Raja Bintang 01
Raja Bintang 01
Manta Point: a drift, not a promise
Updated 4 November 2026
A Manta Point snorkel by boat is a guided drift along a reef in a strong current, on day 2 of Raja Bintang 01's three-day plan. Snorkelling gear is included, a confident swimmer is advised, and no manta is promised. The whole boat costs IDR 78,000,000 (≈ USD 4,785).
Manta Point from the water
Manta Point, also called Karang Makassar, is the one snorkel of the route that asks for a confident swimmer. The water is deeper and the current is stronger than at Pink Beach.
- Arrival: engines off, a briefing on the current and a life jacket offered.
- At the stop: a drift along the reef with the current, in water 3 to 15 m deep, rather than a fixed anchor.
- Leaving: a manta in view, or reef and fish without one, and the tender back to pick you up.
Snorkelling is guided, and the group drifts together.
Snorkel or dive: the plain answer
Snorkelling gear is included in the fare. Diving is not sold on Raja Bintang 01. If some of your group dive, ask us before booking: a mixed group is arranged only on a private charter, never on an open-trip seat, and we confirm in writing what the crew and the tender can do before you pay.
The tender is a Suzuki 15 HP boat, and it picks up swimmers at the end of a drift. A life jacket is advised for anyone not confident in current, and 30 are on board. Any dive arrangement is a separate quote.
Real photo from a KEXI trip · 12 photos
Mantas are never promised
Mantas are never guaranteed, and the current can be strong. Sightings depend on tide and current, and the order of Manta Point and Taka Makassar swaps on the day for that reason. Some months are kinder to mantas than others, and the when-to-go page gives them, without a promise for any.
This is not a calm lagoon. Guests who are nervous in open water should say so to the guide and stay near the tender, or sit the drift out and keep the rest of the day. Nobody is judged for staying aboard.
A drift snorkel also means you finish downstream of where you began.
Manta Point, fitted into day two
On the three-day route Manta Point comes late on day two, after Komodo Island or Rinca and Taka Makassar, though the tide can swap the last two. The whole boat costs IDR 78,000,000 (≈ USD 4,785) for up to 16 guests, and a seat on a Monday or Friday open trip starts at IDR 4,750,000 (≈ USD 291) per person.
Ask for dates and we tell you the tide the plan implies. We confirm the plan in writing, and the captain tells you the order on the morning of the day. If the current is too strong on the day, the captain and the guide decide, and the rest of the route stays.
FAQ
Is Manta Point worth it on a phinisi trip?
For confident swimmers, yes, with no manta promised. The engines go off, someone briefs you on the current, and you drift along a reef in water 3 to 15 m deep. You end with a manta, or with reef and fish and no manta at all.
How long do we stay at Manta Point?
The captain sets the time ashore on the day, with the tide and the weather. The tide, the current and the day plan set it, and the order with Taka Makassar can swap. Ask us for the plan on your date and we confirm in writing.
Can children or older travellers manage Manta Point?
It is one of the harder snorkels. The current is strong and the water is up to 15 m deep, so a life jacket or a confident swimmer in the group is advised. Children who swim well and adults who are steady in open water manage it. Anyone unsure can stay on the boat.
Check availability — Raja Bintang 01
Raja Bintang 01 sails with its own crew; Komodo Explorer sells the cabins and the whole boat, and arranges your booking, payment and pickup.