About Akassa
We keep the bow low when heading into the Dampier Strait at first light. Even in calm season, the tide pushes hard between Komodo and Rinca, and a 25-metre wooden hull like Akassa needs respect for the water’s rhythm. She’s not the largest phinisi out here, but her keel knows these channels. We’ve timed arrivals at Batu Bolong so guests hit the current just right, drifting past sharks and jackfish without fighting the line. That kind of precision comes from knowing not just the map, but the pulse of the park.
Akassa runs with one private cabin setup, meaning groups or couples get the entire vessel to themselves. Fourteen guests max – we don’t squeeze in extra mattresses. The main deck has wrap-around loungers shaded by a teak canopy; evenings, we serve dinner up there with the mast light swaying overhead. No engine noise once we’re at anchor. You’ll hear the water slap the hull, maybe the call from a boatman on a passing canoe. At Kalong Island, we shut down completely. The sky goes dark, and then the fruit bats pour out – a black river flowing east.
Day one usually starts with arrivals from Labuan Bajo around noon. We board at 13:00 sharp, push off, and head toward Kelor Island. Snorkeling there is calm, good for adjusting to the water. Coral grows right to the surface, and there’s usually a reef shark or two circling the outer edge. We grill fresh tuna on board at sunset. Next morning, we’re at Padar before dawn. Hike the switchbacks as the sun clears the rim – you’ll see the beaches shift from grey to pink to gold. After the climb, we motor down the coast to Loh Liang. The rangers meet us on the dock. Komodo dragons don’t perform on cue, but we’ve learned where they rest in the late morning heat.
Pink Beach is next – not because it’s crowded, but because the slope is gentle and the water stays clear even when the wind picks up. We drop the lines at 14:00, giving guests two hours before the light fades. Then it’s west to Manta Point at Caution Reef. We don’t just drift – we position Akassa so the current funnels mantas right past the starboard ladder. By day three, guests know the routine: up early, coffee on deck, then a run to Taka Makassar. It’s a sandbar that appears at low tide, ringed by water you can see through to the bottom. We stop at Kanawa on the way back – shallow reefs, good for beginners. Disembarkation in Labuan Bajo is at 17:00.
The galley runs on fresh catch and market vegetables loaded the morning of departure. No frozen tuna here. Our cook simmers sambal from local chillies, and if you ask, she’ll add extra turmeric to the coconut fish stew. We’ve got filtered water on tap, but bring your own reusable bottle to fill. No plastic bottles leave the boat. Power is 220V with European sockets near the cabin and USB ports on deck. We charge cameras, phones, dive lights – whatever you’ve got.
