Raffles Cruise
Raffles Cruise
Snorkelling for people who do not dive, and some who are not strong swimmers
Updated 24 October 2026
A Komodo liveaboard for snorkelling, with no diving: Raffles Cruise sails the 3D2N route with no tank and no compressor. A party of 6 with 2 non-divers pays IDR 120,000,000 (≈ USD 7,362) for the whole boat, IDR 20,000,000 (≈ USD 1,227) each. Three cabins on the open trip start at IDR 8,750,000 (≈ USD 537) per person.
What a snorkel day asks of you
A snorkel day asks three things of you. You float face down with a snorkel and look. Now and then you walk, on a path of moderate length. And you listen when the crew calls the time.
Reefs here are shallow. Taka Makassar runs 1 to 5 m deep, Pink Beach 1 to 8 m and Sebayur 2 to 10 m, all three with a mild current. Manta Point is deeper, 3 to 15 m, and its current is strong. That makes it the one stop that asks for a life jacket and a guide in the water: on the open trip the guide swims with the party, and on a charter you ask for one or stay aboard.
Walks are short. Padar asks 25 to 45 minutes of climbing and Kelor 15 to 30, and the Komodo trail follows a ranger at the pace of the party. Nothing on the route is a fitness test, and a guest who would rather stay aboard for a climb is welcome to.
In the water: what you wear and when the crew calls you in
In the water, you wear snorkelling gear, which is part of the fare, and a life jacket if you are not a confident swimmer. At the shallow stops the crew tells a confident swimmer whether the jacket stays on.
On the open trip, the local guide swims with the party. On a charter, the guide is quoted separately on request. Either way the crew decides the water: when to go in, how long to stay, and when to come out.
Reading the sea is the crew's work. The current and the tide set the order and the time at Manta Point and Taka Makassar, and the captain can swap the two. Whether a manta passes is not something anyone can promise, and we do not.
Two stand-up paddleboards are on board for a guest who would rather stay on top of the water. On day two, Pink Beach is by snorkel or paddleboard.
The 3D2N route for snorkellers, stop by stop
The first day is three snorkels in a row: Sebayur, Manta Point, Taka Makassar. Sebayur is the easy one, a beach island with reef near the shore. Manta Point is the moderate one, with the strong current. Taka Makassar is easy again, a sandbar ringed with shallow reef.
Day two puts Pink Beach in the middle of a long day, after the Padar walk at sunrise, with the reef or a paddleboard on offer. The Komodo walk, the Pimpe Island walk and dusk at Kalong follow. Day three gives free time at Kelor to walk, swim or paddle board.
Inside a day, the order is the captain's on the day, set by the weather, the tide and the current. Destinations change with weather, currents and National Park or port decisions, and nobody pretends otherwise.
Day 1
| What happens | Sailing time | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | Labuan Bajo — Pickup from your hotel or the airport to the harbour at 09:30 | — | passport or ID |
| · | Start sailing | — | |
| · | Snorkelling at Sebayur Island | — | mask and snorkel |
| · | Lunch | — | |
| · | Snorkelling at Manta Point | — | mask and snorkel |
| · | Snack time | — | |
| · | Snorkelling at Taka Makassar | — | |
| · | Dinner on board | — | |
| 🌙 | Night aboard. The captain picks the anchorage, weather permitting. | ||
Day 2
| What happens | Sailing time | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Padar Island walk at sunrise | — | shoes with grip, hat and water |
| · | Breakfast | — | |
| · | Snorkelling or paddle boarding at Long Beach (Pink Beach) | — | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Lunch | — | |
| · | Komodo Island walk | — | closed shoes, park ticket |
| · | Pimpe Island walk | — | |
| · | Snack time | — | |
| · | Sunset at Kalong Island | — | a light layer |
| · | Dinner on board | — | |
| 🌙 | Night aboard. The captain picks the anchorage, weather permitting. | ||
Day 3
| What happens | Sailing time | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Breakfast | — | |
| · | Free time at Kelor Island: walk, swim or paddle board, then relax on the beach | — | |
| · | Lunch | — | |
| · | Back in Labuan Bajo, drop-off at your hotel or the airport between 11:00 and 12:00 | — |
Stops that can swap places on the day: Manta Point ⇄ Taka Makassar.
The pickup is the one fixed hour. Every other time on this page is a planning guide, and the captain sets the stop order on the day.
A mixed party: one seat each, or the boat entire
Say six of you go, and two have never put a face in the water. The whole boat for three days on the 2026 card is IDR 120,000,000 (≈ USD 7,362), which is IDR 20,000,000 (≈ USD 1,227) each. Three cabins on the open trip cost from IDR 8,750,000 (≈ USD 537) per person, so for six the seats are the lower figure.
The boat is the better choice when the two beginners need time and the others want longer in the water. The crew can give your party the morning at Sebayur, with no other cabin waiting. On the open trip, the stops are shared and the guide divides their time.
Either way, the page to read next is the guide for people who swim a little or not at all. It sets out, rung by rung, how a non-swimmer takes the first swim.
| Group size | 1D | 2D1N | 3D2N | 4D3N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | IDR 27,500,000 | IDR 50,000,000 | IDR 57,500,000 | IDR 72,500,000 |
| 4 | IDR 13,750,000 | IDR 25,000,000 | IDR 28,750,000 | IDR 36,250,000 |
| 6 | IDR 10,000,000 | IDR 17,500,000 | IDR 20,000,000 | IDR 25,000,000 |
| 8 | IDR 7,500,000 | IDR 13,120,000 | IDR 15,000,000 | IDR 18,750,000 |
| 10 | IDR 6,500,000 | IDR 11,000,000 | IDR 12,500,000 | IDR 15,500,000 |
| 12 | IDR 5,420,000 | IDR 9,170,000 | IDR 10,420,000 | IDR 12,920,000 |
| 14 | IDR 5,070,000 | IDR 8,500,000 | IDR 9,710,000 | IDR 12,000,000 |
Swipe for more
per person · Whole boat ÷ group size
What this boat does not offer
There are no tanks, no compressor, no dive guide and no course, so no dive is offered. Every stop on this route is for snorkelling; a certified diver who wants tanks needs a dive boat.
No sighting is promised. Not mantas, not turtles, not a dragon on Komodo. Wi-Fi is local only. Beyond snorkelling gear and life jackets nothing else is carried, so bring your own kit if you have a favourite set.
Nor is this a boat for guests who want a long day in a single place. Ten days of reef would need a different vessel. This one moves between stops, and three days is the shortest length that holds the snorkelling together.
If one of these decides it for you, ask first; the written answer reaches you before you pay.
FAQ
Can you snorkel in Komodo without diving?
Yes. Every in-water stop on the route is a snorkel, from Sebayur and Pink Beach to Manta Point and Taka Makassar. Gear and life jackets for snorkelling are aboard, and no tank is involved. The crew decides when and where you go in.
Do I need my own snorkel gear?
No. The fare already covers snorkelling gear and life jackets. Nothing beyond that is listed, so bring your own kit if you have a favourite set. Ask us before you pack, and we answer in writing.
Is snorkelling at Manta Point safe for beginners?
Manta Point is rated moderate, with a strong current and depths of 3 to 15 m. A beginner goes in with a life jacket, when the crew and guide choose the time. On the open trip the guide swims with the party; on a charter, ask for a guide or stay aboard.
Can non-swimmers snorkel in Komodo?
Yes, with a life jacket and the crew's decision on when and where. Start at the shallow stops, Taka Makassar and Pink Beach, and use the paddleboards if you prefer. The guide for non-swimmers sets out the steps.
Is a liveaboard worth it for snorkellers?
For Manta Point and Sebayur, yes. A day trip cannot reach Manta Point on this boat's route, and the snorkel stops sit hours from the harbour. Three days put you at three reefs on the first day, with dinner and a bed aboard.
Check availability — Raffles Cruise
Raffles Cruise is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia. We arrange the pickup, take the payment and keep your booking in order. The boat sails with its own crew of 8.