Vinca
Vinca Deluxe Phinisi
Komodo diving liveaboard? We are a snorkel boat, and here is how to use us
Updated 10 October 2026
Vinca Deluxe Phinisi is a snorkelling boat with no compressor, no tanks and no dive guide, so it is the wrong booking for divers who want to dive daily. It is the right booking for snorkellers, mixed groups and non-diving partners. Manta Point, Pink Beach and Taka Makassar are all on the route.
What we do not have, said before the deposit
There is no dive compressor on this boat. There are no tanks, no weights, no dive guide and no dive insurance in our fare. The equipment list says so, and so do we. Diving fees are not folded into any price, because we will not bundle a cost we cannot control.
That matters because Komodo is sold to divers. The marine park is known for strong currents, cold upwellings and big-animal encounters, and the best sites are dived from boats built for it. If you hold a licence and want two or three dives a day, a dive liveaboard is the correct choice, and we would rather you book it than regret ours.
A short test. If your plan includes the words nitrox, dive master or surface interval, book a dive boat. If it includes the words snorkel, paddleboard or sundeck, read on.
| System | Status | |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning (all cabins) | Fitted | Fully air-conditioned private cabins; indoor lounge also air-conditioned |
| Hot water | Fitted | Hot shower in every ensuite |
| Ensuite bathrooms | Fitted | 6 ensuite bathrooms, one per cabin |
| Bathtub | Fitted | Western rooms only |
| Snorkelling gear | Fitted | Included |
| Stand up paddleboards | Fitted | 2 boards |
| Tender speedboat | Fitted | Fibreglass, Yamaha 40 hp |
| Navigation & radio | Fitted | GPS, compass, map, VHF radio, handy talky |
| Life raft & life jackets | Fitted | Life raft for 25 persons, life buoys, life jackets, fire extinguisher, flare gun |
| Karaoke & TV lounge | Fitted | Sofa, TV and karaoke set in the indoor lounge |
| Open galley with chefs | Fitted | In-house chefs |
| Drone, GoPro & mirrorless documentation | Fitted | included on the open trip; on private charters on request, quoted separately |
| Local Wi-Fi on board | Fitted | Hotspot from the crew's mobile signal: usable near Labuan Bajo and in patches between islands; not satellite |
| Satellite internet | Not fitted | No Starlink or other satellite link published by the operator |
| Dive compressor & tanks | Not fitted | Snorkel boat; no diving equipment listed |
| Stabilisers | Not fitted | Not listed in the brochure |
| Jacuzzi | Not fitted | Not listed in the brochure |
| Elevator | Not fitted | Three decks reached by stairs |
| Beach dinner | On request | Included on private 4D3N+; otherwise an add-on (from IDR 2,950,000 per couple) |
| Birthday / honeymoon set-up | On request | Birthday package IDR 2,000,000; honeymoon package IDR 3,900,000 per couple |
What snorkelling gives you here
The snorkel stops on our routes are chosen for water you can see from the surface. Manta Point, also called Karang Makassar, is a current-drift: guides take swimmers along the reef instead of anchoring, depths run from three to fifteen metres, and mantas are common but never guaranteed. You do not need a diving certificate to see them.
Pink Beach is the easy one, with a reef close to shore, depths of one to eight metres and a mild current. Taka Makassar is shallow, one to five metres, with a crescent sandbank that shows at low tide. Sebayur has beaches and reef from two to ten metres.
Visibility changes with the months. April to June and September to November are high; January and February are low, even though mantas peak then. The same applies to anyone looking down from a dive boat.
| Month | Sea | Visibility | Mantas | Crowds | Rain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | rough | low | peak | low | wet | Wet and rough, with the lowest visibility of the year, and mantas at their best. Take the lower deck if your stomach is shaky. |
| February | rough | low | peak | low | wet | The roughest, wettest month, and a peak for mantas. The supplier calendar has listed no February sailings. |
| March | moderate | medium | good | low | wet | The last wet month. Showers ease, seas settle and mantas are still good. |
| April | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | The dry season starts, the sea calms and visibility is among the best of the year. |
| May | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Dry, calm and clear: the dependable month for snorkelling and the Padar climb. |
| June | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Calm and clear, with the south-east wind beginning to build toward July. |
| July | rough | medium | peak | high | dry | Windier and busier, with mantas picking up. Expect company at Padar and Pink Beach. |
| August | rough | medium | peak | high | dry | The windiest dry month and the busiest anchorages. Book early, and take the lower deck if you are motion-sensitive. |
| September | moderate | high | peak | medium | dry | The wind eases, visibility returns and mantas are still around: a strong shoulder month. |
| October | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Calm, clear and hot, with fewer boats than July and August. |
| November | calm | high | fair | low | dry | The end of the dry season: calm water, clear visibility and the quietest sites of the year. |
| December | moderate | medium | peak | medium | wet | The wet season returns and so do the mantas. Late December fills with holiday travellers. |
Swipe for more
Mixed groups: how divers and non-divers share a trip
The most useful case is the mixed pair. One person dives, the other does not, and nobody wants to be left on the quay. We can be the boat for the non-diver and for the shared days. The diver can book a day with a dive centre in Labuan Bajo before or after the trip, then join us for the sundeck, the Padar sunrise, the Komodo walk and the snorkelling.
Arrange that with the dive operator, not with us. We do not run dives, we do not sell dive fees and we cannot carry tanks. Keep the diving day and the sailing days apart, and leave at least a day between your last dive and the flight home, which is standard diver advice.
Two weeks is a fair plan: a dive liveaboard for the first stretch, then three days with us on the 3D2N for the part that has nothing to do with tanks.
Fixed dates, mostly Mondays and Fridays. Not every Monday or Friday runs.
Questions to ask any dive boat, including ours
If you are comparing boats, use a checklist instead of photos. Does the boat carry a compressor and enough tanks for your plan? Who is the dive guide, and what is the guest ratio? What does the fare exclude, and is the park fee separate? How does the crew handle a current event?
For us, the answers are no compressor, no dive guide, and a crew of 7 for up to 18 guests. Park fees and diving fees sit outside our fare. Current at Manta Point is strong, and the guides lead a drift rather than a dive.
If that matches what you want, book. If it does not, we will point you away, because a guest on the wrong boat costs everybody a trip.
Who this boat suits
- Couples who want a bathtub at sea: the Western rooms on the main deck.
- Guests who want a tatami table, big sea windows and a balcony strip: the Japanese rooms on the upper deck.
- Families sharing a Balinese room with an extra bed, with children under 3 travelling free.
- Groups of up to 18 who want a whole 31 m phinisi with 6 ensuite air-conditioned cabins and 7 crew.
- Snorkellers and paddleboarders who want sunset on the sundeck and a fixed 3D2N departure on Monday & Friday.
Who it does not suit
- Divers who need a compressor and tanks aboard: this is a snorkel boat.
- Anyone who needs reliable internet at sea: Wi-Fi is local only, no satellite link.
- Guests who need a stabilised steel hull, stabilisers or a lift between the three decks.
- Anyone expecting a jacuzzi on deck.
When this is the wrong boat
- You have one night and want the whole park: the 2D1N puts Kelor and Kalong on day one and Padar and Komodo on day two, with only one of Manta Point or Taka Makassar.
- You book a Balinese room expecting a balcony or sea-view windows: it has portholes on the lower deck.
- You are a light sleeper on the lower deck: engine noise is strongest there.
FAQ
Can I do a certified dive from Vinca?
No. The boat has no compressor, tanks or dive guide, and diving fees are not in our fare. You can snorkel at Manta Point, Pink Beach, Taka Makassar and Sebayur across a 3D2N. For dives, book a dive centre or a dive liveaboard.
Do I need a diving certificate for Manta Point?
No. At Manta Point the guides drift snorkellers along the reef in water three to fifteen metres deep. Sightings are likely in the peak months, July to September and December to February, and never guaranteed. Because the current is strong, a confident swimmer or a life jacket is advised for the 30 to 60 minute drift.
Is Manta Point good in October?
October is calm and clear, but mantas are only fair that month. Peak manta months are December to February and July to September. On the 3D2N, Manta Point sits on day one, and tide and current can swap it with Taka Makassar.
Can I bring my own dive gear?
You can bring it, but there is nowhere to use it from this boat, since there is no compressor and no tank filling. Our snorkelling gear is provided for every guest on all 4 routes. A personal mask that fits well is the one piece worth bringing from home.
Which route gives the most time in the water?
The 4D3N, which lists snorkels at Manjarite, Pink Beach, Manta Point, Taka Makassar, Mawan and Sebayur over four days. The 3D2N has Sebayur, Manta Point, Taka Makassar and Pink Beach. The 2D1N has Manjarite, Pink Beach and one either-or stop on day two. The 1D has only Pink Beach.
Check availability — Vinca
Vinca is owner-held and run by its own dedicated charter desk.