Kalimantan Diving
Kalimantan is a paradise for marine megafauna fans and macro-lovers alike, with its hammerheads, whale and nurse sharks, plus numerous prized critters. You can also enjoy year-round manta encounters, thriving coral reefs and snorkelling with thousands of non-stinging jellyfish at this special destination.
Info
We don't currently have any dive centers or liveaboards in Kalimantan, but that might change. In the meantime, take a look at other dive experiences nearby in Indonesia.
Diving in Kalimantan
As Kalimantan diving is remote and only two of the islands are inhabited, there are only a handful of dive resorts and dive centres in the archipelago. In East Kalimantan. Indonesian Borneo, lie several reefs located around the Derawan archipelago perfect for scuba diving. Surrounding the 31 islands are unique dive sites that offer the chance to glide in ripping currents or relax in shallow coral reefs.
At Sangalaki Island divers can find themselves among majestic manta rays all year round while Derawan, Samama and Nabucco Island showcase muck diving at its best. Blue-ringed octopus, nudibranch, pygmy seahorse and ghost pipefish are all residents to these areas. Maratua Island has several impressive drop-offs where you can witness hammerheads, whale sharks and nurse sharks while at Kakaban you can scale towering walls or shelter from the strong currents during a cave dive.
Best places to dive
In the walls of Kakaban Island, there are a number of caves cut into the limestone cliffs. Blue Light Cave, starting at 2-metres deep, will find divers descending through a narrow chimney before opening into a large cavern at 30-metres. Reserved for experienced and tech divers, you’ll exit the cave via a long vertical crack in the wall at 44-metres - a dive for the adventure seekers.
In the centre of Kakaban Island lies a mangrove-fringed lake where thousands of endemic non-stinging jellyfish live. Although this is not technically a dive site, visitors can snorkel here for an unforgettable experience among four jellyfish species that can not be found anywhere else in the world.
Big Fish Country at Maratua Island is your chance to see pelagics. Descend down in strong currents to witness giant schools of barracuda and bluefin tuna as grey reef sharks and hammerheads search for their next meal.
For manta rays, head to Sangalaki Island where majestic manta rays swoop around the sandy ridges at Manta Avenue, Manta Parade and Manta Run - pure magic. As the manta rays are residents all year round you are very unlikely to be disappointed.
Exchange the big stuff for the small at Jetty dive site on Derawan Island. Keep your eyes peeled in search of flamboyant cuttlefish, squat lobsters, ghost pipefish, blue-ringed octopus and pygmy seahorse.
