Weather in Derawan Islands

About Derawan Islands

Derawan's waters host abundant manta rays in seasonal aggregations where divers descend into currents and watch these graceful creatures perform acrobatic barrel rolls. This diving hotspot represents marine megafauna encounters accessible without expedition-level effort.

Country

Indonesia

Best months to visit

Year-round

Currency

IDR

Language

Indonesian, English

Things to do in Derawan Islands

Manta ray diving and snorkeling encounters Coral wall diving on pristine reefs Fish aggregation tidal current dives Island hopping snorkeling tours Birdwatching for endemic species Underwater macro photography focus

Weather by month

Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.

January

28C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

February

28C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

March

28C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

April

29C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

May

29C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

June

29C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

July

29C

Warm and pleasant, with regular rainfall.

August

29C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

September

29C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

October

29C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

November

29C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

December

28C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

The Derawan Islands, scattered off the coast of East Kalimantan, are among Indonesia's least-visited world-class dive destinations — Sangalaki for manta ray encounters, Kakaban for its extraordinary lake of stingless jellyfish found in only one other place on Earth, and Maratua for the kind of pristine reef walls and turtle encounters that elsewhere would be packed with dive boats. Getting here takes real effort, which is precisely why it remains so unspoiled.

Best areas to stay in Derawan Islands

Derawan Island

The main hub with the most guesthouses and dive shops, known for resident green turtles that swim right off the jetty.

Maratua

The largest of the islands, with a lagoon, dramatic reef walls, and a growing number of upscale dive resorts.

Kakaban

Home to a unique landlocked lake filled with stingless jellyfish, a rare phenomenon found in only a handful of places worldwide.

Sangalaki

An uninhabited island and marine reserve famous for manta ray cleaning stations and major sea turtle nesting beaches.

Getting to Derawan Islands

✈

Flights

Fly into Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau via Jakarta and Balikpapan, then transfer by road and speedboat to the islands.

⏱

From London

~21-24 hours total journey time from London via Jakarta and Balikpapan

🚕

Getting around

Speedboats connect the islands to each other and to the mainland port at Tanjung Batu; most resorts arrange transfers as part of a stay.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit the Derawan Islands?

April to December offers the best visibility for diving and snorkelling, with manta ray sightings at Sangalaki most reliable from April to October.

How do I get to the Derawan Islands?

Fly to Tarakan or Berau (Kalimaru Airport) via Jakarta or Balikpapan, then take a road and boat transfer (around 2-3 hours combined) to the islands.

What is there to do in the Derawan Islands?

Swim with stingless jellyfish in Kakaban's landlocked lake, dive or snorkel with manta rays at Sangalaki, see nesting green turtles at Sangalaki and Derawan, and explore the reef walls around Maratua by liveaboard or island-based dive centres.

What food is available in the Derawan Islands?

Fresh seafood is the obvious highlight — grilled fish, prawns, and squid — alongside standard Indonesian rice and noodle dishes at the simple island guesthouses and dive resorts.

Is English widely spoken in the Derawan Islands?

Dive operators and resort staff generally speak good English given the international diving clientele, though the wider local communities speak Bajau, Indonesian, and other regional languages.

Traveler reviews

★★★★★

Swimming through a lake full of stingless jellyfish at Kakaban was one of the strangest and most wonderful things I've ever done. Combined with manta rays at Sangalaki the next day, this was an extraordinary couple of days.

Olivia P. · June 2024

★★★★★

Took some effort to get here but the reef walls off Maratua were as good as anywhere I've dived in Asia, and with a fraction of the crowds of more famous spots. Turtles everywhere off Derawan island too.

Felix G. · May 2024

★★★★☆

Genuinely remote feeling — basic accommodation but the marine life more than makes up for it. Worth the long journey if diving or snorkelling is the priority for your trip.

Sandra K. · August 2023