Know before you go

No single use plastics - We are proud to have environmental policies in place to reduce our impact on the planet, and one of the ways that we can all help in this area is to avoid single use plastics. Bring a refillable water bottle so that you can refill at the resort and on the dive boat.

Reusable bags and straws – Help us reduce single use plastics on our island home by bringing a reusable shopping bag for any shopping you do around the village, and to bring with you on the boat! We also sell straws made out of bamboo for those who are in need.

Reef safe sunscreen - Reef safe sunscreen and sun protection. We are proud members of Green Fins, and our dive operations have strict guidelines to minimise damage to coral and marine ecosystems. To further minimise adverse impact to coral reefs, please use reef safe sunscreen before diving. Sunscreens with Oxybenzone and Octinoxate can harm corals – avoid purchasing these types of sunscreen. Even better, bring a long-sleeve rash vest, sunglasses and a hat with you- we are sunny almost all year around!

Dry bag - It’s a good idea to prepare a small day bag with towel, possible change of shirt, camera etc as well as a water bottle. The time it takes to get to the dive sites vary between 5 minutes to 2 hours, so make sure you are prepared for the journey ahead! We sell very affordable custom Scuba Junkie dry bags in our shop.

Certification card - Bring your proof of certification with you as you will need to show this on arrival. This can be the actual card or you can show it in the app from your certification agency. You may also wish to email us this in advance. For PADI divers who have lost their cert cards, we can look you up online. Don't forget to bring your log book along to log all of the amazing marine life you'll see on the dives with us.

Medication - If you regularly take prescription medication then we recommend that you bring enough for your whole stay with us. There is a very small hospital on the island should anything happen, but it is not a pharmacy where you can buy medications.

Insurance - We strongly recommend that all guests have travel to cover you throughout your stay (covering accidents, travel cancellation, medical and baggage). Please note, due to remote nature of our resort, we require all divers to have valid diving insurance before joining us for any dives. We offer DAN short terms policies for diving starting at 1 day up to 30 days.

Cash - The local currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). There is a credit card machine at our resort to pay for any extras. We accept VISA and Mastercard only,  and there is a 2% fee applicable.

There are no ATMs that accept international cards on Derawan, you will need to bring enough cash to cover any extras needed during your stay like boat transfers, meals, Whale
shark snorkelling trips etc.

There is an ATM and a money changer in Tarakan and Balikpapan airports but not all cards will work at these smaller locations and not all notes will be accepted by these locations money changers. We recommend either exchanging your money at larger airport such as Jakarta, or bringing IDR with you into Indonesia or ensuring you have new, mark & tear free foreign currency notes to exchange. There are also money exchangers next to the ferry terminal in Tawau if coming across from Malaysia.

What can be bought here - Toiletries are not provided, so please be sure to pack all your basic toiletries (soap, shampoo, sun cream etc). These items can be purchased in the village, but options are often limited, and prices a little higher than the mainland. All places on Derawan are cash only.

Please be advised, tampons are not readily available in a lot of places in Indonesia. It is not possible to purchase any in Derawan or Berau. We strongly advise ensuring you bring these with you.

Towels for your shower are provided in your room / Dorm, however, if you would like a towel for your daily dive or snorkel trips, we recommend either bringing one with you, or one can be purchased cheaply at one of the small shops in the village.

We do not advise you to take valuables on the boats during your snorkelling/diving tours. Our boats are small speedboats- as such there is nowhere to lock valuables away, and there is a chance that items can get wet on board.

If the destination of the day is Kakaban, you do however need at least 100,000 IDR (or 10,000 IDR for Indonesian guests) in cash for the entrance fee to the Jellyfish Lake.

Please use the safe or locker in your room if you are staying with us or feel free to leave valuables with the management at reception.

Weather is very difficult to predict in a tropical country and on an island in the middle of the ocean- Please note that the below is a suggested guideline on the expected visibility and waves each month in the area however weather can be unpredictable and thus this can change from year to year.

In general diving and snorkelling in the area is amazing all year round and the weather conditions are sunny with a chance of rain. The dive conditions tend to be warmer and less wavy from around April-September, making this the most popular time for divers to visit. Starting October there can be some more drastic conditions on the surface as this is typically when we experience more rainfall, and slightly bigger waves. Although this can make some far off dive sites harder to reach, it is also the time where we usually see higher quantities of Manta Rays and Whale Sharks. Due to the nutrients being brought in by the waves and currents, this is when the plankton feeders come to enjoy their feast!

The weather in Derawan is usually hot & humid all year round but our resort has a nice sea breeze and night time temperatures are around 22°C – 25°C, the day time temperature is typically 25°C – 32°C.

The water temperature can vary between the islands & depths but expect anything from 26°C to 30°C.

We recommend bringing plenty of high factor sunscreen as well as a sweater or jumper for daytrips and chilly evenings and a raincoat just in case!

Bcd's: We use Mares Rovers in sizes from XXS to XXL

Regulators: We have Scubapro and Mares regulators. All of our rental regulators are Yoke valves- if you have a DIN regulator don’t worry! We have DIN adaptors available to borrow during your trip. (But please let us know in advance)

Wetsuits: We have 3mm full length wetsuits as the temperature can vary during the dives and from site to site.

Masks: Our masks are standardised one size fits all! Please note that we do not have prescription masks available for rental or retail.

Boots & Fins: We provide Mares open-heel fins with booties. Boot sizes are from EU 36 - EU 46 and fins are from XS to XL.

Tanks: We provide 12L aluminium tanks with a yoke (International) fitting. All tanks can have the insert removed to be used with DIN regulators (no adaptor needed). We have 10L tanks for children or small adults. We do not have any 15L tanks available.

Dive Computers: We have Suunto Zoop dive computers available for rent at the dive centre (available on a first come, first serve basis). It's recommended, but not mandatory to dive with a computer - Your dive guide will always have one if you do not. All students on PADI courses are provided with a dive computer (no need to rent one).

Every diver staying with us will get their own personal booth with multiple hangers for their equipment. This makes it easy to keep your things in one place, and allows it to dry till the next morning!

Electricity sockets in Indonesia are typically the round 2 pin plugs (same as most of Europe). Our resort aims to have 24-hour electricity but there may be some interruptions to the
power supply during your stay (island life!), a torch can come in handy at times. There is good phone coverage & 4G on the island through the major Indonesian phone companies
such as Telekomsel / Sim Pati.

Our resort does WIFI, but if you are internet dependent then it is recommended to buy a local SIM card for back up! These should be readily available on arrival at Jakarta, Tarakan & Balikpapan airports, just ask for an internet package for 1 week, the cost of a SIM card and 8GB of data is usually very reasonably priced and additional internet & phone credit can be bought on Derawan if needed.

As our resort is located within a local Muslim community, you may occasionally hear the call to prayer from nearby mosques, especially early in the morning. During special religious celebrations, the volume and frequency may be higher than usual. For your comfort, we recommend bringing a pair of good quality earplugs to ensure a restful night’s sleep. Thank you for your understanding and respect for the local culture — it’s a special part of what makes this area unique.

The night dives on Derawan is something you truly do not want to miss! Jump off our jetty and search the sandy and seaweed rich bottom for some of the most amazing critters Indonesia has to offer! Typically only about 2-3m deep, all kinds of wacky crustaceans, octopuses, molluscs and nocturnal fish come to life. Only a few examples are harlequin shrimps, blue ringed octopus, decorator crabs, ghost pipe fish and much, much more!

On nights when there’s a low tide instead of a high, we are unable to dive just off our jetty, and instead take the boat to probably the most famous macro dive on Derawan: Paradise. This dive can be done a bit deeper, but it is not recommended to not venture much further than around 10m to stay well safe within decompression limits, but also as that’s where most nightly creatures tend to hang out!

To join a night dive- you must be a minimum open water level certified, and have done at least one day dive with us (to ensure you are comfortable with our guides and equipment before embarking on a night dive!)

Price: 550,000 RP