Indonesia
Derawan Archipelago
Derawan Archipelago in Indonesia is organized on WhereDive as a practical diving destination page. It is designed to help divers compare season, difficulty, current, visibility, and travel logistics before choosing specific dive operators or underwater sites.
For trip planning, Derawan Archipelago is most relevant to divers interested in reef diving, macro photography, manta ray encounters and whale shark encounters, with likely highlights including manta rays, whale sharks, sharks, coral gardens, reef fish and schooling fish and nudibranchs and macro life. The baseline difficulty is OW and above; OW divers should prioritize shallow, low-current guided dives, while AOW and experienced divers can evaluate boat dives, drift conditions, or deeper profiles where available.
Best season
Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Suitable levels
OW divers / Beginner divers / Underwater photographers
Dive sites
11
View dive sites →
Recommended level
OW
Current
Medium
Derawan Archipelago Diving Overview
The best months to consider are Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Visibility varies with season, tide, and rainfall, and the current is best treated as medium. The reference page surfaces about 11 underwater site leads, so final dive plans should still be checked against recent sea conditions, operator briefings, marine park rules, and logged-dive requirements.
Best for
Highlights
- • Derawan Archipelago, Indonesia destination page for season and level planning
- • Recommended months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Best for: reef diving, macro photography, manta ray encounters and whale shark encounters
- • Likely highlights: manta rays, whale sharks, sharks, coral gardens, reef fish and schooling fish and nudibranchs and macro life
- • Difficulty reference: OW and above; current reference: medium
What this page helps you decide
Use this page to decide whether Derawan Archipelago fits your certification level, travel months, marine-life goals, and liveaboard or resort planning style.
Season & Conditions
Prioritize Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct for easier dive scheduling, course planning, or fun dives.
Travel Planning
- • For Derawan Archipelago, confirm the nearest airport, harbor, boat time, and transfer window before booking dives or liveaboards.
- • Reference transport notes suggest combining land and boat transfers; always check current schedules and weather notices.
- • Compare dive packages, gear rental, island fees, and transfer costs when budgeting.
Dive types
Marine life
Dive sites in this destination
Baraccuda Point
Indonesia / Derawan Archipelago
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Derawan Archipelago dive-site lead for reef diving, macro photography, manta ray encounters and whale shark encounters
- • Reference depth: 6-18 m
Cabbages Coral
Indonesia / Derawan Archipelago
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Derawan Archipelago dive-site lead for reef diving
- • Reference depth: 6-18 m
Coral Garden
Indonesia / Derawan Archipelago
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Derawan Archipelago dive-site lead for reef diving
- • Reference depth: 6-18 m
East Wall
Indonesia / Derawan Archipelago
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Derawan Archipelago dive-site lead for reef diving and wall diving
- • Reference depth: 6-18 m
Eel Garden
Indonesia / Derawan Archipelago
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Derawan Archipelago dive-site lead for reef diving, wall diving and macro photography
- • Reference depth: 6-18 m
Gorgonaola
Indonesia / Derawan Archipelago
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Derawan Archipelago dive-site lead for reef diving, macro photography, manta ray encounters and whale shark encounters
- • Reference depth: 6-18 m
Hanging Garden
Indonesia / Derawan Archipelago
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Derawan Archipelago dive-site lead for reef diving and wall diving
- • Reference depth: 6-18 m
Light House
Indonesia / Derawan Archipelago
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Derawan Archipelago dive-site lead for macro photography
- • Reference depth: 6-18 m
Mid Reef
Indonesia / Derawan Archipelago
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Derawan Archipelago dive-site lead for reef diving and wall diving
- • Reference depth: 6-18 m
The Channel
Indonesia / Derawan Archipelago
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Derawan Archipelago dive-site lead for reef diving and wall diving
- • Reference depth: 6-18 m
Turtle Traffic
Indonesia / Derawan Archipelago
- Max depth
- 18 m
- Best months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- • Derawan Archipelago dive-site lead for reef diving and wall diving
- • Reference depth: 6-18 m
Suggested itinerary
Plan 3 to 5 dive days, starting with a check dive before choosing signature Derawan Archipelago sites based on conditions. For liveaboards, confirm route and seasonal marine-life targets.
Getting there
Current transport guidance: confirm nearest airport, harbor transfer, boat time, and weather cancellation policy before booking.
FAQ
Is Derawan Archipelago suitable for OW divers? +
Derawan Archipelago has OW-friendly options, but each site, daily conditions, and operator requirements should be checked.
What is the best season for Derawan Archipelago? +
Prioritize Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct for easier dive scheduling, course planning, or fun dives.
What type of diving is Derawan Archipelago known for? +
Derawan Archipelago is relevant for Reef, Macro, Manta, Whale shark.
Is Derawan Archipelago good for photographers? +
Yes, the destination includes wide-angle or macro-friendly dive themes.