Soe Besar Vanrei
Soe Besar Vanrei Phinisi
A drift snorkel where the current decides
Updated 8 November 2026
Manta Point is a guided drift snorkel on day two of the Soe Besar Vanrei 3D2N and 4D3N. It lasts 30 to 60 minutes over reef 3 to 15 m deep, in strong current. Mantas are common here but never promised, and non-swimmers stay aboard.
Manta Point in numbers
Day 2, after Komodo, Manta Point: a vest on, a guide beside you, the current doing the work.
Manta Point, also called Karang Makassar, sits in the central park. Snorkellers drift along the reef with the current rather than hold one spot. The snorkel runs 30 to 60 minutes, the water is 3 to 15 m deep, and the current is strong. The tide matters, and the stop swaps order with Taka Makassar depending on it.
The 3D2N and 4D3N call here after the Komodo walk. The 2D1N does not reach it. The grade is moderate and the level is confident swimmers.
The number of mantas on any given day cannot be known.
Vest on, guide beside you, slow kicks
A snorkel vest is advised for every swimmer here, and a guide stays beside the group. On an open-trip seat, the local guide travels with the party and is part of the seat. On a private charter a guide is an add-on we quote separately, and we recommend one for this stop.
Slow kicks. The current carries you, so effort is spent on breathing and on keeping the group together, not on swimming against anything. Float face down, keep the vest on and look ahead as well as down.
A teenager who swims well will enjoy it. A child under confident-swimmer age is better on the deck, and a parent can swap turns with the other adult.
The equipment list names snorkel gear and life jackets. Ask us before you rely on anything else.
Real photo from a KEXI trip · 12 photos
Mantas: observed, never promised
Mantas are common at this reef and are never promised. More sightings are reported from December to February and from July to September, yet the pattern is not a rule, and the tide and current change what each morning offers. A group can swim for an hour and see none, or see several at once.
We print no sighting rate and no peak month as a guarantee. Whale sharks are not on the routes either.
Mantas are seen regularly here across the year.
No date or hour makes a manta certain.
Caveat: the captain may skip the stop if the current is too strong.
A non-swimmer's morning aboard
A non-swimmer, or anyone who prefers dry skin, has a good stop aboard. The dining deck is covered, the drinks are cold, and the group swimming is in sight of the boat. Watching is part of the stop, and nobody is asked to justify staying dry.
Taka Makassar comes next or just before, and its water is shallow. A non-swimmer who skips Manta Point can wade there, in water 1 to 5 m deep at the deepest, with a vest on.
If half the party swims and half stays, tell us the evening before, so that the plan for the stop is agreed with the captain in advance and nobody decides at the rail.
FAQ
Can a child snorkel at Manta Point?
Only a confident swimmer, with a vest and an adult beside them. The current is strong and the drift is guided, so a young or nervous child is better on the deck. Taka Makassar, the next stop, is shallow and suits smaller children.
When is the best month to see manta rays?
More sightings are reported from December to February and from July to September, yet no month is a guarantee. Tide and current change each morning. We print no sighting rate, and we never promise a manta.
What if the captain skips Manta Point?
The captain decides on the current, the tide and the weather. If the stop is skipped, the day continues with Taka Makassar and the next stop. The itinerary can change with the weather, and we tell you what changed as soon as we know.
Check availability — Soe Besar Vanrei
Bookings for Soe Besar Vanrei run through the Komodo Explorer team in Labuan Bajo. We plan the voyage, take payment and answer in writing before you board; the boat keeps its own captain and crew.