Dive site · access from Derawan Archipelago (Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua)
Big Fish Country (Maratua Channel)
Maratua's channel is the region's big-animal dive.
- Depth
- 10–40m
- Current
- Strong
- Minimum level
- Advanced open water
- Access
- Boat
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The case for it
Why dive here
- The atoll's single reef channel — chevron barracuda and bigeye trevally school at the mouth
- Grey reef, whitetip and blacktip sharks; eagle rays and tuna pass through
- Tidal flow drives everything; the dive is timed to the water, not the schedule
Check before booking
What may rule it out
- Advanced open water certification is the stated minimum.
Access and timing
Plan this through Derawan Archipelago (Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua)
Best overall months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Check the destination planner for operating season, wildlife and other matching sites.
Wildlife
Seen around Derawan Archipelago (Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua)
rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak seasondestination closed
These are destination-level records, not confirmed sightings at Big Fish Country (Maratua Channel).
Reef manta ray
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Pelagic thresher shark
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Whale shark
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | occasional |
| June | peak season |
| July | peak season |
| August | peak season |
| September | peak season |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Bigeye trevally
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Grey reef shark
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Nearby alternatives
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Sources & last checked
Checked August 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 2 sources and checking notes
- Sangalaki Diving, Kalimantan - Indonesia, Dive The World
- Dive Maratua, Scuba Junkie Sangalaki
Note on the data: Coordinates are approximate; not surveyed dive-site GPS.