Elrora Liveaboard
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Elrora Liveaboard
Kanawa: white sand and a shallow reef for a first snorkel
Updated 2 November 2026
Kanawa is a small island lying west of Rinca, with beaches of white sand and shallow coral reefs that make an easy first snorkel. On Elrora Liveaboard's three-day route the final snorkel stop is Kanawa or Sebayur, and the captain chooses between them on the third morning.
Kanawa as the other third-day stop
Kanawa is the other stop that can close the three-day route. The island lies west of Rinca, with white beaches and shallow coral, and the sail from Labuan Bajo is shorter than the one to Sebayur.
On the third morning the captain chooses between Kanawa and Sebayur. We do not promise one over the other. Both are easy snorkel stops, and either one ends the trip well.
On longer or private routes, Kanawa can have a stop of its own, if the captain includes it. The four-day sample puts it at the end of the last day, after Sebayur, with the return to Labuan Bajo in the late morning.
Beach and reef
Kanawa is a beach and a reef in equal parts, and the two sit within a few strokes of each other, so a swimmer can go from sand to coral and back again without a long swim. The sand is white and the water is shallow, which makes the beach the place to rest after the swim. The reef hugs the shore, at 1 to 6 metres deep.
Easy water: the current here is mild. A snorkel of 45 to 90 minutes is normal, and the first-time snorkeller can practise without worry. The vests carried on board are there for anyone who wants one.
Keep clear of the coral, as everywhere in the park. Shallow reef is easily damaged by a kick or a knee, and it grows back slowly. A snorkeller who floats still, face down, sees more than one who hurries.
Who prefers Kanawa
Kanawa suits the guest who wants an easy first snorkel and a beach to rest on. It suits a party with children who are new to the water, and a party that has had enough effort after Padar and Komodo.
Day trips like Kanawa, so high season can be busy. July and August bring the crowds, and Elrora sails shared trips in both. A morning arrival gives the best of the quiet.
A strong swimmer who wants more current and depth will prefer Manta Point, which comes earlier in the route. Kanawa is not for that guest, and it does not pretend to be.
The way back from Kanawa
From Kanawa the boat sails back to Labuan Bajo. Open-trip guests check out between 11:00 and 11:30, and the captain sets the hour of arrival from the sea and the tide.
On the last day, book a departure after 14:00 and plan nothing else that morning. The reef here is shallow and the current mild, which makes Kanawa a last swim that suits every age on board. A hotel check-in in town in the afternoon fits better than a tight connection.
Pack the damp clothes before the pier. Everything wet goes into one bag, and everything dry stays out of it. A dry set of clothes for the journey to the hotel or the airport is worth keeping apart from the start.
FAQ
Is Kanawa crowded?
Day trips make it popular, so high season can be busy, above all in July and August. The rest of the year is quieter. A morning arrival gives the best chance of an empty beach, and the captain adjusts the time of the stop to the other boats.
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