Gammara Phinisi
Gammara Phinisi
Manta Point, a drift snorkel with a pull
Updated 3 November 2026
Manta Point snorkel in Komodo: Gammara reaches it on day 2 and you drift along the reef with the current, guided, with life jackets on board. Manta rays are common but never guaranteed. Expect a pull, so confident swimmers go first.
Mantas without scuba
You do not need to dive. Manta Point is a snorkel stop, also known as Karang Makassar, in the central park. Depth is between 3 and 15 metres.
The way it works is simple. The boat does not anchor in one spot. Snorkellers are drifted along the reef with the current, then collected downstream.
Manta rays are common here but never guaranteed. They are wild, and sightings depend on tide and current. Manta season is best from December to February and again from July to September, but a good season does not buy you a ray.
On the 3D2N route this is the last stop of day 2, so you arrive tired and warm. That is a good time for cool water and a short swim.
How hard the water pulls at the point
This is not a calm lagoon. The current can be strong, and we describe the stop as moderate. Snorkelling is guided, so you enter and leave the water where the guide says.
If the current runs hard, you do not fight it. You float along with it and let the boat find you downstream. If you are tired, you signal and come aboard, and nobody is expected to swim against the water.
A life jacket is advised because of the pull, and life jackets are on board. A confident swimmer in the pair makes the stop easier. The level is confident swimmers, so if neither of you swims well, say so now.
Tide sets the running order. Manta Point and Taka Makassar swap places depending on the tide, and the captain decides which comes first.
Real photo from a KEXI trip · 12 photos
Gear and nerves for first-time snorkellers
Snorkel gear and life jackets are on the included list for the boat, so you do not need your own. Earlier in the day, Pink Beach is the place to practise breathing through the snorkel in shallow water.
Nerves are normal. Most of the effort is in staying relaxed: breathe slowly, keep your face down and let your legs trail. The current does the moving, and your job is to look down and stay calm.
Keep your hands off the reef and off any ray. Do not chase an animal. If a manta approaches, hold still and let it pass.
If you would rather watch than swim, tell the guide before you enter. The stop is optional for each of you.
The morning the point is skipped
Sometimes the point is skipped. A current too strong for the group, a sea too rough for the tender or a tide that has turned the wrong way can take it off the day. The captain makes that decision on the spot.
That is a safety call and not a failure. The 2026 brochure says the route changes with traffic, weather and tides, and Manta Point is one of the stops that changes first.
When it is skipped the day still has Taka Makassar, a gentler snorkel in shallow water, and the time returns to the boat or the next reef.
We cannot print a refund for a skipped stop; a change at sea is dealt with case by case, in writing. If mantas are the reason you came, tell us on WhatsApp and we will tell you plainly how much the season and the route can offer.
FAQ
Do we have to dive to see manta rays?
No. Manta Point is a snorkel stop, with depth between 3 and 15 metres and the animals near the surface. You drift along the reef with the current and the tender collects you. Mantas are common but never guaranteed, whatever your gear.
Is the current at Manta Point too strong for beginners?
The current can be strong, and the stop is rated for confident swimmers. A life jacket is advised, snorkelling is guided and you can leave the water at any time. If neither of you swims well, tell us before booking and skip this stop.
Check availability — Gammara Phinisi
Bookings for Gammara Phinisi are made with the Komodo Explorer team in Labuan Bajo.