Kanha Phinisi
Kanha Phinisi fleet (Kanha Citta, Kanha Loka, Kanha Natha)
Komodo manta season: what to expect at Manta Point
Updated 23 October 2026
Komodo manta season is best roughly December to February and July to September, and Manta Point is the last stop of day 2 on the 3D2N. Sightings are never guaranteed, whatever the month. Shared fares start at IDR 4,500,000 (≈ USD 276) per person.
Where Manta Point falls on the Friday sailing
Manta Point closes day 2 of the 3D2N, after Padar, Pink Beach and the Komodo walk. It is a snorkel to see manta rays, and sightings are not guaranteed.
Dinner on board follows. The stop is the same on Kanha Citta, Kanha Loka and Kanha Natha, and the captain decides on the day whether tide and current allow it. The stop is not on the 2D1N sample route.
Manta months, one by one
The best manta months are roughly December to February and July to September. On the month data we use, January, February, July, August, September and December rate as peak, March as good, and April to June, October and November as fair.
Peak does not mean certain. The wet-season peak in January and February comes with the roughest seas of the year, and the July to September peak comes with the crowds. September pairs strong manta odds with easing winds and better visibility.
The month notes are general knowledge of the park, not measurements from a Kanha boat.
- 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
Real photo from a trip booked with PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia · 12 photos
The Manta Point drift
Manta Point is also known as Karang Makassar, in the central park. Operators drift snorkellers along the reef with the current, not at anchor in one spot, and the snorkel runs 30 to 60 minutes. Depths range from 3 to 15 metres.
The current is strong, and the stop is rated moderate. A life jacket, or a confident swimmer in the group, is advised. The snorkel is guided, and it is not a calm lagoon.
You swim on the surface and watch.
No manta on request: what we do not promise
We do not promise a manta, and neither does the Kanha schedule. Sightings depend on tide and current, and a stop can show plenty of mantas on one morning and none the next.
The captain decides on the day whether to make the stop, how long it lasts, and where the drift begins. On trips of other lengths, the order of Manta Point and Taka Makassar often swaps with the tide.
A guest who books a Friday sailing for mantas alone should choose a month from the peak list and still treat the stop as a chance, not an entitlement.
Safety, etiquette and other stops if mantas are absent
Confident swimmers get the most from the drift. Anyone who is less sure should wear the life jacket, which is on board on all three boats, and stay near the guide. Keep your hands to yourself and your distance from any animal that appears.
If the mantas do not show, the 3D2N does not leave you with a blank. Day 3 adds Sebayur and Taka Makassar for calmer snorkelling, and Pink Beach on day 2 has a shallow reef close to shore.
The Kanha edit. For a reunion of 20 with mixed swimmers: Kanha Loka or Kanha Citta, each with 7 crew. For six strong swimmers who want the drift to themselves: Kanha Natha.
FAQ
When is manta season in Komodo?
Roughly December to February and July to September. January, February, July, August, September and December rate as peak on the month data we use. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the wet-season peak comes with the roughest seas of the year, so the best month depends on what you will tolerate.
Are manta rays guaranteed at Manta Point?
No. Sightings are not guaranteed. Mantas depend on tide, current and season, and the captain decides on the day whether the stop is made. We would rather say so plainly than sell a promise that the sea can break, and we say so before you pay.
Is Manta Point safe for weak swimmers?
The current is strong and the stop is rated moderate, so a life jacket, or a confident swimmer in the group, is advised. Life jackets are on board on all three boats. The drift is guided, and weaker swimmers can stay close to the guide and watch.
Which day is Manta Point on the 3D2N?
Day 2, as the last stop after Padar, Pink Beach and Komodo Island. Taka Makassar is on day 3. On a private 2D1N, Manta Point is left out. A 4D3N charter includes it on day 2 as a sample, confirmed in writing.
Check availability — Kanha Phinisi
Kanha Phinisi is one of the three Kanha boats we book as the booking partner of their owner; PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia sells, answers and stands behind your booking.