In the water · Komodo National Park
Snorkelling and diving from a liveaboard deck
Manta Point, Batu Bolong, Taka Makassar, Sebayur and Siaba — reached from the boat rather than from a day tender. Snorkelling gear and life vests are included; certified diving is arranged separately and this page says exactly how.
Site by site
Where you actually get in
Two of these are current-dependent. The crew reads the tide table before deciding the running order, not the brochure.
Manta Point
A shallow cleaning-station drift where reef mantas feed. Current-dependent, always guide supervised.
Batu Bolong
A pinnacle wall with serious current — one of the reasons divers come to this park at all.
Taka Makassar
A crescent sandbar that appears and disappears with the tide, sitting in exceptionally clear water.
Sebayur Island
The day-three reef, close enough to Labuan Bajo for a last snorkel before the run home.
Manjarite
A sheltered bay with easy entry, used as the gear-check stop before the more demanding sites.
Pink Beach
Crushed red organ-pipe coral mixed into white sand, with snorkelling straight off the beach.
Lady Grace is a snorkelling-first Komodo liveaboard. Snorkelling gear and life vests are included for every guest, and the itinerary is built around in-water stops: Manjarite on day one, Manta Point and Taka Makassar on day two, Siaba and Sebayur on day three. Scuba equipment is not on the operator’s published inclusion list – no tanks, compressor or dive deck – so certified diving is arranged separately with licensed Labuan Bajo dive operators. Reef mantas are at Karang Makassar year-round, with sightings peaking roughly December to March and a strong May-to-September window when visibility is best.
Equipment, stated plainly. The operator’s published inclusion list covers snorkelling gear and life vests. It does not list tanks, a compressor, weights, a dive deck or on-board dive guides. Treat Lady Grace as a snorkelling-first liveaboard and arrange certified diving separately through a licensed Labuan Bajo dive centre, confirming logistics with the booking desk first.
The in-water stops, site by site
| Site | Where it sits | Conditions | What you are there for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manta Point (Karang Makassar) | Central park, east of Komodo Island | Shallow, current-driven drift, always guide supervised | Reef manta rays at a cleaning and feeding station |
| Taka Makassar | Beside Karang Makassar | Shallow reef around a tidal sandbar, clear water | A crescent sandbar and the reef edge either side |
| Manjarite | Between Kelor and Kalong | Sheltered bay, easy entry | The day-one warm-up and gear check |
| Siaba | North-central park | Gentle to moderate, shallow reef | Green turtles are the draw |
| Sebayur | Close to Labuan Bajo | Sheltered, shallow, easy | The last morning snorkel before harbour |
| Pink Beach (Pantai Merah) | West Komodo Island | Beach entry, shallow | Reef straight off the sand |
Manta season, honestly
Reef mantas are resident at Karang Makassar rather than migratory visitors, which is why operators sail the site all year. What changes across the calendar is the balance between manta numbers and water clarity:
- December to March – sightings peak. Plankton drives the feeding, and the same plankton cuts visibility to roughly 10-15 metres. More mantas, murkier water.
- May to September – still strong sightings, with visibility at 20-30 metres or more. This is the window most photographers pick.
- April, October, November – transitional, generally settled, fewer boats on the site.
Nobody can guarantee an encounter. The site works on current, and current is a daily variable. A four-day charter gives the crew room for a second attempt – the argument for that is on the 4D3N itinerary page.
| Month | Sea and weather | Typical visibility | What it means on the water |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Wet, heaviest rain | 10-15 m | Peak manta season at Karang Makassar |
| February | Wet, heaviest rain | 10-15 m | Peak manta season, routes adjusted for swell |
| March | Wet, easing | 10-15 m | End of the peak manta window |
| April | Start of the dry season | 20-30 m | Seas settling, fewer boats |
| May | Dry | 20-30 m | Strong manta sightings with better visibility |
| June | Dry, most settled | 20-30 m+ | Prime conditions, calendars fill early |
| July | Dry, most settled | 20-30 m+ | Peak demand; south Komodo water cools to 24-26 C |
| August | Dry, most settled | 20-30 m+ | Peak demand; upwelling continues in the south |
| September | Dry, most settled | 20-30 m+ | Prime conditions, demand easing late in the month |
| October | Dry | 20-30 m | Warm, calm, good value |
| November | End of the dry season | 20-30 m | Transitional, still widely sailed |
| December | Wet begins | 10-15 m | Manta numbers rising, holiday demand high |
Water temperature and what to wear
Most park sites run 26-29 C, warm enough that a rash guard is sufficient for snorkelling. The exception is the southern Komodo upwelling between July and September, which pulls temperatures down to 24-26 C. If your itinerary includes southern sites in that window, a thin wetsuit top is worth packing. Bring reef-safe sunscreen – most of your exposure on a snorkelling itinerary is the back of your legs at the surface.
Diving in Komodo: how it actually works from this boat
Komodo is a legitimately advanced dive destination. Sites in the central and southern park carry strong currents, downwellings and cold thermoclines, and reputable operators enforce certification and experience minimums.
What that means practically for Lady Grace guests: the vessel is equipped and provisioned for snorkelling, and diving is a separate arrangement with a licensed dive centre. Raise it with the booking desk at enquiry stage rather than on board – dive logistics need planning, not improvisation. Where certified diving is arranged, expect an additional park diver surcharge of IDR 25,000 per diver per day on top of standard entrance fees.
| Item | Documented 2026 amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Daily park entrance, foreign visitor | IDR 150,000-250,000 per day | Most liveaboard operators budget the upper figure |
| Harbour fee | IDR 25,000 per day | Charged per person |
| Ranger trek, Komodo or Rinca | IDR 200,000 per group of up to 5 | Split across the group |
| Ranger trek, Padar | IDR 150,000 per group of up to 5 | Split across the group |
| Bundled ticket, Komodo + Padar | IDR 650,000 per person | Common package price |
| Bundled ticket including Rinca | IDR 900,000 per person | Three-island version |
| Diver surcharge | IDR 25,000 per day | Applies to certified diving activity |
What is included on board
What the rate includes
- Accommodation on board for the full itinerary
- All meals prepared on board
- Mineral water, coffee and tea
- English-speaking guide
- Snorkelling gear and life vests
- Premium photo and video coverage with drone, GoPro and mirrorless camera (raw footage handed over)
- Hotel or airport pickup and drop-off within the Labuan Bajo mainland area near the harbour
What it does not include
- Komodo National Park entrance and conservation fees (government-regulated, subject to change)
- Flights to and from Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages beyond water, coffee and tea
- Personal snacks
- Drone ticket, quoted by the operator at approximately IDR 2,100,000, with the permit requested seven days ahead
- Crew gratuities
Who this suits
- Confident snorkellers who want current-driven sites with proper guide supervision rather than a roped-off swimming area.
- Mixed-ability groups – Manjarite, Siaba and Sebayur are gentle, Manta Point is not, and the crew can split the group.
- Families where some swim and some watch from the tender.
- Divers who want a comfortable liveaboard base and will arrange their diving through a specialist centre – talk to the desk first.
The full stop-by-stop route is on the 3D2N itinerary page, and the island-by-island version is on island hopping and snorkelling boat tours. For dive-specific vessels and packages, speak to the parent operator’s charter desk.
The platform
A 34-metre boat you get in the water from
- Length overall
- 34 m
- Beam
- 6.3 m
- Guest cabins
- 10 All en-suite, air-conditioned
- Guest capacity
- 22–24
- Hull & deck
- Ironwood, teak
- Main engine
- Mitsubishi 8M21
Answers
Frequently asked questions
Is Lady Grace a diving liveaboard?
No. The operator’s published inclusion list covers snorkelling gear and life vests, not tanks, a compressor or a dive deck. Treat her as a snorkelling-first liveaboard and arrange certified diving separately through a licensed Labuan Bajo dive centre.
Is snorkelling equipment included?
Yes. Snorkelling gear and life vests are included for every guest, along with the guide who supervises each in-water stop.
When is the best time to snorkel with manta rays in Komodo?
Reef mantas are present at Karang Makassar year-round. Sightings peak roughly December to March, when visibility drops to 10-15 metres, while May to September offers strong sightings with 20-30 metres or more of visibility.
How cold is the water?
Most sites run 26-29 C. Southern Komodo drops to 24-26 C during the July-to-September upwelling, so pack a thin wetsuit top if your route goes south in that window.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer for Manta Point?
It is a current-driven drift, always supervised by the guide, and it is the most demanding stop on the itinerary. Weaker swimmers can sit it out and stay with the tender – the crew plans for mixed abilities.
Are there extra park fees for divers?
Yes. Documented 2026 figures show a diver surcharge of IDR 25,000 per diver per day on top of the standard daily entrance and harbour fees. Amounts are government-set and change without notice.
Will I see turtles?
Green turtles are the reason Siaba is on the itinerary, and they are commonly seen there. As with all wildlife, it is likelihood rather than a guarantee.
Can beginners snorkel on this trip?
Yes. Manjarite, Siaba, Sebayur and Pink Beach are sheltered and shallow with easy entry, and life vests are provided. Manta Point is the one stop where the guide will assess the group before entry.
Get in the water in Komodo
Tell the desk whether you snorkel or dive, and how experienced you are. Manta Point and Batu Bolong are graded differently and the honest answer changes the itinerary.
Lady Grace is operated by Komodo Luxury, Labuan Bajo. Quotes, availability and payment terms are issued by the operator in writing.
