Elrora Liveaboard
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Elrora Liveaboard
Manta Point for a snorkeller who is not a diver
Updated 2 November 2026
Manta Point in Komodo can be snorkelled by a non-diver who is a confident swimmer, since the group drifts with the current along the reef, wearing a life vest. Mantas are common but never guaranteed. On Elrora Liveaboard it is a day-two stop, swapped with Taka Makassar by the tide.
Can a non-diver see mantas?
Yes, from the surface. Mantas feed and glide near the reef, and a snorkeller floating above can watch them without a tank. The site is rated moderate rather than easy, and it asks for a confident swimmer, because the water is deeper, from 3 to 15 metres, and the current is strong.
Sightings are never guaranteed. Mantas are wild, and they follow the plankton, which follows the tide. Mantas are best seen in December to February and again in July to September, so the odds improve then. The month table on the when-to-go page shows all twelve.
Also called Karang Makassar, the site sits in the central park area. On Elrora's three-day route it is a day-two stop, with Taka Makassar on either side of it.
The current at Manta Point
The current is the reason for the rating. Snorkellers are not anchored in one place. They float with the water along the reef, and the boat meets them at the end. The pull is strong enough that swimming against it is pointless, and a fit swimmer who tries is soon worn out.
Tide changes the flow and the sightings, which is why Manta Point and Taka Makassar can swap places on the day. The captain reads the tide and decides which comes first. We do not fix the order in advance, and neither does anyone honest.
A good drift feels like being carried along a slow street of coral. Relax into it, keep your face in the water and let your arms hang. Fighting the current only wears you out.
Real photo from a KEXI trip · 12 photos
Life vest, mask and what a beginner needs
Elrora carries snorkel gear with life vests, and at Manta Point a vest is not optional for a swimmer who is less than confident. It keeps the face up, saves energy and gives the swimmer a way to rest in the drift.
A beginner needs three things: a calm head, the vest and the habit of looking up every few breaths to see where the group is. Practise breathing through the snorkel in the shallows of an earlier stop. Pink Beach, on the same day, is the better rehearsal.
If anyone in your party is a weak swimmer, tell us. The rest of the party can swim the drift while that person watches from the boat, and nobody has missed the trip. The decision stays with the swimmer.
When we skip it
The captain decides on the current and the weather, and Manta Point is the stop that can give way. If the current is too strong or the sea too rough, the boat skips the drift or shortens it.
Skipping is a safety decision, not a lost opportunity. The fare covers the itinerary weather permitting, and no one can buy a calmer current. The reef stops of the day remain: Taka Makassar and Pink Beach are gentler, and they fill the time.
We would rather tell you now that Manta Point can be dropped than promise it. A stop that is promised and then run in unsafe water is worse than a stop that is honestly marked as conditional.
FAQ
Is Manta Point safe for a beginner?
It is safe for a confident swimmer in a life vest, and risky for anyone who gets tired easily. Expect a strong current and 3 to 15 metres of water, with the group drifting along the reef. Beginners should swim the drift with the vest on and tell us beforehand if they are nervous.
What if I get tired in the current at Manta Point?
Stop kicking, keep the vest on and float. The vest holds your face above the water while the current carries you with the group, and you can wave to the boat. Tell the captain or the crew before you start if you get tired easily, and sit out the drift if you have doubts.
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