Derawan - Derawan Islands
Derawan itself isn't a single site, but rather a collection of about half a dozen spots peppered around the small island. We'd call it a drift diver's playground, though the real draw for us here is the macro. We're talking ghostpipefish lurking in the shallows, flying gurnards fanning their fins over the sandy bottom, and the occasional frogfish camouflaged against sponges. If you've got a keen eye, or a good guide, you might even spot a blue-ringed octopus, pygmy seahorses, or a harlequin shrimp. It's a great spot for photographers and anyone who enjoys slowing down to appreciate the smaller things.
- Location
- Derawan Islands, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 2.283300, 118.250000
Marine Protected Area: Pulau Semama
Nearby Dive Sites in Derawan Islands
- Bakungan - 18m
- Bantukan - 23m
- Barracuda point
- Batu Kangan - 24m
- Big Fish Country
- Blue light cave (cave)
- BUNGALU - 0m (wreck)
- Capri Point - 23m
- Channel Entrance (drift)
- Cleaning Station Sangalaki - 18m
- Coral Gardens (reef)
- Coral Mountain Bay - 25m (reef)
- Coral Table Dance - 19m (reef)
- Divers Delight
- East Wall - 26m (wall)
Nearest Dive Centres to Derawan
Marine Life in Derawan Islands
Home to 124 recorded species including 73 reef fish, 38 hard corals, 6 seagrass & algae, 3 whales & dolphins, 2 clams & mussels, 1 other.
Notable Species
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
- Branch coral (Acropora florida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora horrida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora acuminata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora selago) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora echinata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora hoeksemai) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aculeus) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora cerealis) - Hard Corals
- Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora yongei) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora awi) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenuis) - Hard Corals
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Staghorn coral (Acropora indonesia) - Hard Corals