Derawan, Maratua, Sangalaki & Kakaban Diving

Type

Channel · Wall · Current

Depth

10–26 m

Experience

Advanced

Current

Strong

Big Fish Country is Maratua’s signature current site, a channel through the atoll rim where fish stack up because the water is moving. Divers descend toward the channel edge, use the reef contour — and, where local procedures permit, a reef hook on non-living substrate — to hold position and watch the show.

Barracuda, jacks and reef sharks are the headline animals, but the density of fish across the channel is what makes the dive feel large. The site is intentionally dived when current is present, so it is not a beginner profile. A controlled negative entry, close group spacing and a disciplined exit plan are part of the experience.

Look for: Barracuda tornado potential · Strong current · Channel wall · Advanced drift skills

Type

Slope · Deep wall

Depth

15–40+ m

Experience

Advanced

Current

Moderate

Big Fish Wall sits next to the better-known channel and gives experienced divers a more continuous wall profile. A sandy coral slope falls toward a deeper vertical section, with the wall beginning much lower than most recreational sites in the region.

The dive is therefore about planning rather than chasing the bottom: a conservative maximum depth still gives views of the wall, schooling fish and the chance of larger pelagics moving through open water. Current is normally less intense than in the channel but remains part of the site. Many dives finish toward the shallower reef near Big Fish Country, creating a natural multilevel profile if gas and current allow.

Look for: Deep wall · Pelagic potential · Moderate current · Advanced depth planning

Type

Reef · Feeding / cleaning area

Depth

5–25 m

Experience

Beginner–Intermediate

Current

Mild–Moderate

Sangalaki’s east side is famous for manta activity across a cluster of sites known as Manta Avenue, Manta Parade and Manta Run. Reef mantas can feed close to the surface or visit cleaning areas over the reef, which makes the experience accessible without a deep profile.

The most important technique is restraint: divers who stay low, avoid chasing and leave the animals a clear route are more likely to see natural behavior. Manta numbers vary with plankton, moon, tide and season, and no encounter is guaranteed. Even on a quiet day, the shallow reef and sandy ridges remain worth diving, especially for photographers and divers who prefer a slower pace.

Look for: Manta feeding area · Shallow profile · Wildlife etiquette · Sangalaki

Type

Wall · Current point

Depth

10–25 m

Experience

Advanced

Current

Strong

Kakaban’s Barracuda Point is a current-fed wall where the site comes alive because water is moving around the island. Schools of barracuda and jacks can gather at the point while grey and whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays and other pelagics patrol the edge.

Strong flow is normal enough that the dive is recommended for advanced divers and local operators may use a fixed line or reef-hook procedure where appropriate. The best strategy is not to chase the school but to establish a stable position, watch the current line and let the animals move around the group. Down-current potential means the briefing and exit plan matter as much as the wildlife.

Look for: Barracuda schools · Reef sharks · Eagle rays · Strong current

Type

Reef · Shallow coral

Depth

5–15 m

Experience

Beginner

Current

Mild–Moderate

Turtle Traffic is the relaxed side of Maratua. The reef stays shallow enough for Open Water divers and is known for green and hawksbill turtles resting beneath table coral or moving through the reef, particularly when the tide encourages them into the area.

The site is not about dramatic topography or depth; it is about spending a long dive watching turtle behavior and the reef life around them. Current is usually manageable but can still increase with tide. For photographers, the shallow water gives good natural light and generous bottom time, while newer divers get a memorable wildlife dive without the demands of Big Fish Country.

Look for: High turtle density · Shallow reef · Beginner friendly · Long bottom time

Type

Cave · Chimney · Deep overhead

Depth

2–44 m

Experience

Expert / Cave-trained

Current

Overhead environment

Blue Light Cave is not a normal recreational cave swim-through. The entrance begins in a shallow crack, then descends through a narrow chimney to a large cavern around the low twenties before continuing toward a deep vertical exit near 44 metres. That combination creates all the classic overhead risks: no direct ascent, depth, silt-out potential and a long route through enclosed space.

The site should only be attempted by divers with appropriate cave or technical training, equipment and an operator experienced with the system. For properly qualified teams, the blue glow of the open sea seen from inside the cavern is the defining image. For everyone else, Kakaban’s outside walls are the appropriate alternative.

Look for: True overhead environment · Exit around 44 m · Cave training required · Expert site

Type

House reef · Turtle reef · Macro

Depth

3–25 m

Experience

Beginner–Intermediate

Current

Usually mild

Derawan House Reef provides the archipelago’s most convenient everyday dive. Coral and sand around the island support turtles, reef fish and smaller subjects, and the easy access makes the site ideal for check dives, afternoon tanks and night diving.

The profile can stay shallow for a long time, so photographers can work individual subjects without the time pressure of a deep channel dive. Current is generally easier than around Maratua and Kakaban, although tide still matters around the island. The map pin should be treated as the broader house-reef area rather than a single permanent mooring, since different operators may use different sections around Derawan according to conditions.

Look for: Easy access · Turtles · Macro · Night-dive potential

Type

Sand · Coral heads · Macro

Depth

5–25 m

Experience

Beginner–Intermediate

Current

Mild

Lighthouse Reef is the macro counterpoint to Sangalaki’s manta dives. Sandy bottom and coral heads create habitat for gobies, scorpionfish, nudibranchs, frogfish, ribbon eels and giant clams, while small wooden wrecks add structure and shelter.

The site rewards slow movement and a close look rather than distance covered, making it useful when divers want a quieter second dive after an open-water manta session. Conditions are generally less intimidating than the current-heavy Maratua and Kakaban sites, so mixed-experience groups can enjoy it. The exact mooring is operator-managed; the map shows the Sangalaki lighthouse reef area rather than a surveyed entry point.

Look for: Macro reef · Small wrecks · Frogfish potential · Gentler conditions