Komodo snorkeling happens from a boat out of Labuan Bajo, at reefs and sandbars inside the national park. Our one-day speedboat trip has three snorkel stops, Pink Beach, Manta Point and Turtle Bay, for IDR 1,450,000 (about $81) per person with gear included. The three-day boats add quieter reefs at Pengah, Manjarite, Sebayur and Kanawa.
Everything below can be done from the surface. Nobody needs a dive certificate, and mask, snorkel, fins and life jackets are supplied on every boat.
Komodo snorkeling spots, and which trip stops there
Manta Point, Karang Makassar
- What the water is like
- Drift over a shallow rubble reef, with current
- Day trip
- Yes
- Ballona or Elbark, 3 days
- Yes
- Akassa or Semesta, 3 days
- Yes
Pink Beach
- What the water is like
- Reef a few metres off the sand
- Day trip
- Yes
- Ballona or Elbark, 3 days
- Yes
- Akassa or Semesta, 3 days
- Yes
Turtle Bay
- What the water is like
- Sheltered coral garden with green turtles
- Day trip
- Yes
- Ballona or Elbark, 3 days
- No
- Akassa or Semesta, 3 days
- No
Taka Makassar
- What the water is like
- Reef along the edge of the sandbar
- Day trip
- Swim stop
- Ballona or Elbark, 3 days
- Swim stop
- Akassa or Semesta, 3 days
- Yes
Sebayur or Siaba
- What the water is like
- Gentle reef, the first snorkel of the trip
- Day trip
- No
- Ballona or Elbark, 3 days
- Yes
- Akassa or Semesta, 3 days
- No
Pengah
- What the water is like
- Less visited reef
- Day trip
- No
- Ballona or Elbark, 3 days
- Yes
- Akassa or Semesta, 3 days
- No
Manjarite
- What the water is like
- Calm, shallow, coral close to the beach
- Day trip
- No
- Ballona or Elbark, 3 days
- Yes
- Akassa or Semesta, 3 days
- Yes
Kanawa
- What the water is like
- Reef that starts a few metres from the beach
- Day trip
- No
- Ballona or Elbark, 3 days
- No
- Akassa or Semesta, 3 days
- Yes
| Spot | What the water is like | Day trip | Ballona or Elbark, 3 days | Akassa or Semesta, 3 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manta Point, Karang Makassar | Drift over a shallow rubble reef, with current | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pink Beach | Reef a few metres off the sand | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turtle Bay | Sheltered coral garden with green turtles | Yes | No | No |
| Taka Makassar | Reef along the edge of the sandbar | Swim stop | Swim stop | Yes |
| Sebayur or Siaba | Gentle reef, the first snorkel of the trip | No | Yes | No |
| Pengah | Less visited reef | No | Yes | No |
| Manjarite | Calm, shallow, coral close to the beach | No | Yes | Yes |
| Kanawa | Reef that starts a few metres from the beach | No | No | Yes |
The day trip gives each stop 35 minutes to an hour. A three-day boat has more water time and reaches the quiet reefs the speedboats skip.
Manta Point is a drift, not a swim
Karang Makassar is a shallow rubble reef where reef mantas queue at cleaning stations. You get in up-current and float over the station, and the tender follows the group, so nobody swims back to the boat. The current is what brings the mantas, and it is also why the crew may shorten or skip the stop on a rough afternoon.
Mantas live in the park all year, and nobody can promise one on a given day. Sites like Batu Bolong and Castle Rock are for divers and are not snorkel stops. Our Komodo dive sites guide explains which sites need a tank.
The easy reefs for beginners
Manjarite is calm and shallow, the place where nervous snorkelers get comfortable. Kanawa has a reef that starts a few metres off the beach and is usually the longest swim of the trip. At Pink Beach you walk in from the sand, and Turtle Bay is a sheltered bay.
Non-swimmers can still join. Life jackets are provided at every stop, the guide stays close at Manta Point, and anyone who prefers can stay on the boat there.
Labuan Bajo, Flores
Five snorkel stops over three days
Sebayur or Siaba, Manta Point, Pink Beach, Pengah and Manjarite, plus a swim at Taka Makassar, with Padar at sunrise and the dragons in between. Snorkel gear, a paddleboard and a canoe are on board.
One day or three for snorkeling
The one-day speedboat trip suits people with a single spare day. It fits three snorkels around Padar and the dragon walk, and it is back in town between 16:15 and 17:00.
For more time in the water, take a boat that sleeps in the park. The three-day shared phinisi reaches Pengah, where the coral is usually the best of the trip, and the Akassa and Semesta route ends with a long swim at Kanawa.
What to bring
Bring your own mask if the fit matters to you. Add reef shoes for the Pink Beach landing, which is broken coral, a long-sleeved rash guard, and reef-safe sunscreen. The sandbar and the deck have almost no shade.
Fees and season
Snorkeling adds nothing to the park ticket. Foreign visitors pay IDR 250,000 a day whether they snorkel or not, and only diving costs IDR 25,000 a day more. April to November is the dry season, and the harbour master can still stop sailings for a few days when waves are high.
If you are comparing Komodo with other reefs in the country, our snorkeling in Indonesia guide sets them side by side.
Booking a snorkeling trip
Tell us how many days you have and how confident everyone is in the water. We will suggest the boat with the right stops, and you can plan the trip with us before you book flights.
Written by
Asik Travel Editorial
Local travel editors
We write from the islands we sell, with first-hand notes from our guides and operators.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best snorkeling in Komodo?
Manta Point at Karang Makassar for mantas, Pink Beach for coral a few metres off the sand, and Pengah for the healthiest reef on our three-day route. Manjarite, Kanawa and Turtle Bay are the calm, shallow ones, better for beginners.
Can you snorkel in Komodo without diving experience?
Yes. Every stop on our day trip and three-day boats works from the surface, including Manta Point, and no certificate is needed. Mask, snorkel, fins and life jackets are supplied. Non-swimmers can wear a life jacket at the calm stops or stay on the boat.
How much is a Komodo snorkeling trip from Labuan Bajo?
The one-day speedboat trip is IDR 1,450,000 (about $81) per person with three snorkel stops, gear, lunch and hotel pickup. Three days on a shared phinisi, with five snorkel stops, start at IDR 6,000,000 (about $336). Park fees are extra.
Will I see manta rays while snorkeling in Komodo?
Often, never certainly. Karang Makassar is one of the park's main manta cleaning stations and reef mantas are resident all year, so there is no closed season. They are wild animals, and tide and current decide the day. Guides read both before the group gets in.
Do I need to pay extra to snorkel in Komodo National Park?
No. Snorkeling is covered by the park entry ticket, which is IDR 250,000 a day for foreign visitors and IDR 50,000 for Indonesian citizens. Only diving adds a charge, IDR 25,000 a day. Snorkel gear is included in the price of our boats.
