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If Part 1 left you dreaming of currents and coral walls, get ready for more. The top dive sites in the Derawan archipelago offers don’t end there—this region is bursting with world-class diving across Kakaban, Sangalaki, Maratua, and Derawan. From drift dives teeming with pelagics to quiet encounters with pygmy seahorses, the underwater diversity here is unmatched.
A peaceful drift with big blue surprises
A dive at Meditation Wall starts serene—floating effortlessly along a beautiful coral wall. The name suits it: this site invites you to slow down, observe, and appreciate. Look closely at the sea fans and you might find the elusive Denise’s pygmy seahorse. Keep your eyes open for leaf scorpionfish and frogfish camouflaged along the ledges.
But don’t get too zen—this wall dive has surprised us with thresher sharks, eagle rays, and even a solo hammerhead in the blue. That’s what makes it one of the top dive sites in the Derawan archipelago wide.
📌 Good for intermediate divers and macro lovers. A must for calm drift dives.
Fly with giants in the fast lane
Manta Run lives up to the hype. This sandy-bottomed channel, flanked by coral ridges, becomes a true “manta highway” when the current picks up. Glide effortlessly and keep your head on a swivel—reef mantas frequently pass through, circling for food or cleaning.
Besides the main stars, leopard sharks rest on the sand and garden eels peek from their holes. The thrill of the current and the magic of mantas makes this one of the top dive sites in the Derawan archipelago has for unforgettable pelagic action.
🌐 See more about Manta diving in Sangalaki
Walls, rays, and schooling fish galore
Though its name might be quirky, Gorgonzola delivers serious underwater beauty. This site offers a quieter alternative with dramatic vertical walls, vibrant soft corals, and excellent visibility.
Divers here often encounter bumphead parrotfish, napoleon wrasse, and big schools of jackfish and batfish. Sharks aren’t uncommon either—white-tip reef sharks and eagle rays pass by in the blue.
📸 Ideal for wide-angle photography and current-lovers.
An expansive reef with hidden gems
North Sangalou surprises many with its vast, undulating reefscape. You’ll descend into the blue and watch as a rolling coral landscape reveals itself, dropping to 40 meters (with a max dive depth of 30m).
This is a mixed dive—white-tip reef sharks, the occasional mangrove whipray, and vibrant nudibranchs make it a rich site for both pelagic and macro sightings. Blue-spotted stingrays rest in the sandy shallows near the end of your dive—perfect for a relaxed safety stop with a view.
The top dive sites in the Derawan archipelago offers aren’t just diverse—they’re largely uncrowded. Unlike busier Indonesian hotspots, here you’ll often have entire dive sites to yourself. Scuba Junkie Sangalaki’s experienced guides and marine conservation ethos make every dive educational, safe, and impactful.
From mantas to macro, Derawan delivers. These dive sites reflect the best of Borneo—wild, remote, and packed with surprises. Whether you’re ticking off bucket-list species or drifting into Zen mode at Meditation Wall, the top dive sites in the Derawan archipelago has will leave you breathless.
💬 Which site would you dive first? Tell us in the comments below!
