Dive Sangalaki, Maratua & Kakaban, Indonesia

Discover an untouched diving destination that offers everything you need for the ultimate liveaboard safari. Located off the East Coast of Kalimantan (The Indonesian portion of Borneo) the Islands of Sangalaki, Maratua, and Kakaban (also called the Derawan Archipelago) offer some of the most remote, uncrowded, and untouched diving spots visited by the White Manta Explorer.

Spot plenty of ‘Big Fish’ throughout the area including manta rays, hammerheads, barracuda, jacks, tuna, & even the chance of Whale Shark! On colorful reefs, sight amazing soft corals, turtles, leopard & reef sharks, harlequin shrimps, and more unique creatures.

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Sangalaki: Famous for large aggregations of Manta Rays who use the islands surrounding colorful reefs as a cleaning and breeding ground, in certain conditions Whale Sharks can also be spotted.

Kakaban: A stunning freshwater jellyfish lake fringed by virgin Mangrove forest, Sheer drop-offs, and walls that attract huge schools of Trevally and Barracuda along with the possibility of Hammerhead, Grey Reef, and Black Tip sharks.

Maratua: One of the most action-filled destinations in the region, The walls that surround this island provide some great big fish dives, massive schools of chevron barracudas, hunting trevallies, thresher sharks and much more!

Water Temp: 82-86F/28-30C. Air Temp: 82-86F/28-30C.

Visibility: 30-90FT/10-30M.

Experience Level; intermediate to advanced.

Best Time to Dive: Year-round

What to See/Highlights? Pelagic; Manta, rays, hammerheads, manta rays, barracuda, jacks, tuna, & even the chance of Whale Shark! Reef; amazing soft corals, turtles, leopard & reef sharks, harlequin shrimps, pygmy seahorses, frogfish, ribbon eels, cuttlefish, nudis & usual reef fishes encountered in the Coral Triangle. 

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SAMPLE LIVEABOARD ITINERARIES

*Please note also that this itinerary is an example only, and will change depending on weather and logistics at the Captain’s discretion.

Sangalaki-Kakaban-Maratua – 8 days/7 nights itinerary

Diving Days: 7 diving days (22 dives). This trip is also available with 7 days/6 nights.  Choose your preferred schedule and enjoy spectacular diving in the world’s most biodiverse diving destination.

  • Day 1. (0 dives) 3pm, trip departure day. Our staff will meet you upon your arrival to Tarakan Airport or local hotel and transfer you to the awaiting vessel. Warm welcome & briefing while we sail to Derawan (9-11 hours). Note: There is no diving on trip departure day. First dives will take place on the first morning, usually at Derawan Island for check out dives.
  • Day 2. (3-4 dives) Diving around Sangalaki looking for manta rays, turtles & more! We also have a chance to visit the beach to watch hatching baby turtles make their dash to the sea!
  • Day 3-4. (4 dives x2 days) Diving around Maratua island; huge schools of chevron barracudas, and big-eye jacks at the mouth of the channel.   Look out for the shark action with possible sightings of hammerhead sharks too!
  • Day 5. (3-4 dives) Diving around Kakaban with stunning wall dives & visiting the amazing fresh water Jellyfish lake.
  • Day 6. (4 dives) Diving around Sambit Island with it pristine corals, abundant marine life, and amazing visibility.  Heaps of turtles plus look in the blue for sharks & visiting whale shark!
  • Day 7. (1-2 dives) Looking for whale sharks at local fishing “bagans” then sail back to Tarakan (sailing time 9-11 hours). Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, rest & relaxation, and if need be, an early flight on trip departure day. Last night sleeping on White Manta in the Tarakan harbour.
  • Day 8. (0 dives) 5am-10pm.  Check out after light breakfast, farewells, and transfer to local hotel or airport. Departure from Tarakan to Jakarta with Batik Air or Bali (via Subabaya) with Lion Air.

Manado-Sangalaki-Kakaban-Maratua – 10 days/9 nights itinerary

Diving days: 9 days of diving (26 dives). This trip is also available from Berau to Manado.  Choose your preferred schedule and enjoy spectacular diving in the world’s most biodiverse diving destination.

Sample Itinerary

  • Day 1. (0-2 dives) 1pm trip departure. Our staff will meet you upon arrival to Manado Airport & transfer you to the vessel.  Depending on arrival time, we can do 1-2 critter dives in Lembeh.
  • Day 2. (3-4 dives) Muck Diving along Manado coastal Islands
  • Day 3. (3 dives) Muck Diving along Manado coaster Islands, long over night crossing to Pulau Sambit
  • Day 4-5. (4 dives x2 days) Diving around Pulau Sambit.
  • Day 6.  (3-4 dives) Diving around Maratua island; huge schools of chevron barracudas, and big-eye jacks at the mouth of the channel.   Look out for the shark action with possible sightings of hammerhead sharks too!
  • Day 7. (4 dives) Diving around Kakaban with stunning wall dives & visiting the amazing fresh water Jellyfish lake.
  • Day 8. (3-4 dives) Diving around Sangalaki looking for manta rays, turtles & more! We also have a chance to visit the beach to watch hatching baby turtles make their dash to the sea!
  • Day 9. (1-2 dives) Looking for whale sharks at local fishing “bagans”then sail back to Tanjung Batu pier (sailing time 9-11 hours).  Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, rest & relaxation, and if need be, an early flight on trip departure day.  Last night sleeping onboard in the Tanjung Batu pier. 
  • Day 10. (0 dives) 5am-12pm.  Check out after light breakfast, farewells, and transfer to local hotel or airport.  Departure from Berau to Jakarta with Batik Air or Bali (via Subabaya) with Lion Air.