Destination guide
Derawan Islands
Mantas, turtles, and a stingless jellyfish lake in a remote Coral Triangle corner of Borneo
Currently Viewing:
Overview
Mantas, turtles, and a stingless jellyfish lake in a remote Coral Triangle corner of Borneo
The Derawan Islands (Derawan Archipelago) sit off Berau in East Kalimantan and are best known for four names: Derawan, Maratua, Sangalaki, and Kakaban. It is a Coral Triangle mix of easy house reefs and current-swept points where mantas, turtles, and big schools can show up on schedule.
A typical trip blends reef dives for macro and turtles, drifts on wall edges when tides line up, and at least one topside day for Kakaban's famous stingless jellyfish lake and nearby lagoons. Logistics are part of the adventure: most itineraries route via Berau (BEJ), then a drive to Tanjung Batu and speedboats into the islands.
Plan for remote-island realities, carry dive insurance, and treat the area like a working conservation landscape. Do that, and Derawan delivers big-animal moments, unique brackish lakes, and quiet island time far from the usual routes.
The lay of the land
Derawan is not one island. Think of it as an island group you hop between by speedboat.
- Derawan Island: village vibe, easy reefs, turtle snorkeling, simplest logistics.
- Maratua Atoll: bigger, more exposed, famous for walls and current.
- Sangalaki: manta focus and turtle conservation.
- Kakaban: dramatic outer walls plus the iconic brackish lake with stingless jellyfish.
Underwater highlights
- Manta cleaning and fly-bys around Sangalaki when tides bring plankton.
- Wall diving on Kakaban and Maratua with gorgonians and pelagics.
- Turtles everywhere, with nesting heritage in the region.
- Macro breaks between big-fish dives: nudibranchs, shrimp, and critters on calmer reefs.
Choosing a base
Most travelers pick one of these patterns.
- One base, daily boats: stay on Derawan or Maratua and day-trip to the others.
- Split stay: a few nights near Maratua (walls, currents) plus a few near Derawan (easy reefs, island life).
- Multi-island loop: some operators run fixed-day routes that visit several islands.
Conservation and etiquette
This area is widely described as a marine conservation region, and parts are formally designated as the Berau MPA.
- Do not touch mantas, turtles, or reef life.
- Control buoyancy, especially on walls where fragile growth is shallow.
- Use mooring buoys where provided and avoid anchoring on reefs.
- In the jellyfish lake, follow local rules (commonly no fins and no sunscreen) to protect the ecosystem.
A simple 5-day plan
- Day 1: Arrive, check gear, easy house-reef dive or snorkel.
- Day 2: Sangalaki for mantas plus a second reef dive nearby.
- Day 3: Kakaban wall dive and a calm snorkel session.
- Day 4: Maratua wall or point drift timed to tide.
- Day 5: Topside lagoons or caves, then transfer out.
Trip callouts
- Coral Triangle biodiversity
Derawan sits in the Western Coral Triangle, with reef, wall, and lagoon habitats that support big animals and macro life.
- Manta and turtle focus
Sangalaki is a signature stop for manta encounters, and turtles are common on reefs and beaches across the island group.
- One-of-a-kind lake swim
Kakaban's brackish lake with stingless jellyfish is a rare, topside-friendly highlight that pairs perfectly with dive days.
- Remote, uncrowded feel
Getting here takes effort, which keeps the vibe quieter than many Indonesia hotspots. Expect simpler infrastructure and more nature.
Activity highlights
scuba
Why the Derawan Islands for Scuba Diving
Derawan diving is a two-speed destination: calm, turtle-filled reefs when you want an easy day, and tide-timed wall and point dives when you want adrenaline. Sangalaki is the manta headline, Kakaban brings steep walls, and Maratua adds current-driven action with schooling fish. Operators such as Scuba Junkie (Sangalaki) and resort-based dive centers around Maratua typically plan sites around tide and wind so you hit the points at the right moment.
freedive
Why the Derawan Islands for Freediving
Warm water and dramatic reef walls make Derawan a strong freedive destination if you plan around currents and boat traffic. Sheltered house reefs and calm lagoons are good for technique days, while wall edges around Maratua and Kakaban offer depth for experienced pairs with boat support. Fantasy Wall is even tagged for freediving on DiveJourney, hinting at the area's crossover appeal.
snorkel
Why the Derawan Islands for Snorkeling
Snorkeling in Derawan can be as simple as stepping off a jetty to find turtles, or as epic as timing a boat trip to shallow manta areas around Sangalaki. House reefs and reef flats give you colorful coral and fish in the 0 m to 5 m zone, while outer reefs add bigger animals when seas are calm. Many travelers combine snorkel days with Kakaban's stingless jellyfish lake and lagoon stops for a full in-water vacation without scuba.
topside
What to do when you're not diving
Topside Derawan is about island hopping, lagoons, caves, sandbars, and slow village evenings. Kakaban adds lagoon viewpoints and jungle walks, Maratua is known for caves like Goa Halo Tabung, and Derawan itself is an easy place to wander, eat seafood, and watch sunsets. Many itineraries add mainland Berau highlights such as Labuan Cermin as a full-day break from boats.
About these guides
DiveJourney destination guides are living documents built from local knowledge, operator experience, and publicly available sources. Conditions, regulations, and logistics can change. Each guide shows its last update date and sources used.
Last updated: December 13, 2025 • 12 sources
If you see something inaccurate or outdated, you can submit an update. This is how the platform improves.