Derawan Island in Berau District, East Kalimantan Province

In East Kalimantan Province, there is a small archipelago called Derawan. It is a no brainer. Derawan becomes the prime island of such archipelago and is considered the most famous one among its neighbors. Since 2005, the island has been discussed to be the next UNESCO’s heritage site due to its beauty and nature richness. Today, travelers keep coming to Derawan to enjoy stunning nuance in the beach. It is also famous for its diving spots and different types of sea creatures. For those who love snorkeling and diving, the island should be their next vacation destination!

The Nuance
In terms of size, the island is considered moderate. It features numerous nature attractions like coconut trees, white sand beach, cottages, and beautiful sea scenery. The waves are calm and the color of the water is blue. In fact, some parts of the water are crystal clear, emitting pristine ambiance. Sometimes, several sea turtles and colorful fishes are seen in the shorelines! They are definitely attractive! Next, there is a small resort located near to the beach and it features a pier. No wonder, some speedboats often drop by there.

Exploring Derawan Island
As mentioned before, Derawan Island is popular for its diving tourism. It features several diving spots with distinct depth. Still, most of the visitors might choose one that has 5 meters of depth. They are interested in witnessing different types of sea creatures like ghost pipefish, cuttlefish, seahorses, lobsters, scorpion fish, ribbon eels, and much more! All of them live abundantly in the sea around Derawan. This explains why UNESCO considers it as a valuable diving center. In terms of popularity, the island also has obtained a good name among travelers.

Apart from sea creatures, Derawan Island also has a famous coral called Blue Trigger Wall. The length of the coral is about 18 meters and it becomes the home of red-toothed triggerfishes. Some people say it is the main attraction during diving. Though, other attractions are also available, including black manta rays. Their size is indeed enormous, reaching 6 meters in width. The other majestic sea creatures are dugongs, whales, green sea turtles, dolphins, and much more. In fact, some whales are seen sometimes! With lots of nautical attractions, all divers would spend hours in the water.

Both local and foreign tourists are interested in going diving in Derawan Island. That means it has become an high-quality diving spot! On top of that, many facilities are available like cottages, restaurants, speedboats, and diving equipment. What people need to do is to come to the island and enjoy the adventure. When it comes to diving, visitors can either take advantage of an instructor’s help or go alone.

Nearby Attractions

• Derawan Beach
• East Kalimantan

How to Get There
In terms of accessibility, Derawan Island quite reachable. First, travelers need to take an airplane to Balikpapan City and take another flight to Tanjung Redep. The next destination is Derawan Island and they can rent a speedboat to reach it. As an alternative, they can come by boat from Tarakan or Samarinda.

Where to Stay

• Derawan Dive Resort
• Derawan Lodge
• Fisheries Eco Villa