Gandiva
Gandiva Phinisi
Sebayur: the reef you swim on the last full morning
Updated 3 November 2026
Sebayur Island snorkel on the third morning: beaches and coral at 2 to 10 metres, 45 to 90 minutes of easy snorkelling, and a sail from Labuan Bajo of up to two hours. It opens day three of Gandiva's route, and Kanawa follows it before the harbour.
Sebayur, the third-morning reef
Gandiva visits the bigger of the Sebayur islands, a short way from Flores, on day three of the three-day route. It is not in the dragon trekking area. That makes it a day without a ranger, a timetable or a climb: beaches, reef and the water.
Coral sits 2 to 10 metres below, the current is gentle and the snorkel is easy. Plan 45 to 90 minutes. The route lists midday as the best window for the stop, and on the third morning you arrive with the sun already climbing, so the water is bright by the time you are in it.
Sebayur is on the three-day route only. The two-day sample does not reach it, and the four-day sample goes elsewhere. The routes are samples and can change with traffic, weather and tides.
A beach dinner is a service we arrange on request, quoted in writing, and the place is chosen by the weather and the captain. We do not tie it to this island.
Mask on, face down over Sebayur's coral
The fare brings snorkelling gear and vests. Fit the mask before you leave the tender, with the strap above the ears, and check that it seals with a breath through the nose.
Slip in and float for a minute before you move. The reef at this depth is close enough to see in detail, and a slow swim shows more than a fast one. Hands stay off the coral, and your body stays above it.
For photographs, the sun does most of the work. Keep it behind you, shoot from the surface, and let the colours of the coral come from the water above them. An action camera on a strap is enough.
Reef-safe sunscreen is on our packing list for a reason. Apply it before the tender, not in the water. On the open trip the boat's documentation covers the snorkel, and on a private charter it is quoted on request.
Sebayur and Kanawa on the same morning
Two easy snorkels in one morning make a rhythm. Sebayur comes first, with 45 to 90 minutes over coral; Kanawa follows, with white sand and shallow reef. They are different swims. Sebayur is the reef; Kanawa is the beach and the last swim.
The sailing between them is short. Counted from Labuan Bajo, Kanawa is the nearer of the two and Sebayur the farther, so they sit close together and the harbour after them is closer still.
Pace yourself across the two. The first snorkel is the one you can give everything to, and the second asks only that you stay curious. A dry set of clothes and a dry bag for the camera save the morning from a damp hurry.
The captain sets the exact sequence, and the order can change with weather and tides. The tender leaves when the group is ready, and the crew will call you back in good time.
Heading for the pier from Sebayur
The last day ends at the pier in Labuan Bajo. We confirm the finishing time in writing; weather and tide let the captain fix it. Book flights after 14:00 that day. On a private charter we can set the boarding and finish times around your flights.
Pack the night before. Towels, wet swimwear and the camera card go in separate bags, and the cabin is left tidy for the crew. Charge every battery the evening before, and ask the crew where.
Sit on the deck for the sail back. It is as much the trip as the swim, and the coast looks different once you have walked and swum along it.
Say goodbye to the crew before the pier, not at it. Crew tips are not in the fare, and the amount is the guest's own decision.
FAQ
Is Sebayur on every Gandiva route?
No. Sebayur is on day three of the three-day sample route. The two-day and four-day samples do not include it. The captain sets the final order by weather, tide and traffic.
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