are common here. Non-swimmers stay on board.
Which lengths reach Manta Point
Manta Point is on two of the four routes. On the 3D2N it is the last stop of day 2, after the Taka Makassar snorkel and a snack, and dinner follows. On the 4D3N it comes earlier on day 2, after the Siaba snorkel and breakfast, with a snack and Taka Makassar next.
The 2D1N and the full day do not go there. If mantas matter to your party, choose the 3D2N or the 4D3N.
The order differs between the two routes, and the order of Manta Point and Taka Makassar swaps on the day when the tide and the current ask for it. The captain decides.
- 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: manta rays are common but never guaranteed · not a calm lagoon: currents can be strong and snorkelling is guided
What a swimmer meets there
Manta Point is also known as Karang Makassar, in the central part of the park. Snorkellers drift along the reef with the current and do not anchor in one spot. The session lasts 30 to 60 minutes.
Manta rays are wild animals. They are common here, and sightings follow the tide and the current. The stop is not a calm lagoon.
The tender, a 6 m fibreglass boat with a Yamaha 15 HP engine, comes with every fare. How the crew use it at each stop is the captain's decision on the day. Treat the stop as a swim in open water, and the mantas as the animals' own choice.
Photo taken on a Komodo Explorer trip · 12 photos
Current, depth and a good swimmer's checklist
Water here is 3 to 15 metres deep, the current is strong, and the level is confident swimmers. Before you commit, answer four questions honestly. Can you swim without touching the bottom? Are you comfortable in open water? Will you wear a life jacket? Can you follow the crew's signal?
A life jacket or a confident swimmer in the group is advised because of the current. Life jackets and snorkelling gear are aboard for every guest.
Anyone who would rather not swim stays aboard with the crew, and the rest of the party goes on with the snorkel. Name the swimmers when you book, and we plan around them.
The months that matter
Manta season is best from December to February and from July to September. Those are also the months of the roughest sea and the heaviest crowds in July and August, so the best months for mantas are not the easiest for everything else.
Outside those months, sightings are fewer. April to June and October to November give the calmest water and the clearest, and a lower chance of a large manta.
Nothing here is a forecast. The months page gives the sea, the clarity and the crowds for all twelve months, and the park ticket is paid per visitor per day, at IDR 250,000 for a foreign visitor. Pick the month by what you can accept: a rougher sea for more mantas, or a calmer one for clearer water.
FAQ
How likely are manta rays at Manta Point?
Sightings are frequent here, but never certain. Manta rays are wild animals, common at this reef, and whether you see them follows the tide and the current. The best seasons are December to February and July to September.
Can non-swimmers join the Manta stop?
The stop is for confident swimmers because of the current. A guest who prefers not to swim stays on board with the crew while the others snorkel. A life jacket is on board for those who want to try.
What is the current like?
Strong, and it changes with the tide. Snorkellers drift along the reef with the current rather than anchoring in one spot. The crew's instructions apply on the day. If you are not a strong swimmer or feel unsure, tell the crew before you go in.
Which month is best for mantas?
December to February and July to September are the best months. The wet months bring the roughest sea of the year, so mantas and calm water seldom coincide.
Is Manta Point on the 2-day route?
No. Manta Point is on the 3D2N and the 4D3N only, on day 2 of each. The 2D1N and the full day go to Padar, Pink Beach and Komodo, not to Manta Point. Choose the 3D2N or the 4D3N if mantas matter to your party.
Check availability — Maheswari
Maheswari is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia. We arrange the pickup, take the payment and keep your booking in order. The boat sails with its own crew.