Page 67 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

East Kalimantan

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Another highlight of Sangalaki diving is When you consider the other attractions
the site known as Jellyfish Lake on nearby of the area: Whale Shark Point, big fish
Kakaban Island - the sight of thousands of action at Maratua and Kakaban, great
jellyfish floating around you has an almost macro diving at the nearby islands of
other-worldly beauty to it, and you need Derawan and Samama, and the possibility
have no fear of stings while snorkeling of seeing tiger sharks at Pulau Sambit, it is
here. There are believed to be four clear why many people believe the diving
different varieties of jellyfish in the lake in Sangalaki to be “a one-stop shop”
situated in the middle of the island. With without rival in the region. It‘s like being
no access to the open sea, the jellyfish in several great dive destinations at once
here have had no encounters with their - manta rays, macro, enormous numbers
natural predators and as a result they of green turtles and sharks, a jellyfish lake
have lost their sting. and phenomenal wall dives, a winning
combination. 1. Old Pier 8. Sandy Ridge 15. Eel Ridge 22. Kehe Daeng
2. Lighthouse Derawan 9. Turtle Town 16. Lighthouse Reef 23. Cabbage Point
3. Snapper Point 10. Coral Garden Sangalaki 17. Barracuda Point 24. Sleeping Turtle
4. Tuturaga Point 11. Manta Run 18. Danau Kakaban 25. Paradise 1,2,3
5. Shark Point 12. Manta Parade 19. Blue Light Cave 26. Lighthouse Maratua
6. Coral Garden Derawan 13. Manta Cleaning Station 20. The Wall 27. Coconut Wall
How to Get There 7. Blue Trigger Wall 14. Manta Avenue 21. The Corner 28. Big Fish Country
AIRPORT

Diving overview and Conditions
The largest airport in the region is Balikpapan’s
“Sepinggan International Airport” which receives Due to Sangalaki’s location, which is just Diving visibility in Sangalaki ranges
international flights from Singapore as well as 2 degrees north of the equator, Sangalaki from 8-30m and averages around 20m.
domestic flights from Jakarta, Makassar and Manado. isn’t affected by a monsoon season like Kakaban and Maratua tend to have
other parts of Indonesia. slightly better visibility than Sangalaki
because they are further offshore and
From Balikpapan it’s possible to take a short domestic The diving and weather conditions therefore affected less by run off from
flight to Berau Airport which is a two hour drive from are consistent throughout the year. the mainland. Likewise, Sangalaki usually
the harbour (Tanjung Batu) where boats depart to There are 2 seasons in Kalimantan, the has better visibility than Derawan. Water
Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban and Maratua. rainy or wet season which runs from temperature is a comfortable and fairly
December through to March, and the dry constant 28°C year round.
season which lasts for the rest of the year.
The air temperature is a constant 28- The manta rays, turtles and stingless
30°C year round. Because the Derawan jellyfish can be seen throughout the
archipelago is located offshore, light sea year. Seasonal whale sharks are most
breezes ensure that the islands do not commonly seen in the mornings over
experience the same high humidity as the period of each new moon. They can
that on the mainland. be seen around Derawan but move to
Talisayan between mid-May and mid-
September due to the southerly winds.