About Thalassa 2
We keep Thalassa 2’s bow into the current just off Batu Bolong at first light. The tide’s running hard from the Indian Ocean, and that’s when the mantas show. After two decades guiding in Komodo, I’ve learned to read the rips and slicks—they tell you where the upwelling starts, where the plankton gathers, and where you’ll see the first dark shadow circling below. At 35 metres, this Phinisi is stiff enough to hold station in the chop, and our crew of six know exactly where to drop the tag line so snorkellers can grip and watch without drifting off.
Our days start early. By 05:30, we’re positioning off Padar Island, letting guests take the trailhead before the day boats arrive. The switchbacks up to the viewpoint are steeper in the heat, so we time it for sunrise—pink light spilling across the three bays, the water shifting from indigo to turquoise. After breakfast back onboard, we reposition to Komodo Village, where the rangers brief groups for dragon tracking. We limit our group to eight per ranger, never more, because disturbing the juveniles near the creek beds isn’t worth the photo.
Lunch is served under the shade sail on the upper deck, usually a spice-kissed tuna pepes with cucumber salad, while we motor to Pink Beach. We anchor in the north cove—less crowded, finer coral sand. Afternoon is for drifting along the reef edge at Sebayur, where the wall drops fast and you can hang above 30 metres without going deep. The current’s usually gentle there, perfect for first-time snorkellers. As dusk settles, we shift to Kalong Island, where the flying foxes begin their noisy exodus at 18:15. We serve sunset gin and lime on the foredeck, just as the first leathery wings flap overhead.
Day three starts with an early run west to Taka Makassar. We don’t always make it—depends on the wind—but if the sea’s flat and the tide’s in our favour, we anchor by 07:30. The sandbar emerges by mid-morning, and we lay out the paddleboards. Kanawa follows—shallow coral gardens, bright blue water, and, if the swell’s calm, a swim through the natural jacuzzi where waves push through the rocks and bubble like a spring. We’re back in Labuan Bajo by 15:00, just before port clearance closes.
Thalassa 2 was built for these waters—hard chine hull, twin 420 HP diesels, stabilisers at rest. She sleeps up to ten guests across five cabins, though for open-share trips we cap at eight to keep the dive deck uncluttered. Our galley runs on induction—no fumes, no flare-ups—and the cold box is stocked with local produce from the morning market. We don’t chase the same spots as the speedboats; we anchor where the seabed’s sand or seagrass, never on coral, and we rotate sites daily to avoid congestion.
