A child's first snorkel in Komodo

The stop matters more than the gear. Kanawa is 1 to 6 m deep with a mild current, and shallow coral over white sand makes it an easy first snorkel. Pink Beach is 1 to 8 m deep with a mild current, and the reef sits close to the shore.

Both stops run 45 to 90 minutes, and a first-timer needs only the first ten in the water. Taka Makassar is 1 to 5 m deep with a mild current, and it works as a second step when the tide shows the sandbar. Manta Point comes last.

The listed Sea Familia 1 route reaches Pink Beach on day 2 and Kanawa on day 3. The captain sets the order on the day.

Fit the mask on deck, not in the water. Put the strap high on the back of the head and snug, and tuck the hair out of the seal. Then ask the child to breathe in through the nose, with the mask on and no strap. If it sticks to the face, it fits.

Practise the tube too. Let the child breathe through the snorkel for a minute while standing on deck, then in shallow water with a parent's hand under the chest.

Sea Familia 1 provides a mask and snorkel; fins are not provided. Snorkel gear for Sea Familia 2 is confirmed in your written quote. Child-size masks are not promised on either boat, so ask for one in writing.

Skipper's tip Rub a drop of spit on the inside of the glass, rinse once, and fit the mask before the boat anchors, so no one is hurried at the water's edge.

Plan the first snorkel for ten minutes, then get out and sit on the boat or the sand. Children tire faster than they say, and a shiver is the first sign. A parent in the water within arm's reach is the rule.

Life jackets and basic first aid are in the fare on both boats, and a life jacket is the right answer for a weak swimmer. Ask which sizes are on board before you pay.

A longer stop is not a longer swim. Pink Beach and Kanawa run 45 to 90 minutes, and the rest of that time is for sand, shade you bring yourself, and a drink. The crew decides in the water, and your child decides when the swim ends.

Manta Point is the clearest no for small children. The current is strong, the depth runs 3 to 15 m, and the snorkel is a guided drift. A confident swimmer or a life jacket is advised for an adult, and a child can watch from the boat.

A child who is afraid of the water gets the same answer at every stop: not today. Nothing on a private charter forces a swim, and a day on deck with a mask in the bag is a good day. Try again at Pink Beach, in the morning, when the water is calmer.

Questions about a baby or toddler have their own page: the baby and toddler page. For a whole family, see the family page.