Derawan is one of the best places to dive here in East Kalimantan. There are a few islands surrounding it like Sangalaki, Maratua and Kakaban. Diving over here is really a 5 star experience. Among creatures that you will definitely encounter are Pygmy Seahorse, schools of Barracudas, the majestic Manta Rays, Emperor Shrimps, Long Nose Hawks Fish, Pipe Fish, Turtle (really big!), Lobster, Trigger Fish, Bat Fish, Nemos, Pipe Fish, Leopard Shark and many-many more. Corals over here are in brilliant colors with mixture of soft and hard. Sea Fan grows as big as 3 meters. Visibility is great and at the right season, it can go up to 30 meters. Diving over these islands will be just fantastic.
You can do Wall Dives at Kakaban and Maratua and there will be a good chance for you to spot Leopard Shark. Night dive and sunset dive can be done right in front of Derawan island itself since the so called house reef is just full of surprises (Garden Eel and Moray Eel, lost barracuda, seahorse, Nudi Branches and many-many more). Try to do it during full moon and when you are doing the safety stop, just look up at the sky from under the water and that will definately mesmerize you. Current Dive especially at Big Fish City is just trilling if you are up to it (it can go as strong as 3 knots) Remember, hold on to your mask. The Kakaban island is well known for its sting less jellyfish and it gives you a totally different kind of experice when you dive/snorkle in the lake.
Try to put on 2-3 mm full wet suit. 1 mm and shortie will just not do because water is unexpectedly cold sometimes. Bring booties beacuse if you plan to dive/snorkle at Kakaban Jelly Fish Lake, you will need that to cross the dead coral sea shore.
Getting there is either by taking a flight to Tawau (Sabah, Malaysia) and then going to Semporna (Sabah, Malaysia) then take a ferry to Tarakan (Kalimantan, Indonesia). Then take a ferry from Tarakan to Derawan or another option, fly to Balikpapan (Indonesia) and take a couch to Tarakan and then from Tarakan, take a ferry to Derawan. The journey is long but trust me, as a diver, the diving will be one of the best in your life time. Happy Diving there.
Regards....MohdFitri
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