Nobody talks when a manta ray glides under the boat. The chatter stops, phones come up, and everyone leans over the side.

That hush is what the new Komodo manta ray cruise from AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach is built around. Komodo National Park is best known for its dragons, but its cool, nutrient-rich water is what draws the mantas in.

AT A GLANCE

• 3 stops in one morning: Taka Makassar, Manta Point, Siaba Island
• 4.5 hours: 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM
• 3 new cruises announced by the resort
• 17 September: World Manta Day, the reason for the announcement

What Is the Komodo Manta Ray Cruise?

The Manta Rays & Sea Turtles Adventure is a half-day boat trip run by AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach, a five-star resort just north of Labuan Bajo on Flores Island, East Indonesia. It runs from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM inside Komodo National Park, with stops at Taka Makassar, Manta Point and Siaba Island. Staying and non-staying guests can both join, and rates and reservations are on the resort's official website.

The resort announced it on 21 September 2026, a few days after World Manta Day.

What Do You See at Each Stop?

You start at Taka Makassar, a sandbar with white and pink sand and shallow turquoise water. It's small enough to walk around. Here's the part people tend to repeat later: it slips half underwater as the hours pass, so the sandbar shrinks while you stand on it.

Next is Manta Point. Mantas come here to feed, and they also visit natural cleaning stations, which are coral outcrops called "bommies." They hover there while small reef fish pick them clean. Slip into the water and, with luck, one glides past close enough to watch.

The morning ends at Siaba Island. The water is calm and clear, and sea turtles move through the coral and sea grasses below you. It's a good place to float, look down, and see what else shows up.

Why Are Mantas So Hard to Look Away From?

It's the way they move. Their wide wings beat in slow arcs, and they dip and roll like a wave instead of swimming in a hurry. Unlike most marine life, mantas seem unbothered by an audience. They loop and glide the same way whether you're watching or not.

That calm is also why a few minutes with one can feel longer than the whole boat ride.

Is There a Conservation Side to This Trip?

Yes. The cruise grows out of the resort's marine conservation work. In-house marine biologist Lee Miles and his team run the Coral Trail experience and the Marine Discovery Center at AYANA Komodo, where guests learn about the reefs beneath the boats.

World Manta Day, marked every 17 September, is about protecting these animals. Seeing one in the wild is often what makes that message stick.

How Do You Book the Komodo Manta Ray Cruise?

Reservations go through the official website of AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach, where you can also check current rates. The trip includes snorkeling equipment, mineral water, soft drinks, snacks, towels, boat fees and a club sandwich.

Boat trips depend on the weather, so the route can change or be canceled. If you have a tight schedule, leave some room.

Are There Other AYANA Cruises in Komodo?

Yes, two more. The Baby Sharks & Coral Reef Adventure runs from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. It starts at Kelor Island, where juvenile blacktip reef sharks swim close to shore, then moves to Manjarite, where you can see the coral from a glass-bottom boat.

The Komodo Dragons & Pink Beach Adventure is a full day, from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. You hike to the Padar Island viewpoint, visit Pink Beach, and meet Komodo dragons on Rinca Island. For now, it's reserved for staying guests.