Neptune
Neptune Phinisi
The first reef after the harbour
Updated 4 November 2026
Sebayur island snorkel by phinisi: the first stop after Neptune leaves the harbour at 10:00 on the 3D2N, 4D3N and 5D4N, with beaches and reef for a 45 to 90 minute snorkel. It lies 90 to 120 minutes from Labuan Bajo by boat.
Sebayur, the first stop after the harbour
Sebayur is the larger of the Sebayur islands, near the coast of Flores. On the 3D2N it is the first stop of day one: the boat leaves Labuan Bajo harbour at 10:00, and the first snorkel comes before lunch.
The boat takes 90 to 120 minutes to reach it, so the sail is a real part of the morning. You settle in, meet the cabin and the deck, and arrive at the island with the day well begun.
The 3D2N, 4D3N and 5D4N routes call at Sebayur. The 1D sample and the 2D1N example do not, since a shorter plan has no room for a stop this far out. The island is outside the dragon trekking area, so it is a water stop through and through.
The reef off the beach
The reef lies off the beach, and the beach gives easy access. The water is 2 to 10 m deep, the current is mild, and the stop suits every level. A snorkel here runs 45 to 90 minutes, and midday gives the best light, which suits an arrival after a passage of 90 to 120 minutes.
Snorkelling gear is aboard. Neptune's crew helps with the fit, and the tender runs between the boat and the beach. Wear a rash vest to keep the sun off your back, and use mineral sunscreen.
It makes a gentle first snorkel for anyone new to the water. Nothing here asks for strength, and the stop sets the tone for the voyage: no hurry, and the sea close by.
No sightings are promised, and none are needed. Coral and reef fish are enough.
Sebayur or Kanawa: one beach per day
Kanawa, west of Rinca, is another white-sand snorkel stop, and guests ask which to choose. Sebayur is on Neptune's plan, and Kanawa is added on request, because a private charter agrees the order of stops with the captain.
Both are easy reefs with mild current and a beach to land on. Kanawa is closer to the harbour, at 60 to 90 minutes, and busier in the high season, while Sebayur is farther out.
The sensible rule is one beach stop per day. Two similar snorkels in one day crowd out the stops that the day was built for, Manta Point and Taka Makassar on the first day of the 3D2N.
If you want Kanawa, say so when you book, and we put the request to the captain and send you the answer in writing.
From Sebayur on to Manta Point
From Sebayur the boat goes on to Manta Point, a leg estimated at 60 to 90 minutes. Lunch is served aboard in between, which is why the Sebayur snorkel comes first.
The planned day runs Sebayur, lunch, Manta Point, an afternoon snack, then Taka Makassar, and dinner at anchor. It is a full day on the water, and the first stop is the gentlest of the three.
The captain agrees the order with you and changes it with the weather and the tide. If the sea is rough at Sebayur, the snorkel can move or shorten.
A long day has a good rhythm when it starts slowly. Sebayur is where that rhythm begins.
FAQ
How long is the boat ride from the harbour to Sebayur?
Plan 90 to 120 minutes. Neptune leaves the harbour at 10:00 on the 3D2N, so Sebayur is the first snorkel stop before lunch. The ride is part of the morning, with the deck, the lounge and the cabins to settle into on the way.
Can we skip the snorkel and stay on the sand at Sebayur?
Yes. The beach has sand to sit on, and the tender runs between the beach and the boat. Nobody is required to snorkel. Bring a hat and water, and tell the crew when you want to go back to Neptune.
Is Sebayur on the 2D1N route?
No. The 2D1N example route leaves Sebayur out and calls at Taka Makassar, Manta Point, Padar, Pink Beach and Komodo Island. Sebayur is on the 3D2N, 4D3N and 5D4N, where there is time for the longer ride from the harbour.
Check availability — Neptune
Neptune sails with its own crew and captain; Komodo Explorer plans the voyage, takes your payment and answers every message before you board.