Derawan Archipelago in Kalimantan, Borneo, are the tropical Islands you come to Southeast Asia dreaming about. The islands have rich coral reefs, big green turtles, white sandy beaches and emerald green waters.
Derawan is a tiny island with turquoise water teeming with rich marine life where divers can enjoy drift and muck diving.
Maratua is the largest atoll whose exotic underwater landscapes contains the third highest level of marine biodiversity in the world after Raja Ampat and the Solomon Islands.With over 20 dive spots across the island divers can immerse themselves amidst the bountiful treasures. The best dive site is The Channel” also well known as “big fish country”. Due to the strong currents, diver can encounter a startling array of pelagic fishes.
Unlike some of the other Derawan islands which are uninhabited, Maratua has a population of about 3,000 people and is divided into 4 villages, most of which come from the Bajau Tribe, The Bajau people, or Sea Gypsies, are a landless tribe that is sustained completely and exclusively by the ocean.
A special feature of Derawan Archipelago is the Kakaban Island, where you can swim in a lake that is filled with the world’s largest and most diverse collection of jellyfish, including four unique species of stingless jellyfish which swims upside down. With no direct predators, over thousands of years, these creatures have lost their sting.
Sangalaki Island is the world Capital of Mantas, and its dive sites will really make your heart race. At Sangalaki, majestic mantas wing through the water, emerging from all directions. Snorkeling is the best way to interact with these gentle plankton feeders. Sangalaki Island is also home to green turtles that lay their eggs on the pristine beach, and beautiful intact coral reefs.
