Taka Makassar for a group: sand, tide and a quick swim

The sandbank is a crescent surrounded by shallow reef, and it is visible only at low tide. At high tide it may be under water, which is why we do not give a fixed time on site. The water over the reef runs from about 1 to 5 m and the current is mild, so most snorkellers manage it, and the swim is easy compared with Manta Point.

A visit usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes. The captain decides the arrival by tide. If the bank is covered when the boat arrives, the captain decides whether the group swims and snorkels the shallow reef from the boat instead.

It is often paired with Manta Point on the same day, and the order of the two swaps with the tide. Do not fix a toast, a group photograph or a delivery on the sandbank; fix it on the deck.

There is little shade on the sand. Bring a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and a light long-sleeved top, and drink water before and after. These are the practical items, and they are the ones a team forgets when the previous stop was a cool morning walk.

The group photograph is the reason most teams want the sandbank. A wide frame with the boat behind the bank works best when the bank is large, which means low tide, and when the light is not directly overhead. Ask the captain on the morning how the tide looks, and agree the photograph as an if, not a must.

Zada Ulla and Zada Nara carry paddle boards and kayaks, which suit the shallow water here.