Swimming with 30 Mantas at Karang Makassar

By Talia Reyes · Komodo National Park, Indonesia · 2026-07-16

Komodo is my home reef. We board the phinisi in Labuan Bajo at sunset and wake up in the park.

Sunrise hike on Padar before the first dive. Three bays, three colours of sand.

Karang Makassar on a good current: we counted thirty mantas on one dive. You hover, breathe slowly and let them come to you.

Surface interval on Pink Beach. The red coral is what makes the sand pink.

Batu Bolong: a pinnacle covered in coral and fish. Easily the best reef in the park.