About Samara 2 Cruise
We keep the bow on 240 degrees as the afternoon swell lifts us toward Kelor—Samara 2 Cruise handles like a much larger vessel, but her 23-metre hull responds fast. You’ll feel it when we drop anchor in 18 metres just off the island’s northwestern tip. Samara 2 was built for these waters, not for show. Her phinisi lines are traditional, but the frame is steel, and Samara 2 Cruise sits lower in the water than most, which means less roll when the current switches at dawn. We’ve got just two cabins, so we know every guest by name before the first meal is served. That’s how it should be.
By 06:30 on Day Two, we’re already repositioning near Padar. The climb starts in shadow, but the summit catches first light—it’s worth the early start. Afterward, we motor down the channel toward Komodo Island, where the rangers are waiting. You’ll walk the trail with one of them, eyes scanning the underbrush for dragons. We time it for 10:00, when the heat hasn’t built and the animals are still moving. Lunch goes down under shade sails on Pink Beach—yes, the sand really is that colour, especially at midday. The coral just offshore is shallow and full of glassfish. Snorkel here if you like, or nap in the shade. We don’t rush.
By 14:00, we’re drifting at Manta Point near Karang Makassar. The cleaning stations sit on a reef plateau at 8 metres. Our crew spots them by the shadows on the surface. You’ll enter from the back ladder, and within minutes, you’ll see the first wings slice through the blue. No chumming, no crowding—just clean water and steady current. We stay until 15:30, then run south to Kalong Island. The roosting fruit bats don’t start moving until just before sunset, but the light over the mangroves at 17:45 is something else. We anchor in 12 metres, stern-to, with the current running east.
Day Three begins at Taka Makassar. The sandbar emerges at low tide around 08:30—depending on the moon, it might be a ring or a crescent. We moor on the deeper side and launch the tender. From there, we cross to Kanawa by 10:00. The northern slope has a healthy stand of hard coral; the south faces the current and draws bigger fish. You’ll have two full hours to swim, then we stow gear and head back to Labuan Bajo. Arrival is scheduled for 14:00, but we’ll make it earlier if the tide’s with us. No point lingering in port when you’ve got dry clothes waiting ashore.
Our galley runs on propane, not induction—better for long simmers and seared fish. Breakfast is eggs to order, local fruit, and strong coffee. Lunch is grilled skipjack with sambal and cucumber salad. Dinner changes nightly: maybe coconut curry with jackfruit, maybe spiced tuna over rice. All meals are served on deck unless it’s raining. We don’t do buffet lines. You sit, we serve. Water is filtered and chilled, refilled daily. Beer and soft drinks are stored in the aft cooler—help yourself, but let us know if you finish a round.
Samara 2 was launched in 2022 and refitted in 2023 with new winches and a second generator. She carries two tenders: one 4.5-metre with a 40HP outboard for transfers, another inflatable with a 15HP for snorkel drops. Safety gear includes EPIRB, VHF on 16 and 72, and a full first-aid kit with oxygen. The crew sleeps forward, separate from guests. We keep the engine room locked—clean, quiet, no leaks. This isn’t our first season in Komodo, and it shows in the little things: the towel hooks angled to drip dry, the cabin doors that latch without slamming, the way the deck stays cool underfoot even at noon.
