Senada Phinisi
Senada Phinisi
A sandbank the tide gives and takes, and a group that waits for it
Updated 26 October 2026
Taka Makassar sandbank stop on a group trip: day 2 of the Senada Phinisi route, a crescent of sand with shallow reef all around. It shows only at low tide, so the captain decides when to stop, and the group swims, snorkels and walks.
What the sandbank is
Taka Makassar is a crescent-shaped sandbank with a shallow reef around it. The whole stop is sand, sea and sky, and the sand is there only when the tide allows.
Shallow water of 1 to 5 metres, a gentle current, and a life jacket for anyone who needs to float. A snorkel here takes 30 to 60 minutes, and the shallows make it the stop for the youngest and the least confident.
On day 2 of the 2-day and 3-day routes the stop comes after Pink Beach and lunch. Manta Point shares the day with it, and tide and current may put the two in the other order.
Everyone arrives together, and the crew decides how the group goes ashore.
- Best window
- morning
- Time ashore / in water
- 30–60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Depth
- 1–5 m
- Current
- mild
- Tide
- 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
Tide and the hour
The sandbank is visible only at low tide. High tide covers the sandbank, so there is nothing to walk on. So the hour of the stop is the tide's, and the captain decides when to stop and for how long.
That is why the day-2 order is a plan and not a timetable. If the water is wrong, the group snorkels the reef and walks the sand on the way back. If the water is right, the sand is there to walk on.
Someone in the group will mind waiting. The tide sets the pace for everyone, and a group that likes lunch and a long afternoon swim loses nothing by letting it.
We promise no tide table and no width of sand. The sea decides, then the captain.
Photo taken on a Komodo Explorer trip · 12 photos
Swim, snorkel, walk
Three things to do, and a group splits across them without effort. Swim off the edge of the sand. Snorkel the reef that rings it, where the water is shallow and the gear and the life jackets do the work. Walk along the crescent as far as the water allows.
Photographs from other trips show a long white bar, a man walking on it and a couple standing in clear shallows. They are Komodo frames and not promises, and the real sand depends on the tide.
The group stands on the sand for the picture, and then spreads: children in the shallows, a parent with the snorkel, grandparents on the sand with their feet in the water.
Pass the snorkel along. Count heads before the boat moves.
Shade and the tender
Hardly any shade falls on the sand. Bring a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and sunglasses, and put the sunscreen on before the stop. The boat is the shade, with the sundeck covered in places and the indoor dining area cool.
The tender speedboat carries the group, and the crew decides how the group goes between the boat and the sand. For a big group that means turns, and each turn is a short ride.
Keep a bag for the towels and a bag for the cameras, and leave the rest on board. A sandbank has no table.
When the tide turns, the captain calls the group back. The call is the captain's, and the sandbank will be gone by the time anyone argues.
FAQ
Is the sandbank always there?
No. The sandbank shows at low tide only and is submerged at high tide, which is why the captain picks the moment to stop. If the water is wrong, the group snorkels the reef and the sandbank waits for another day.
Is there any shade on the sandbank?
Almost none on the sand. Bring a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and sunglasses. The boat is the shade, with the covered parts of the sundeck and the indoor dining area, and the tender runs the group back in turns when people are ready.
Can we swim?
Yes. The water around the sandbank is shallow, from 1 to 5 metres, with a mild current, and snorkel gear and life jackets are supplied for everyone. Children and nervous swimmers do well here. The guide tells the group where to go in.
How long is the stop?
The snorkel takes 30 to 60 minutes. The captain decides the length of the stop on the day, because the tide and the current set it. The stop is paired with Manta Point on day 2, and the two can swap places.
Check availability for Senada Phinisi
Senada Phinisi is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia. We confirm your cabins, take the payment and arrange the pickup. The boat sails with its own crew of 7.