With uncrowded, world-class dive sites and magical topside experiences, Borneo is a destination like no other. Discover the wonders of this magical land in the company of writer, photographer and SCUBA magazine editor Simon Rogerson.
For your Borneo diving experience, you first head to the remote Maratua Atoll off the coast of Indonesian Borneo to enjoy eight nights at the charming Nabucco Island Resort. In addition to the picture postcard location and idyllic tropical hues, divers and underwater photographers can delight in a multitude of exceptional diving opportunities including the thrills of Big Fish Country, manta rays at Sangalaki and the extraordinary Kakaban island.
You then continue your adventure with three nights at Samboja Lodge for orangutan watching and other topside encounters with sun bears and more. Here you can relax, enjoy rainforest canopy walks and a boat trip before returning home.
This itinerary is ideal for those looking to explore the wonders of this remote region in the company of like-minded divers.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Depart for Indonesia
Day2: Arrive to Surabaya, Indonesia and transfer to the historic Hotel Majapahit
Your stay at this elegant colonial hotel includes a relaxing afternoon tea experience.
Accommodation: Hotel Majapahit Surabaya, 1-night
Day3: Transfer to Nabucco Island Resort by air and by boat for an eight night stay
Nestled in the remote Maratua Atoll, this charming dive resort is located on a picturesque private island, offering a tranquil setting and natural charm. This area of Indonesian Borneo sees relatively few divers, which is why it is still a relative secret.
In addition to traditionally built garden or seaview bungalows, facilities include a restaurant built on stilts over the water with panoramic views and a bar serving cocktails and local beverages; perfect for watching the sun set over the horizon.
Enjoy a bespoke diving package of 16 dives, including one day trip to Sangalaki and Kakaban and two early morning or night dives.
Maratua Atoll offers the best prospects for encounters with larger pelagic species, especially on the channel dive known as Big Fish Country, home to towering schools of barracuda, patrolling sharks, bumphead parrot fish and eagle rays.
Sangalaki is home to several manta ray cleaning stations, while Kakaban is most famous for its lake which, amongst other marine life, features four species of non-stinging jellyfish that have adapted to live in the brackish waters. The area is home to superb biodiversity, with plenty of sites for underwater photographers to capture images of smaller, rare marine species.
More dives can be arranged locally upon request, while Nitrox is available for an additional charge.
Days11-13: Transfer back to mainland Borneo and on to Samboja Lodge for a further three nights
Nestled in the enchanting rainforests of Borneo, Samboja Lodge offers a truly immersive eco-retreat for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. The lodge’s extensive grounds host an Orangutan Reintroduction Programme, providing a sanctuary for displaced and orphaned orangutans rescued from areas of habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict, while the grounds also act as a sanctuary for sun bears. The wider area is home to 137 species of birds – including the famous rhinoceros hornbill, along with proboscis monkey, mouse deer, long-tailed macaque, and even porcupine.
Your three night stay includes two full days to enjoy the area’s wildlife, and also includes a stunning canopy walk and boat ride up the Black River in search of Proboscis monkeys and other wildlife.
Accommodation: Samboja Lodge, 3-nights
Day14: Depart Indonesia
Transfer to the airport and begin your journey home.
Day15: Arrive home
Please note: Some dive sites are suitable for more experienced divers.
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 15 daysfrom £4,565 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 13 daysfrom £3,495 pp
Simon Rogerson is an award-winning writer and photographer specialising in natural history and the underwater world.
He began his diving career in Southeast Asia in the early 1990s and has since amassed more than 3,000 dives all over the world, from Antarctica to the Sudan. Simon’s is editor of the UK’s biggest diving publication, SCUBA magazine, but he also writes for both Times and Telegraph Travel, in addition to numerous others. A patron of the Shark Trust charity, Simon’s obsession with photographing sharks has taken him to many world-class destinations. Now, he wants to share his insight and experience with fellow divers.
This remote area of Indonesia is worth the journey for intrepid divers. Highlights include Big Fish Country, the channel dive at Maratua Atoll, manta ray encounters at Sangalaki and non-stinging jellyfish at Kakaban; all part of the Derawan Archipelago.
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Ideal for viewing: green turtle, barracuda, leopard shark, manta ray, giant frogfish
A tropical island paradise off the coast of east Kalimantan, this small exotic resort is ecologically sound and perfectly located to dive the signature sites of the Maratua Atoll including Sangalaki and Kakaban.
Find Out More about Nabucco Island Resort
