Derawan Dive Package & Maratua Dive Packages

How to read this: Maratua Resort is an independent concierge guide — we curate and compare dive resorts and island stays in the Derawan archipelago, then arrange your booking through a vetted operating partner. We do not own or operate the resorts, and resort or brand names are used only as neutral examples, not claims of affiliation. Prices are by quote and vary by resort, season and party; figures here are indicative. Flights, transfers and dive seasons change — confirm before you travel. This is general information, not a binding offer.

A derawan dive package is a multi-day bundle that combines accommodation, boat dives, transfers and most meals across the main islands of the Derawan archipelago. A typical Maratua or Derawan package uses one resort as a base, then adds day trips to Sangalaki, Kakaban and nearby turtle and wall sites.

What a Derawan or Maratua Dive Package Actually Includes

A “derawan dive package” is not a standardised product across the archipelago. Each operator builds its own version, but most include the same core pieces.

Core elements you should expect

At minimum, a serious Derawan or Maratua dive package usually includes:

Accommodation – in a land-based resort, lodge, or overwater bungalow on Maratua, Derawan or occasionally in Berau town as a first/last night.
Diving – a fixed number of guided boat dives with tanks, weights and standard air fills.
Boat and fuel costs – factored into the dive price, including day trips to Sangalaki and Kakaban on higher-tier packages.
Basic transfers – at least the sea transfer from the mainland (usually Tanjung Batu jetty) to your island resort; some packages also bundle the airport pickup from Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau.
Meals – typically full board (3 meals daily) at the resort on dive days.
Local guiding – Indonesian dive guides, often with many seasons’ experience in Maratua walls, Sangalaki mantas and Kakaban’s barracuda point.

Many packages also fold in smaller but important costs such as local marine park fees and harbour charges, though this is not universal and needs to be checked line-by-line.

What is usually excluded

These are the items that frequently sit outside the package price and are paid on top:

Flights – to and from Kalimarau Airport in Berau.
Personal dive gear rental – BCD, regulator, wetsuit, computer and torch, if you do not bring your own.
Nitrox – if available, often priced per tank or per package.
Courses and certification fees – Open Water, Advanced, Rescue and specialties.
Alcoholic drinks and à la carte extras – coffee upgrades, snacks outside mealtimes.
Tipping – for boat crew and guides, always discretionary.

Some operators also treat Kakaban’s jellyfish lake access fee and Sangalaki manta area fees as separate line items. That is not a red flag; it simply means the quote is itemised rather than bundled.

For a breakdown of typical inclusions across Derawan trips, see also our page on what is included in packages here.

Typical Structures: Nights, Dives and Sites Covered

Most multi-day Derawan diving stays follow a familiar pattern. The variation is in how much “big ticket” boat time you get at Sangalaki, Kakaban and the outer Maratua walls.

Common lengths for multi-day Derawan diving

These are broad, experience-based ranges drawn from current practice across several operators servicing the archipelago:

3 days / 2 nights – a short Derawan stopover, usually built around Derawan Island’s local turtle sites and one half-day trip. Best for travellers already passing through Berau.
5 days / 4 nights – the entry point at which a Sangalaki or Kakaban trip is realistically included once.
6–8 days – the most common Maratua dive package length, allowing 4–6 days of diving and multiple runs to the marquee sites.
10+ days – for those treating the Derawan archipelago as the main dive holiday of the year, or combining diving with topside rest days and island-hopping.

How many dives are normal per day?

On a resort-based Derawan or Maratua dive package, divers typically do:

2–3 boat dives per full dive day – 2 is conservative; 3 is common when conditions and distances allow.
Optional night dive – usually 1–2 per stay by request, paid as an add-on unless explicitly bundled.
Shore or jetty dives – possible from some properties, especially overwater jetties on Maratua and Derawan. These may or may not be counted within your boat-dive quota.

Think in terms of total dive count across the stay. A 7D/6N Maratua dive package with 4 full dive days and 1 arrival/1 departure day might reasonably include 10–14 boat dives, with optional night dives on top.

Key sites a serious package should touch

Most divers come to the Derawan region for a specific combination of sites. At a minimum, a comprehensive derawan dive package usually aims to include:

Maratua walls and channels – classic deep walls, schooling fish and the chance of big pelagics on the current-swept corners.
Sangalaki manta cleaning and feeding areas – for seasonally reliable manta encounters (never guaranteed, but historically strong).
Kakaban reef and barracuda points – current-rich seamounts and walls off Kakaban Island, plus optional access to the famous non-stinging jellyfish lake (snorkelling only, no scuba).
Derawan turtle sites and macro dives – for green turtles, occasional jawfish and small critters on sandy or rubble slopes.

Shorter or cheaper packages may not reach all four. If you have clear priorities (for example, Sangalaki mantas over Derawan macro), make that explicit at the enquiry stage.

Resort-Based vs Island-Hopping Dive Packages

Many divers first weigh up a derawan liveaboard alternative against staying on an island. In practice, most visitors to the region still dive from resorts or lodges, not boats that sleep at sea.

Resort-based Maratua dive package

Here you pick one home base — most often on Maratua or Derawan Island — and do day-boat diving out to other sites. This is currently the mainstream format.

Advantages:

Comfort and stability – fixed room, proper beds, more space, and a dry bag for cameras between dives.
Lower daily cost than most liveaboards – especially if you are happy with simpler rooms.
Non-diver friendly – easy to mix diving with reading, walks in the village, or simple island-hopping.
Flexibility – if conditions are off at one site, crews can adjust the day’s plan without pivoting an entire liveaboard itinerary.

Trade-offs:

Travel time on big days – Sangalaki and Kakaban day trips involve longer boat rides from Maratua or Derawan.
Fewer dawn and night dives far from base – most night dives happen near the resort’s “house” sites rather than in remote corners.

Island-hopping dive packages

An island-hopping derawan dive package splits your stay between two or more islands — for example:

3–4 nights on Derawan Island for turtles and village life.
4–5 nights on Maratua for outer reefs, walls and proximity to Kakaban and Sangalaki.

Transfers between islands are usually handled by the same operator that runs your dives, or by a partner. These are not liveaboards; you still sleep on land but change bases during the trip.

Advantages:

Shorter daily boat runs – you are physically closer to different clusters of sites on different legs.
More varied topside experience – two island communities, different reefs and shorelines.

Trade-offs:

Time lost to packing and transfers – one half-day or more can disappear to changing islands.
Slightly higher logistics cost – more boat movements and coordination.

If you are trying to replicate the “roaming” feel of a liveaboard without sleeping on a boat, a carefully planned island-hopping itinerary is the closest derawan liveaboard alternative.

Why most visitors still choose land instead of liveaboard

The Derawan region does see liveaboard traffic, particularly on routes that combine Maratua with other East Kalimantan or North Sulawesi sites. But compared with areas like Raja Ampat or Komodo, there are fewer boats and dates.

Staying land-based on a tailored derawan dive package gives you:

More schedule flexibility (you are not tied to a fixed departure week).
Potentially better value per dive day.
A calmer base for photographers or mixed diving/non-diving groups.

Our role is to help you decide which format actually matches your expectations, then route you through to one vetted partner to assemble the details.

Certification Levels, Nitrox and Add-On Options

Different parts of the archipelago suit different experience levels. You do not need to be a technical diver, but your card and real-world comfort level should shape the maratua dive package you book.

Minimum certification for a Derawan dive package

Broad rules that most reputable operators follow:

Open Water / equivalent – usually acceptable for Derawan’s turtle slopes, calmer Maratua sites and some Sangalaki manta sites, provided conditions are mild on the day.
Advanced Open Water or 30+ logged dives – strongly recommended for:
- Maratua’s deeper walls and current-exposed corners.
- Kakaban outer reefs and barracuda points where current can be strong.
- Drift dives and deeper manta cleaning stations around Sangalaki.

If you are borderline on experience, aim for:

A longer stay with some easier dives up front to ease in.
A private guide or a small group ratio, which can usually be arranged at a supplement.

Learning to dive or continuing education

Many resorts in the Derawan / Maratua area can offer:

Discover Scuba Diving – for non-certified partners who want a supervised taste of diving in shallow, calm conditions.
Open Water courses – typically structured over 3–4 days, often using house reefs and sheltered sites.
Advanced and specialty courses – deep, drift, night and sometimes Nitrox, built around the existing daily-boat schedule.

If a course is a priority, tell us at the enquiry stage so the schedule can be built around training requirements rather than squeezing certification dives into an already packed plan.

Nitrox, night dives and special requests

Nitrox:
Availability varies by island and operator. Where offered, Nitrox is usually priced either:

Per tank (for example a modest supplement per fill), or
As a flat Nitrox-package fee per stay.

On multi-day derawan diving with 2–3 dives a day, Nitrox can be helpful for managing no-decompression limits, especially on repetitive wall dives.

Night dives:

Most commonly offered on nearby house reefs or jetties.
Often priced separately, so may not appear in a basic derawan dive packages quote.
Subject to conditions and minimum numbers.

Other add-ons:

Private guide – for photographers, newer divers or those with specific targets (macro, behaviour).
Snorkelling trips for non-divers – especially to Sangalaki mantas and Kakaban’s jellyfish lake.
Topside visits – island-hopping, village walks or simple beach time for non-diving half days.

If you would like help building a training or Nitrox-focused stay, you can plan your trip with us and refine the details over WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875.

How Access Works: Airports, Jetties and Transfer Days

Any realistic derawan dive package should explain how you get from your home airport to your island bed. The key logistics points are not complex, but they do matter for arrival and departure day expectations.

Getting to the archipelago

The standard flow looks like this:

Fly to Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau, East Kalimantan, usually via Balikpapan or Jakarta.
Meet your transfer and drive overland to Tanjung Batu jetty – a few hours by road, depending on traffic and current conditions.
Board a private speedboat to Maratua, Derawan or other island base.

Boat schedules usually line up with midday or early afternoon departures from Tanjung Batu, to avoid running in the dark and to keep to calmer wind patterns where possible.

What this means for your first and last dive days

Because transfers consume time, package structures typically allow for:

Arrival day – check-in, a late-afternoon shore or house-reef dive at most, sometimes no diving if arrival is late.
Full dive days – 2–3 boat dives each, with Sangalaki or Kakaban days starting earlier.
Departure day – no diving within the 18–24 hour window before your flight, in line with mainstream no-fly guidelines.

When comparing two quotes, look beyond “7D/6N” in the title and check how many full dive days they translate to after you factor in transfer windows and no-fly time.

What Drives Derawan and Maratua Package Prices

Every derawan dive package is priced by quote. Instead of fixating on a single number, it is more useful to understand the levers that change the range.

The indicative ranges below reflect recent patterns across the region, last verified June 2026. They are not offers, and inclusions can vary significantly by operator.

Key cost drivers

Room type and comfort level – simple fan rooms versus air-conditioned overwater bungalows with private bathrooms.
Number of dives – 2 versus 3 dives per day, plus any included night dives or special trips.
Boating distance – longer days out to Sangalaki and Kakaban cost more in fuel and time than local Derawan or Maratua sites.
Season and demand – school holidays and local peak periods can tighten availability and shift rates upward.
Group size – private trips or very small parties may not access the same economies of scale as group charters.

Very broad price patterns

As a conservative sense-check (again, this is not a quote):

A short 3D/2N Derawan stay with 3–4 local dives in simpler accommodation can sit at the lower end of regional package ranges.
A 6–8 day Maratua-focused package with multiple signature day trips, comfortable rooms and 10–14 dives naturally sits higher.
Adding courses, Nitrox and private guiding expands the budget further, but may be the right decision for safety and enjoyment.

True liveaboards running in the wider region typically command higher per-night rates than mid-range resort-based packages, in line with inclusion of all-day boat operations and higher cruising costs.

Table: Main elements that change package pricing

Factor	Lower-cost end	Higher-cost end
Accommodation	Simple room, fan or basic AC, shared/common spaces	Spacious AC room or overwater bungalow, private bathroom
Dive count	2 boat dives per full day	3 boat dives per day plus planned night dives
Boat range	Mainly local sites near base island	Multiple full-day trips to Sangalaki & Kakaban
Group structure	Shared boats, standard guide ratios	Private boat or private guide arrangements
Extras	Air only, limited add-ons	Nitrox, courses, camera support & custom requests

To get a working number for your dates and preferences, it is usually quicker to outline your priorities once and have a vetted planner return with options.

How to Compare Two Derawan Dive Package Quotes Fairly

Packages often look similar on the surface: same number of nights, same islands mentioned. The differences sit in the fine print.

Here is a simple framework to compare them in a way that is actually fair.

1. Normalise for number of true diving days

Count only full days with 2–3 dives scheduled.
Do not treat transfer days or half days with 1 optional shore dive as “dive days”.
Divide the total package price by the number of true dive days for a like-for-like sense of value.

2. Confirm which marquee sites are included, and how often

A quote that lists “Sangalaki and Kakaban” loosely is not the same as one that commits to specific days and dives.

Ask for clarity on:

How many full-day trips to Sangalaki are planned, and how many dives each day.
How many full-day trips to Kakaban are planned, and whether the jellyfish lake entry fee is included.
How many dives are on Maratua outer walls and channels versus easier inner sites.

Then decide if a higher quote is justified by materially more time on the sites you care about.

3. Line up inclusions and exclusions side by side

Create a simple checklist or use this format:

Airport pickup from Berau (Kalimarau): Included? If not, what is the extra cost and who arranges it?
Land transfer to Tanjung Batu jetty: Private or shared? Included both ways?
Boat transfer to island: Scheduled days only? What if your flight is delayed?
Full board meals: Three meals per full day? Any dietary restrictions handled?
Marine park / island entry fees: Bundled or paid locally in cash?
Gear rental: Per item, per day package, or assumed you bring your own?
Nitrox: Available at all? If yes, per tank or flat fee?
Night dives: Included quota or always extra?

Mark each line clearly on both quotes. Once you adjust for those, price differences usually make more sense.

4. Consider non-price factors honestly

For experienced dive travellers, these often matter as much as per-dive cost:

Guide experience and safety culture – briefings, group sizes, and how crews handle currents.
Boat design and capacity – shade, entry/exit comfort, separation of gear and camera areas.
Environmental practices – anchoring policies, wildlife interaction guidelines, plastic reduction efforts.

We keep a running, independent sense of which operations are currently upholding good standards. No one can pay to change what we publish; if you proceed with our partner they may pay us a referral fee at no extra cost to you.

If you prefer an editorial eye on two competing offers, you can plan your trip with us and we can help benchmark them over WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875.

Who This Region Suits – and Who Might Prefer Another Destination

The Derawan archipelago is excellent for certain diver profiles, and less ideal for others.

Best suited to:

Divers wanting a wall-and-big-fish focus – particularly around Maratua and Kakaban.
Manta-focused travellers – who value Sangalaki’s history of encounters and accept normal seasonal uncertainty.
Those comfortable with some current – many of the most rewarding dives are drifts or channel dives.
Couples or small groups – who enjoy quiet islands rather than heavily developed tourist towns.

May be less ideal if:

You want a party scene or dense nightlife.
You prefer perfectly predictable conditions and no current at all.
You require full large-city medical facilities on the same island.

The best derawan dive packages are built around honest expectations: strong potential for memorable dives across walls, mantas and turtles; simple, quiet island life in between; and a willingness to adjust daily plans to the day’s conditions.

Planning a Derawan or Maratua Dive Package With Help

Maratua Resort’s role in the Derawan archipelago is deliberately narrow: we act as an independent, editorial guide and concierge for divers who want a clear-eyed view of their options.

We:

Explain the trade-offs between Maratua, Derawan, Kakaban and Sangalaki for multi-day derawan diving.
Help you weigh island-hopping vs single-island stays as a derawan liveaboard alternative.
Translate your certification, experience and preferences into a realistic day-by-day outline.
Route confirmed plans to a vetted operating partner to handle the operational side of your booking.

If you already know your rough dates, diver count and ideal length of stay, you can plan your trip or contact us directly via WhatsApp on +62 811 3823 875 for a tailored derawan dive package or maratua dive package proposal.

Related Planning Guides

For deeper context, you may also find these pages useful:

Derawan tour package price – broader tour structures beyond pure diving.
Maratua diving – site-by-site overview of walls, channels and conditions.
Derawan island hopping – structures for combining multiple islands in one trip.
What is included – how inclusions and exclusions tend to work in this region.

How many days do I need for a meaningful Derawan or Maratua dive package?

For first-time visitors, 6–8 days in total is a good baseline. That typically yields 4–6 full dive days once you account for transfers and no-fly time, enough to experience key Maratua walls plus at least one trip each to Sangalaki and Kakaban.

Is a liveaboard better than a resort-based Derawan dive package?

Liveaboards offer more continuous boat access but are fewer and often pricier here than in other Indonesian regions. For most visitors, a well-structured resort-based or island-hopping derawan dive package gives similar underwater access with more comfort and flexibility on land.

Can beginners join a Maratua dive package, or is it only for experienced divers?

Open Water divers can join, but the best sites around Maratua and Kakaban often involve current and depth. Beginners should either add training, request conservative site choices, or travel with an experienced buddy and possibly a private guide, accepting that some advanced sites may not be suitable.

Are manta encounters at Sangalaki guaranteed in a Derawan dive package?

No wildlife can be guaranteed. Sangalaki has historically been a strong manta area, but sightings vary with season, conditions and longer-term ecological shifts. Packages can maximise your chances by planning multiple visits when feasible, but no serious operator will promise mantas on specific days.

How far in advance should I book Derawan dive packages?

For peak periods and specific room types, 4–6 months ahead is sensible. Outside those windows, 2–3 months can still work, though choice narrows. Boats and experienced guides are finite, so earlier planning helps secure the structure and dates you prefer.