Elrora Liveaboard
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Elrora Liveaboard
Taka Makassar: a crescent of sand that the tide gives and takes back
Updated 2 November 2026
The Taka Makassar sandbar appears only at low tide, a crescent of sand encircled by shallow reef, and the tide also sets the order of the stops. On Elrora Liveaboard's three-day route it is a day-two stop, easy for most snorkellers, with almost no shade on the sand.
The sandbar that appears and disappears
Taka Makassar is a crescent of sand lying amid shallow reef. At low tide it rises out of the sea, and at high tide it is gone. That is the whole character of the place, and it is why no one can promise how it will look on your day.
Plan for the sandbar to be visible, and be glad if it is. If the tide is high, the stop becomes a snorkel over the shallow reef around the place where the sand would be. Depths run from 1 to 5 metres over gentle current, which suits nearly every snorkeller on board.
On the three-day route Taka Makassar sits on day two between Komodo Island and Manta Point.
Tide tables and the order of stops
The tide decides. It sets the order of the stops, and nothing on the boat can overrule it. Taka Makassar and Manta Point share the same day on the route, and the captain swaps them to suit the water: the sandbar when it is exposed, the current when it is running.
Nobody on the boat controls the tide, and nobody should pretend to. We do not print a tide table for your date on this page, since a table for the wrong day is worse than none. The captain checks the tide for the day of sailing and sets the order.
For your planning, the practical meaning is simple. Do not fix a photograph in your mind before you arrive. Fix a mood instead: a bright flat of sand, a pale sea, a handful of other boats in the distance and a sky with nothing to hide behind.
Real photo from a KEXI trip · 12 photos
Snorkelling over the turtles
Snorkelling over the shallow reef is easy. The depth is modest, the current is mild and the water around the bar is clear in the dry months. Turtles are among the animals people hope to meet in these waters, and the sea decides whether they appear.
A snorkeller who hovers above the reef without touching it sees more and does less harm. Keep your feet and your hands clear of the coral, and let the life vest do its work. Elrora carries snorkel gear with life vests, so a beginner has what is needed.
Stay in view of the boat. The sandbar looks close from the water, but distances on a flat sea mislead.
A hat, a bottle and very little shade
Shade on the sand is close to nil. A hat, a long-sleeved top and a reef-safe sunscreen are the three items that change the stop from a burn into a pleasure.
Carry a bottle of water from the boat to the bar. The sun reflects off pale sand and water, and the heat builds faster than it feels. Sit in the shallows to cool, not on the dry bar.
Take little ashore. It is a short stop. A towel and a phone in a dry bag cover most of what you will want, and the rest can wait on the boat. If the bar is exposed, the sand reflects the sun back at you, so sunglasses help as much as the hat.
FAQ
Does the Taka Makassar sandbar show at high tide?
No. Only low tide shows the sandbar, and high tide covers it. The captain checks the tide for your day and sets the order of the stops to meet it. At high tide the sand is covered, and you snorkel the shallow reef that rings it instead.
Which month is best for Taka Makassar?
The tide matters more than the month, since the bar shows only at low water. The dry months from April to November give calmer water and clearer views of the reef, with a crowd that peaks in July and August. On the day, the captain checks the tide.
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