Carnaby
Carnaby Phinisi
Taka Makassar for group photos
Updated 26 October 2026
Taka Makassar is a crescent sandbar ringed by shallow reef, visible at low tide only, with 30 to 60 minutes of swimming. It is on Carnaby 1's 2D1N, 3D2N and 4D3N on day 2; Carnaby 2's published 3D2N does not list it. Shade is minimal.
A sandbar that exists only at low tide
The sandbar is visible only at low tide, so the tide decides whether the picture exists. At high tide it can be underwater, and it is not a place to walk then. Nothing here is guaranteed for your date, and the captain checks the tide before committing the group to the stop.
It is a crescent of sand surrounded by shallow reef, with depths of 1 to 5 m and a mild current. The stop takes 30 to 60 minutes. It sits on the same day as Manta Point, which is why the order of the two swaps with the tide. Ask the crew on the morning of day 2 which of the two comes first, and plan the group photo for the sandbar when the tide is lowest.
Park entry is paid per person and is never in the fare: IDR 250,000 for foreign guests, IDR 50,000 for Indonesian guests on weekdays.
- Best window
- morning
- Time ashore / in water
- 30–60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Depth
- 1–5 m
- Current
- mild
- Tide-dependent
- Depends on tide
- Busiest months
- July, August
What it is not: the sandbar is visible only at low tide · not a place to walk if the tide is high: it may be underwater
A row of 14 along the sand
The curve of the bar suits a row. A group of 14, which is the most Carnaby 1 carries, stands in a line along the sand with the boat behind, and whoever holds the phone wades back until everyone fits in the frame.
Bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen, because there is almost no shade on the sand. A group that stays more than half an hour feels the sun. A party of 20 would need Carnaby 2, and Carnaby 2's published route does not list the sandbar, so the stop is agreed in writing. A shorter group on Carnaby 1 gets the sandbar on a published route, which is one more reason to compare the two boats before choosing a date.
Real photo from a KEXI trip · 12 photos
Swim stop for mixed ages
Shallow water makes this one of the easier swims of the route and it suits most snorkellers. The reef sits close, the depth is 1 to 5 m and the current is mild, so children and cautious swimmers manage it.
Life jackets are on board for anyone who wants one. Carnaby 1 lists 20 life jackets for up to 14 guests. Guests who prefer to stay dry sit on the sand, and the crew keeps count from the boat. Reef-safe sunscreen belongs in the bag, because the reef around the bar is shallow and easy to damage with ordinary lotion.
Carnaby 1's routes include the sandbar
Taka Makassar sits on day 2 of Carnaby 1's 2D1N, 3D2N and 4D3N, after the Komodo walk. The 3D2N adds Manta Point after it, so a 2D1N guest sees the sandbar and a 3D2N guest sees the sandbar and the mantas. Carnaby 2's published 3D2N has no Taka Makassar, so on that boat the stops are agreed with you before you pay.
The 3D2N page shows the day in order, the comparison page compares the two routes, and the charter page prices a group.
FAQ
Is the sandbar always there?
No. It is visible only at low tide, and at high tide it can be underwater. The captain plans the stop around the tide, and the order with Manta Point can swap on the day, so a group photo here is a plan with a second option, not a promise.
Is there shade on Taka Makassar?
Almost none. The sand is open, so bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen for the 30 to 60 minutes you spend there. Guests who need shade return to the boat; the Carnaby 2 photos show parasols on its sundeck, and Carnaby 1 has an indoor lounge.
Can children swim there?
Yes. The water is shallow, 1 to 5 m, with a mild current, and life jackets are on board. Children under 3 travel free with a parent or guardian, and a parent should stay within reach of a child, because the tide and the reef edge are real.
Does Carnaby 2 stop at Taka Makassar?
Not on its published 3D2N, which has Rinca, Mawan Island or Manta Point, Long Pink Beach and Padar on day 2. If you want the sandbar on Carnaby 2, ask in the first message: the stops are agreed with you before you pay.
Check availability — Carnaby
Carnaby is published and booked by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia, a booking partner for Carnaby 1 and Carnaby 2. The boats belong to their owner.