Sangalaki - Derawan Islands.
Want to go completely off the beaten path? Visit Sangalaki and the Derawan Islands, recently awarded with top 3 rankings for the best diving in the world! Learn here why and how you can visit this amazing place!
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Getting to Sangalaki - Derawan Islands.
The best way to visit Derawan Islands in my opinion is via www.scuba-junkies.com/sangalaki! They offer great diving, affordable package deals, and great service! Read below how you can get to them as easy as possible.
Berau (BEJ)
Daily flights from various airports within Indonesia, most of them with a connection in Balikpapan. Your flight would need to land by 2pm in Berau if you'd like to reach Derawan on the same day.
From Berau Scuba Junkies can arrange transfers from the airport to Derawan on any day of the week.
From the airport it takes 2.5 -3 hours by taxi to the coastal town of Tanjung Batu (550,000 IDR per car, max 3 people) followed by a small speed boat to Derawan which takes approximately 30 minutes (350,000 IDR per boat, max 3 people). Transfers would be paid directly to the driver / boat captain in Rupiah cash.
Tarakan (TRK)
Your flight would need to land by 1200 noon if you'd like to reach Derawan on the same day.
Sadly the direct flight from Tawau to Tarakan has not been reinstated, and it is not looking likely this year. If you intended to reach Tarakan from Tawau, you would need to catch a ferry:
There are daily ferries from Tawau to Nunukan and then another ferry from Nunukan to Tarakan. This would require an overnight stay in Tarakan, you would then be able to transfer over to Derawan the following morning. Please note the ferries from Tawau do not operate on Sundays, or Malaysian public holidays.
From Tarakan airport (or your hotel in Tarakan) Scuba Junkies can arrange transfers to Derawan via a third party operator. Depending on your group size and budget- there are 3 main options:
Option 1:
Direct speed boat from Tarakan to Derawan (small speed boat- maximum 2 people- limited luggage space)
Taxi from airport or hotel to Tarakan port, approx. 10min
Boat from Port to Derawan approx. 2.5 - 3 hours.
Total transfer cost for up to two: 3,500,000 IDR
Option 2:
Tarakan - Tanjung Selor - Tanjung Batu (Journey time approx. 6.5hrs – ideal for 1 to 3 people)
Taxi to Tarakan port (SDF Port), approx. 10min (costs around 65,000 IDR per car) (your hotel should be able to arrange this for you)
Tarakan port to Tanjung Selor by speed ferry, approx. 60min (costs 150,000 IDR per person) departs hourly between 8am & 4pm (you would need to arrange this directly at the port)
Tanjung Selor to Tanjung Batu by taxi, approx. 5hrs (costs 2,000,000 IDR per car - maximum 4 people per car)
Tanjung Batu to Derawan by boat, approx. 30 minutes (costs 350,000 IDR per boat – maximum 3 people per boat) Last boat leaves Tanjung Batu at 5pm or sunset, whichever is earliest.
Total transfer cost for two: 2,715,000 IDR
Option 3:
Direct speed boat from Tarakan to Derawan (Large speed boat- maximum 10 people- potential to share with other guests)
Taxi from airport or hotel to Tarakan port, approx. 10min
Boat from Port to Derawan approx. 2.5 - 3 hours.
Total transfer cost for 1-7 passengers: 5,000,000 IDR
Total transfer cost for 8-10 passengers: 7,000,000 IDR
For Option 1 & 3:
Pick up from Tarakan airport or Hotel will be no later than 12noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the boat is scheduled to leave by 12.30pm. For the return, the boat will leave Derawan at 5:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and you should be back at the airport in time for flights departing 11am or later.
An impression of the diving scene in Sangalaki - Derawan Islands.
Derawan, Sangalaki, Maratua, and Kakaban are all part of the Sangalaki marine heritage park, which includes one of the world's only saltwater lakes and one of Indonesia's largest green turtle nesting areas.
These paradise islands are located within the renowned Coral Triangle off the north coast of East Kalimantan, which have all of the richness and beauty that one would expect from such a location within its fascinating underwater landscapes.
Sangalaki:
Sangalaki is one of the few places in the world, where you can see Manta rays in massive numbers all year round. This island is the perfect place for that!
Sangalaki Island, which is part of the Marine Heritage Park, is famous due to the regular sightings of manta rays.
This island is one of the few islands in the world where you can dive and snorkel with Manta Rays almost every day of the year. These gentle creatures seem to really like to interact with humans. Manta Point, Manta Run and the Cleaning Station are must do dive sites if you visit the Derawan Islands!
Maratua:
Maratua Island offers vertical walls dives with pristine coral, strong currents and lots of big fish. Expect to see grey reef sharks, leopard sharks and white tip reef sharks. If you're lucky ou may also see hammerheads, whale sharks and even thresher sharks!
Eagle Rays are also common here, devil rays and giant stingrays. Schooling barracuda, snapper, dogtooth tuna, spanish mackerel, jackfish, are some other species you may encounter.
Kakaban:
The diving around Kakaban Island is world-class and will leave most divers speechless! With untouched coral reefs and steep walls dropping down hundreds of metres, crazy macro-critters and a high chance of pelagic encounters – there is something here to suite everyone! Spending time with schools of barracuda and jackfish are a highlight, as are the many species of sharks you can see here!
Derawan:
It’s a small island with a local village and a “street” in which you can meet the locals and have a local meal in one of the many restaurants. This island should really be called “Turtle Island” as there are literally 1000s of turtles! You don’t even need to dive to see them! Apart from the many turtle encounters you will also see some amazing macro while diving here such as seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus etc as well as some schooling jackfish. There is also a nice wreck dive here.
The most memorable dive sites!
There are many very good dive sites in Derawan Islands. Below I will summarize my favorites. Some of them are reason enough to book that airplane right now.
A few good spots to go diving are:
Whale shark point - Whale sharks
Maratua - Sharks
Kakaban - Jellyfish
Sangalaki - Manta Rays
Derawan - Turtles
1. Whale Shark Point.
Whale Shark Point is the best place in the area in which to Snorkel with the whale shark! These gigantic gentle sharks come to Whale Shark Point to feed on anchovies which have gone astray from the surface fishing pontoons. If you're lucky you may get to snorkel with these amazing animals, sometimes up to 5 of these giants at one time!
2. Maratua Island.
Maratua Island offers vertical walls dives with pristine coral, strong currents and lots of big pelagics. Don’t be surprised to see grey reef sharks, leopard sharks and white tip reef sharks. For the lucky divers you may also encounter hammerheads, whale sharks and even thresher sharks! Rays are also common here, especially eagle rays, devil rays and giant stingrays. Schooling barracuda, snapper, dogtooth tuna, spanish mackerel, jackfish, are some other species you may encounter.
3. Kakaban Island.
From white-tips, black-tips and grey reef sharks – to thresher sharks, leopard sharks, whale sharks and hammerheads! Of course, sharks are not the only pelagics to inhabit the crystal clear waters of Kakaban, larger rays often make appearances too! Eagle rays, devil rays and even manta rays are spotted here.
4. Sangalaki.
There are not many dive locations in the world that can boast to have resident Manta Rays in massive numbers all year round. This island is a paradise for divers who want to experience diving with these majestic gentle giants. Sangalaki Island, which is part of the Marine Heritage Park, has been made famous due to the regular sightings of manta rays.
5. Derawan Island.
Apart from the many turtle encounters you will also see some amazing macro while diving here such as stone fish, seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus etc as well as some schooling jackfish. There is also a nice wreck dive here.
