Sea Familia 1

Sea Familia 1 is a 25-metre wooden phinisi built in 2019 from ulin, the Indonesian ironwood, and teak. It sails from Labuan Bajo into Komodo National Park on 3 day 2 night sharing trips with up to twelve guests in six air-conditioned cabins, each with a queen bed, a private bathroom and a hot shower.

With only six cabins, Sea Familia 1 is one of the more intimate boats on the route: the group is small and the atmosphere is personal, and there is a jacuzzi, karaoke and Wi-Fi on board.

• Length 25 m, beam 5.3 m
• Built in 2019 of ironwood and teak
• Up to 12 guests in 6 cabins with private bathrooms
• Two dinghies with 40 hp Yamaha engines
• Home port: Labuan Bajo, Flores

Sea Familia 1 suits travellers who prefer a small group. Twelve guests at most means quiet decks, short waits for the dinghies and a relaxed pace at every stop. Four of the six cabins have a view of the sea, and one of them takes a third guest on a single bed.

The boat also has a jacuzzi for the warm afternoons, and the canoe and paddle boards are free to use between the stops. With sharing departures twice a week, on Fridays and Mondays, Sea Familia 1 fits easily into a holiday in Flores.

All six cabins on Sea Familia 1 have air conditioning, a queen bed and a private bathroom with a hot shower. The four Manta cabins are on the main deck and the two Turtle cabins on the upper deck.

Manta Cabins. The four Manta cabins on the main deck look out over the sea, each with a queen bed for two guests. Manta Cabin 1 also has a single bed, so it takes a third guest.

Turtle Cabins. The two Turtle cabins on the upper deck each have a queen bed for two guests and offer the lowest price on Sea Familia 1.

Prices on Sea Familia 1 are per person and depend on the cabin. The cabin cards on this page show the current price of every cabin, and the booking form shows which cabins are still free on each departure.

Day 1. Sea Familia 1 picks you up at the airport or your hotel in Labuan Bajo between 8:00 and 9:30, and lunch is served once the boat sets sail. The first stop is Kelor, a small island with a short, steep trek and a wide view of the bay. Manjarite follows for the first snorkel, and the day ends at Kalong Island, where thousands of flying foxes leave the mangroves at sunset.

Day 2. After breakfast the group climbs Padar Island, whose viewpoint looks over three bays with sand of different colours. Sea Familia 1 then sails to the Pink Beach for snorkelling and sunbathing and on to Komodo Island, where park rangers lead the walk to see the Komodo dragons. After lunch the boat stops at Taka Makassar, a sandbar that appears at low tide, and at Manta Point, where manta rays often feed in the current.

Day 3. After breakfast the last snorkel is at Siaba or Sebayur, two islands with shallow reefs; Siaba is known for its green turtles. Sea Familia 1 is back in Labuan Bajo at about 12:00, and the transfer drops you at the airport or your hotel at about 13:00.

The order of the stops can change with the tides, the weather and the rules of the park. Snorkelling and treks are always optional, so guests who prefer to rest can stay on board.

Manjarite. The first snorkel of the trip, on a calm and colourful reef close to the shore, is a gentle start for beginners.

Padar Island. A stepped path climbs to the viewpoint in about half an hour, with a view over three bays and beaches of white, pink and black sand.

Komodo Island. Rangers lead the group through the forest to see the Komodo dragons, which can grow to three metres, and explain how the park protects them.

Manta Point. Also called Makassar Reef, this is where reef manta rays come to feed and to be cleaned by small fish. They are seen in most months, though never on every visit.

On Sea Familia 1 the day follows the sun. The second day is the longest, with the climb up Padar, the Pink Beach and the dragon walk on Komodo Island in the morning, and lunch on board as the boat sails on.

The afternoon brings Taka Makassar and Manta Point, with a snack and juices in between. Dinner is served on board at anchor, and the small group of Sea Familia 1 often ends the day in the jacuzzi, at the karaoke or on the sun deck under the stars.

Sea Familia 1 stops at five snorkelling spots on the 3 day 2 night trip: Manjarite on the first afternoon, the Pink Beach, Taka Makassar and Manta Point on the second day, and Siaba or Sebayur on the last morning. Fins, masks, snorkels and life jackets are on board, and the guide accompanies the group.

The reefs are mostly shallow and easy for beginners, with reef fish at every stop, turtles around Siaba and manta rays at Manta Point when the current is right. Two dinghies take the group to the reefs and the beaches, and between the stops the canoe and paddle boards are free to use.

Three meals a day are served on board, with mineral water, coffee and tea and an afternoon snack with juices. Sea Familia 1 has lounges and sun decks for the hours between the stops, a jacuzzi for the warm afternoons and karaoke with a music system for the evenings.

Wi-Fi is included and works where the mobile network allows. A tour guide joins every trip, and the crew records the highlights with a camera, a drone and a GoPro.

Sea Familia 1 is powered by a Mitsubishi 6D16 engine and cruises at six to nine knots. Its tanks hold 1,500 litres of fuel and 7,000 litres of fresh water, and the two dinghies have 40 horsepower Yamaha Enduro engines.

For safety, Sea Familia 1 carries a life raft for 25 people, 25 life jackets, four ring buoys, a smoke signal and a flare gun. The crew navigates with a Garmin marine GPS and an Icom marine radio.

On a sharing trip you book one or more cabins on a scheduled departure and share Sea Familia 1 with other guests. Sharing trips leave on Fridays and Mondays for three days and two nights, and the price is per person.

On a private charter the whole of Sea Familia 1 is yours, with its crew, for groups of up to twelve guests. Charters run from two days and one night up to seven days and six nights, and the price depends on the length of the trip and the size of the group. A longer charter leaves time for quieter bays and more snorkel stops.

The charter tab on this page shows the charter rates for each trip length and group size. Send us your dates and we will check them with the operator.

Komodo National Park was created in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on earth, and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. The dragons live only on Komodo, Rinca, the west of Flores and a few smaller islands, among dry hills that turn green after the rains.

The currents between the islands feed some of the richest reefs in Indonesia, where snorkellers meet turtles, reef fish and manta rays. Walks among the dragons are always led by park rangers, and every visitor pays the park entrance fee, which is added to the invoice of every Sea Familia 1 trip.

The dry season, roughly from April to November, brings calm seas, clear water and golden hills, and it is the busiest time in Komodo. December and the first months of the year are wetter, with greener islands and fewer boats in the park.

Sea Familia 1 has sharing departures twice a week from March to December. With only six cabins, popular dates fill quickly, and the departure list on this page shows every date that is still open.

Labuan Bajo, on the west coast of Flores, is the gateway to Komodo National Park. Komodo Airport (LBJ) has direct flights from Bali and Jakarta, and the flight from Bali takes a little over an hour.

Sea Familia 1 picks you up between 8:00 and 9:30 on the first day, so it is easiest to arrive the day before and spend a night in Labuan Bajo. On the last day the transfer drops you at the airport at about 13:00, in time for an afternoon flight. The transfers between the airport or your hotel and the boat are included in the price.

You can book Sea Familia 1 online with live availability: choose a departure, pick your cabins and send the booking. A 50% deposit is due within 72 hours and the balance 60 days before the trip; bookings made less than 60 days ahead are paid in full. The payment policy and the cancellation policy give the details.

Every Sea Familia 1 sharing trip includes:

• Transfers between the airport or your hotel and the boat
• Three meals a day, mineral water, coffee, tea, an afternoon snack and juices
• Shore excursions with a tour guide
• A canoe, paddle boards and snorkelling gear
• Photos and videos by camera, drone and GoPro
• Wi-Fi

The Komodo National Park entrance fee is paid per person per trip, at one rate for foreign guests and a lower rate for Indonesian citizens, and it is added to the invoice. Flights, hotels, travel insurance, alcoholic drinks and tips for the crew are not included.

How many guests does Sea Familia 1 take? Up to twelve guests in six cabins.

Which cabin takes three guests? Manta Cabin 1 on the main deck, with a queen bed and a single bed.

Is there a jacuzzi on board? Yes. Sea Familia 1 has a jacuzzi on board.

When does Sea Familia 1 leave? Sharing trips leave Labuan Bajo on Fridays and Mondays and return on the third day.

Do I need to be a good swimmer? No. Snorkelling is optional, fins, masks and life jackets are on board, and many stops are beaches, viewpoints and the dragon walk.

Can I see the Komodo dragons? Yes. On the second day Sea Familia 1 stops at Komodo Island, where park rangers take guests on a walk to see the dragons.

Is there Wi-Fi on Sea Familia 1? Yes. The connection depends on the mobile network in each part of the park and can be slow at times.

Is Sea Familia 1 good for families? Yes. With only six cabins, a family can book several cabins and have most of the boat to itself, or charter the whole boat.

How do I get from the airport to the boat? The transfer is included: Sea Familia 1 picks you up at Komodo Airport or at your hotel in Labuan Bajo between 8:00 and 9:30 on the first day.

Are drinks included on Sea Familia 1? Mineral water, coffee and tea are included all day, with juices in the afternoon. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

What should I bring? Light clothes, a hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen, sandals and closed shoes for the treks, a light jacket for the evenings and any personal medicine.

Can I charter Sea Familia 1 for my own group? Yes. The whole boat can be chartered for two to seven days for up to twelve guests; ask us for a quote with your dates.