Explore Maratua

Maratua Island, located in the Derawan archipelago in East Kalimantan, provides the opportunity for divers to explore some of the richest and most unusual dive sites in Indonesia. The island circles part of a shallow lagoon, where visitors can swim among endemic stingless jellyfish or swiftly drift through a channel that joins a lagoon to the Celebes Sea. In the opening to the channel, divers can witness hammerheads and whale sharks feeding or search sandy seabeds and patch reefs for harlequin shrimps and vibrant dragonets.

There is only one resort on the island so Maratua diving usually takes place from visiting liveaboards. On nearby Derawan Island, there are a few more dive resorts and a dive centre that offers dive courses in its surrounding waters. Boats run daily from dive resorts so visitors can island hop to the other tropical paradises found in the Derawan Islands arcihelago.

Top Dive Sites Map

Mares

★★★★☆ The Ridge

Located on the southwest tip of Maratua Atoll, this is an excellent spot to see stingrays. Steep reef with a sandy plateau at 25 - 30 meters depth. Dive with the right shoulder to the reef.

13
Logs
13
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

★★★★☆ Langkawit

On the southwest tip of Maratua Atoll is this ideal dive site for all macro lovers. The Top of the reef is located at a depth of 5 - 10 meters.

61
Logs
47
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★★ Ujung Karang Tinggi

15 minutes from Nunukan Islands is this beautiful dive site. The reef starts with a gentle slope, which then turns into a steep wall. It is a wonderful place for macros.

28
Logs
20
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ Kelapa dua

45 minutes from Nabucco Islands and 15 minutes from Nunukan Islands, on the southeast tip of Kakaban Island lies this beautiful dive site. Generally very nice wall with usually very good visibility.

323
Logs
190
Divers
31.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro

★★★★☆ Bantukan

Located 20 minutes from Nunukan Islands on the southwest side of Maratua Atoll is this dive site. Gently sloping reef with shallow sandy bottom at 12 meters. Best dived at high tide.

48
Logs
34
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Kakaban Wall

50 minutes from Nabucco Islands and 20 minutes from Nunukan Islands, on the southwest tip of Kakaban Island lies this beautiful dive site. Long deep wall generally protected from the current.

255
Logs
164
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ Baracuda Point Kakaban

Located on the southwest tip of Kakaban-Islands (west coast). Located 50 minutes from Nabucco-Islands and 20 minutes from Nunukan-Islands. Often down and up currents. Best diving time during strong currents. Sometimes negative entry.

444
Logs
249
Divers
27.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ East Wall

This dive site is located 17 minutes from Nabucco Islands and 13 minutes from Nunukan Islands on the east side of the reef. Steep, long wall to 30 - 35 meters then sandy slope. Dive with the left shoulder to the wall.

40
Logs
33
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
25.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Shark City

15 minutes from Nabucco Islands and Nunukan Islands is the 2nd channel of the atoll with a depth of 6 meters. Best dived in strong current. Dive with the right or left shoulder along the steeply sloping reef below the channel.

128
Logs
88
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Coral Mountain Bay

15 minutes from Nabucco Islands and also 15 minutes from Nunukan Islands is the Coral Mountain. Diving is done with the left shoulder to the reef.

64
Logs
41
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ Johnnys House

This dive site is located on the southwest coast of Maratua Islands. The dive site is characterized by the steep wall. If you are looking for beautiful coral landscapes, this dive site is not for you.

65
Logs
37
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★★ Coral Mountain Bay

15 minutes from Nabucco Islands and also 15 minutes from Nunukan Islands is the Coral Mountain. Diving is done with the left shoulder to the reef.

21
Logs
17
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★★ Sea Wall Garden

15 minutes from Nabucco Islands and 15 minutes from Nunukan Islands there is a beautiful steep wall. The wall drops to 20-25 meters, then sandy slope.

26
Logs
23
Divers
27.0 m
⌀ Depth
24.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★★ Sea Wall

14 minutes from Nabuco Islands and 16 minutes from Nunukan Island you will find this beautiful coral garden. Dive with the left shoulder to the reef.

30
Logs
25
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

★★★★★ Midnight Snapper Run

7 minutes from Nabucco Islands in south-southeast direction is this beautiful dive site. A steep slope with a sandy plateau at 23-28 meters adjacent steep wall. Dive with the left shoulder to the wall.

85
Logs
49
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Maratua

While scuba diving in Maratua, you can find yourself in fast drift dives with turbulent currents or relax in calm shallow dive sites observing myriads of reef fish. At The First and Second Lagoon, night dives are popular and divers can search the mucky bottom for a range of strange critters. Dramatic deep drop-offs can be found at The East Wall dive site and underwater photographers will revel in capturing the behaviour of enormous schools of vivid mandarin fish flitting around in the afternoon light at Jetty Dive.

The best Months to dive in Maratua

Scuba diving in Maratua is available year round, with liveaboards visiting in every season. From March through to October it is the island’s dry season and visibility is at its peak.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Pratasaba Dive Center

Maratua Island, 77381 Berau, KI - IDN