“Hi, I am Tracy! I am a full-time Travel Blogger, Planner & Organizer. I am Indonesian and I stayed in Singapore for about 11 years before I moved back for good in 2016. I love nature - I hike and I dive. I support coral conservation. When I am not doing either one, I write and I plan. And yes, also meeting friends for a cuppa tea or coffee, too! :) Hope to see you around one day!”
If you have any questions, feel free to Whatsapp me at +62 812 9898 1812. :) Thank you.
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This trip will all about water activities – Snorkelling, island hopping, seeing jellyfish, manta, whale shark, and sea turtles! We can easily spot sea turtles here because there is their traffic. :)
First-time snorkelers are welcome! If you need to learn or practice snorkelling prior to this trip, you are encouraged to join this Let's Learn & Practice Snorkelling in Seribu [No leaves required!]
If you would like to join as a diver, please register through this link
https://www.threeplaygrounds.com/adventure/derawan-islands-diving-whaleshark-stingless-jellyfish-manta-sea-turtles/722
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DERAWAN ISLANDS
The Derawan Islands must be everyone’s dream of the perfect tropical paradise: warm, isolated islands with soft white sand beaches fringed with waving palm trees, pristine seas that change color from green to deep blue, and an amazing underwater life of giant turtles, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs and barracudas, stingless jellyfish and sometimes, whales. Derawan is indeed one of the world’s richest areas in biodiversity.
Located just away from the mainland of East Kalimantan in the district of Berau, the Derawan archipelago comprises 31 islands, most well known among these are the islands of Derawan, Maratua, Sangalaki, and Kakaban. Here is Indonesia’s largest nesting site of the rare and endangered giant green turtles and hawksbill turtles, where one can daily watch turtles lay their eggs in the sand or swim to sea with the turtles. The entire marine conservancy region covers a total area of no less than1.27 million hectares.
Derawan's outstanding location offers you the chance to see mantas, a lake of non-stinging jellyfish and schooling barracuda.
Known for the non-stinging jellyfish lake, there exist only two in the world. It is a NOT TO BE MISSED itinerary for both snorkelers and divers. It is located in the middle of the island and within a brisk walk of 15 minutes you will find yourself in a different world altogether. The non-stinging jellyfish live over there making it an interesting itinerary. The stingless properties came about when the jellyfishes are trapped inside the lake for probably centuries and because there are almost no major predators in the lake, they start to lose their natural defence. Its brackish water and bottom covered marine green algae host a number of other species.
Over here, Manta and Turtle rule the day. Known as Manta hotspot, our guide will endeavour to seek the Manta for you. High chance you can see them clearly whilst they are feeding. It is an awesome sight to see the gentle giants gliding through the water majestically. Very likely that you can see Manta all year round. The island itself has a turtle nursery run by the local government.
Here is the worldwide famous dive site "The channel" or "Big Fish Country", with a little bit of luck and the right timing you will be able to see barracuda tornados, grey reef sharks and eagle rays. Another dive site for turtle fans "Payung-Payung", if you are able to count all the turtles you see we call it a bad day. Tresher sharks are occasionally seen here.
Derawan is a place for a few drift dives and a bit of muck. Ghost pipefishes, frogfish, blue ring octopus, harlequin shrimp and tiger shrimp to name a few. Especially a place for photographers, who always wanted to get a picture of jawfish with eggs.
You may want to read our previous adventures here.
https://www.peekholidays.com/discover-indonesia/derawan-islands-whale-shark/
https://www.peekholidays.com/discover-indonesia/labuan-cermin/
Please only book the flight after I inform to do so. Below is the domestic flight that we will be taking. It is around S$545 as of today. For the domestic flight, you are free to choose as long as it can connect to the domestic flight below.