Kalimantan's underwater character is defined by the Derawan Islands, which account for nearly all of the region's sites. Reef and drift diving dominate, with Sangalaki Island drawing divers specifically for Reef Manta Ray encounters at sites like Manta Run, Manta Parade, and Manta Avenue. Maratua Atoll adds walls, drop-offs, and artificial reef structures, spread across skill levels from beginner to advanced. Two landlocked marine lakes, Jellyfish Lake on Kakaban and Maratua Jellyfish Lakes, offer a snorkelling experience found in very few places. Alongside the mantas, Green Sea Turtle, Whale Shark, and Blue-ringed Octopus are all observation-backed highlights.
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Monthly water temperature across Kalimantan's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperature holds warm and steady year-round, with conditions peaking from April through October when the best-months data is strongest. Currents can be significant at drift sites such as Barracuda Point and Manta Avenue, making those dives advanced-only, while calmer reef sites across Maratua Atoll remain accessible to beginners throughout the year. Visibility varies considerably across sites, so conditions should be confirmed locally before planning wall or drop-off dives.
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Water around Kalimantan stays near 30°C all year, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
With water around 29–30°C, a rash guard or 3mm shorty works in Kalimantan year-round.
Fin maps 53 sites in Kalimantan (50 scuba diving sites and 10 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Kalimantan's observation-backed highlights include Reef Manta Ray, Green Sea Turtle, Whale Shark, Whitetip Reef Shark, and Guitarfish. Reef manta rays are particularly associated with the Sangalaki Island sites, while Green Sea Turtle is recorded across much of the region. Napoleon Wrasse, Giant Moray, and Broadclub Cuttlefish are also commonly sighted.
A good portion of the sites across the Derawan Islands and Maratua Atoll are rated for beginners, including Sandy Ridge, Turtle Traffic, Small Fish Country, and the shore-entry Jetty Dive. However, several drift sites, notably Barracuda Point, Manta Avenue, and Big Fish Country, are advanced-only due to strong currents. Intermediate divers are also catered for at sites such as Manta Run off Sangalaki and Light House on Maratua Atoll.
Sangalaki Island is the focal point for Reef Manta Ray dives, with multiple dedicated drift sites at varying skill levels. Kakaban Island is notable for Barracuda Point, an advanced wall and drift site, and the snorkel-only Jellyfish Lake. Maratua Atoll offers the greatest variety of site types, including walls, drop-offs, natural reefs, and artificial reef structures, spread across all skill levels.
Boat access is by far the dominant entry method across Kalimantan's sites, reflecting the island-to-island nature of diving in the Derawan Islands. Shore entry is available at a small number of sites, including the Jetty Dive at Maratua Atoll and Maratua Jellyfish Lakes. Operators such as Maratua DIVE Centre, Sangalaki Resort, Derawan Dive Lodge, and Scuba Junkie organise boat trips to the main sites.
