Scuba Junkie Sangalaki, Derawan, Sangalaki and Maratua
per person, room only
Overview
- Bucket-list diving without another group in sight in Borneo's newest frontier
- Overwater accommodations to suit a variety of budgets and travel styles
- A wide variety of sites featuring muck and macro, powerful open ocean currents, marine megafauna, and more
- Outstanding facilities for divers with expert local guides and high international standards for safety and fun
Located on the island of Derawan, off Kalimantan’s central coast, Scuba Junkie Sangalaki is perfectly positioned for exploring one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting and upcoming dive destinations. This lesser-known region boasts incredible sites of all kinds, with majestic manta rays and turtles at Sangalaki, muck diving and whale sharks at Derawan, and ripping currents packed with pelagics at Maratua. Plus, it’s still well off the tourist trail, so you’ll hardly see another dive group. Scuba Junkie’s facilities are ideal for intrepid guests hoping to make the most of their time in the water or social, outgoing travellers who enjoy laid back local lodging.
Rooms
Water dorm
2 x Bunk beds, sleeps 4
Ensuite bathroom, Fan, Breakfast...from $28 /night
Water bungalow
1 x King bed or 2 x twin beds, sleeps 2
Air conditioning, Ensuite bathroom, Breakfast...from $53 /night
Resort checklist
Meal plans:
- Half Board
Reviews
Mathias V
Our dive guide Maja was excellent, hard place to get to but worth it. Thx ZuBlu.
Diving in Derawan, Sangalaki and Maratua
Whale sharkNot frequently
SharksFrom February to December
Leopard sharkNot frequently
Thresher sharkNot frequently
Manta RaysFrom March to December
TurtlesFrom February to December
BarracudaFrom February to December
Bumphead parrotfishNot frequently
TrevallyFrom February to December
Exotic cuttlefishNot frequently
Rare OctopusFrom November to December
The Derawan Islands have something to offer every diver - from ‘muck’ and critters, to mantas, turtles and sharks. The islands' mix of different habitats combined with the currents that flow between the Java and Celebes Seas, have produced the perfect conditions for an extraordinary number of species - and some exhilarating diving.
Derawan diving
The shallow reefs around Derawan and closer to the mainland might have lower visibility, but they offer divers plenty of sought after critters. Seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus and ghost pipefish are all often found on Derawan’s dive sites. Also nearby are whale sharks that gather around fishing platforms known as bagans.
Sangalaki diving
Further away from the mainland, the visibility improves and the diving switches to bigger animals! Sangalaki’s diving highlights include well-known manta ray congregations but the island is also a great place to go diving with friendly broadclub cuttlefish. Visitors to Sangalaki will also love diving the beautiful reefs and wonderful macro life, or encountering the many turtles which nest on the island.
Kakaban diving
Kakaban’s diving features sharp drop-offs and strong currents. Several dive sites are well known for shark sightings, especially of leopard sharks, grey reef sharks and the occasional hammerhead. Diving among Kakaban’s sea fans is also a great opportunity to search for pygmy seahorses.
The interior of Kakaban hides something a little different. Visitors will find an isolated, brackish lake filled with stingless jellyfish, unusual gobies and even sea snakes. Divers can carry their tanks through the jungle, or simply grab snorkels and masks, and spend an hour or two drifting through clouds of jellyfish.
Maratua diving
Maratua’s diving is dominated by currents and big schools of fish. At the mouth of the eastern channel divers will find one of the largest schools of barracuda they ever likely to see! Diving around Maratua Island is ideal if you are into shark spotting, and eagle rays and bumphead parrotfish can also often be seen.
