Notes from the water
Guides to Labuan Bajo and Komodo, life on a phinisi, and ideas for photographing and filming your trip.
Notes from the water
20 articles
What Is a Phinisi? Timber, Sail and South Sulawesi
The tall two-masted boats in Labuan Bajo harbor carry a long history: a distinctive rig, a hull built by eye, and a craft UNESCO recognized in 2017.
Underwater Photos in Komodo: Shallow Light, Slow Fins
Water filters color and sharpness before you take the picture. Habits for clearer, warmer reef photos, from staying near the surface to waiting for slack water, that leave the coral untouched.
When to Visit Komodo: Dry Hills, Green Water
Boats sail to Komodo in every season, each with its own trade-offs. Here is how rain, wind, water temperature and manta behavior shift across the year, and how to pick dates that suit your trip.
How to Choose a Phinisi Charter
Phinisi listings look alike. The difference lies in what the photos leave out: the cabin layout, the crew, the safety briefing and what the price really covers.
Golden and Blue Hour from the Deck in Komodo
Near the equator the soft light comes and goes quickly. Why it flatters faces, sails and sea, where it is usually watched, and how to plan a day on board around it.
Padar Island: The Walk Up to Three Bays
A short, steep climb leads to Padar's ridge and its view over three bays of white, dark and pink sand. How to time it, what to bring and how to walk it gently.
First Light to Anchor Light: A Day on a Phinisi
Dark early starts, slow crossings between dry islands, reef and beach stops, long meals on deck and a quiet night at anchor. This is how a typical day on a phinisi in Komodo moves.
What to Pack for a Phinisi Trip in Komodo
Space on board is shared and there are no shops at sea. What earns a place in your bag on a Komodo boat trip, and what can stay home.
Natural Photos on Board, Without the Pose
The photos you keep from a sailing trip are often not the posed ones. A few small habits, from walking the deck to choosing colors and shade, make pictures on board look the way the trip felt.
Swimming with Manta Rays in Komodo
Manta Point, Mawan and Manta Alley: where Komodo's reef mantas gather, what draws them there, and the quiet habits that keep each encounter good for them and for you.
Getting to Labuan Bajo, the Gateway to Komodo
Most trips into Komodo National Park begin with a flight into a small harbor town on the western tip of Flores. Here is how to get there, and why the day before you sail matters.
Charter Listing Photos That Turn Browsers into Guests
Charter guests rarely see a boat before they book. Preparation, daylight, corner views, a clear gallery order and honest updates let listing photos do the work of a viewing.
Pink Beach, Komodo: Why the Sand Blushes
The pink at Pantai Merah is made by the reef just offshore. Where the color comes from, when it shows, what the snorkeling is like, and why the sand stays on the beach.
Leave Only Bubbles: Responsible Travel in Komodo
Komodo's reefs, dragons and villages feel every visit. These are the small habits, in the water, on deck and on shore, that leave the park as you found it.
Kalong to Taka Makassar: A Three-Day Route
From the flying foxes of Kalong to a sandbar that appears at low tide: one way a short phinisi route through the park can run, and why weather and tides reorder it.
Film Your Sailing Trip: Clips Worth Watching Again
A lot of trip footage is never watched twice. A few habits from news and documentary video work, with no gear involved, turn sailing clips into scenes you will want to see again.
Dry Grass and Dragons: Visiting Komodo and Rinca
You meet Komodo dragons on foot, with a ranger beside you. This covers how the walks on Komodo and Rinca work, the rules that keep them calm, and what else lives along the trail.
Raja Ampat or Komodo: Karst Islets or Savanna Hills
Dry volcanic hills and strong currents, or green karst and longer journeys. A calm, side-by-side look at Komodo and Raja Ampat to help you choose your waters.
Finding Your Sea Legs on a Sailing Trip
Seasickness is common and usually eases as your body adjusts. How to choose your spot on board, use the horizon, and prepare before you sail.
Celebrations at Sea: Cake, Sunset and a Quiet Deck
A phinisi deck at sunset needs little help. What to arrange with the crew before you board, how to time the evening around a short dusk, and what the park allows on its beaches.
