Derawan Dive Resort

Updated: August 2026

A Derawan dive resort stay means basing yourself in a dive-focused property in the Derawan Archipelago, East Kalimantan, and reaching Kakaban, Sangalaki, Maratua and Talisayan by boat each morning. There is no single hotel officially named “Derawan Dive Resort” — the phrase is how travellers search for dive-led accommodation across the archipelago, and Indonesia Juara books that accommodation from a fixed pool of seven confirmed properties as part of a private 3D2N or 4D3N trip starting at Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau.

“Derawan dive resort” is a search category, not one property

The Derawan Archipelago has no single flagship dive hotel that owns the name. What exists instead is a spread of resorts, cottages and villas across Derawan Island, Maratua and the surrounding waters, most of which are sold to divers and snorkellers as part of a trip rather than as a standalone room booking. That distinction matters because it changes how you should shop: comparing “resorts” one by one is less useful here than comparing trip tiers, because the boat, the route and the guide are what determine the quality of your diving days — not the pillow.

This page lists only the properties Indonesia Juara actually books. We do not publish star ratings, room counts, facility lists or guest reviews we cannot verify, and we do not resell properties we have not used. If you want the full picture of every lodging category in the archipelago, including community-run options, start with the where to stay category and the Derawan islands resort overview.

The seven properties used for Derawan dive resort stays

Accommodation is assigned by tier (Standard or Premium), group size and availability on your dates, then confirmed to you in writing before you pay. Below is the complete pool — nothing outside this list is used.

If a property page interests you specifically, the Maratua Paradise Resort page covers the Maratua option in more depth. If your budget sits below the resort tier, the Derawan homestay guide covers community-run and budget stays instead.

Should you base on Derawan Island or Maratua?

Derawan Island is the archipelago’s hub: it has the most rooms, the most boat traffic and the shortest transfer from the mainland, which makes it the default base for a first visit and for anyone running a 3D2N schedule. Maratua island is larger, quieter and further out, which suits divers who want more water time and less village noise, and it is the natural base for a 4D3N trip.

In practice the choice matters less than most travellers expect, because a private trip visits the same nine destinations from either base: Talisayan, Maratua, Kakaban island and its jellyfish lake, Sangalaki island for manta rays, Goa Halo Tabung, Manta Point, Pasir Gusung Sanggalau, Laguna Kehe Daing and Labuan Cermin. The boat comes to you. For what you will actually see underwater at each stop, read the Derawan dive sites page.

What a Derawan dive resort stay costs, per person

Accommodation is priced inside the private trip, not as a nightly room rate. Rates start from USD 281 per person and depend on two things only: how many people travel together, and whether you take the Standard or Premium tier. Larger groups pay less per head because the boat and guide are shared.

These are starting rates for the Private Trip Derawan 3D2N / 4D3N, quoted per person and subject to your dates and availability. They are not fixed prices and they are not a promotion. The cheapest per-person figure in the table is USD 281 at nine travellers on the Standard tier; the highest is USD 672 for a couple on the Premium tier, which reflects two people carrying the full cost of a private boat. The same rate structure is used on the Derawan diving package and the Derawan island tour.

What is included, and what we will not claim

Being straight about the boundary of a package is more useful than a long list of ticks.

• Included: accommodation from the seven-property pool at your confirmed tier, the private boat and island-hopping route covering the nine destinations above, and ground handling from the meeting point at Kalimarau Airport (BEJ), Berau.
• Not included: your flights into Kalimarau, personal spending, and anything not written into your confirmation.
• Confirm before you pay: scuba diving arrangements, equipment rental, certification courses, meal plans and specific room categories are quoted case by case. Ask for them in writing at the enquiry stage rather than assuming they sit inside the base rate.
• What we will not publish: star ratings, room inventory, dive-centre certifications or guest reviews for these properties, because we have not independently verified them and inventing them would cost you money.

When to book: the season runs April to November

The Derawan operating season is April to November, an eight-month window, and resort availability tightens fastest in the middle of it when Indonesian and regional school holidays overlap. Outside that window sea conditions govern whether small-boat island hopping is sensible, which is why trips are not sold year-round. Booking 6 to 8 weeks ahead gives you a genuine choice of property; booking inside 2 weeks usually means taking whichever of the seven has space.

Whale shark mornings at Talisayan and manta encounters at Sangalaki are wildlife sightings, not guarantees, and no resort or operator can promise them. Treat any page that does as a warning sign.

Getting from your flight to your resort

Every trip meets at Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau, East Kalimantan, and the transfer from there to your island accommodation is handled for you. Most international travellers connect through Jakarta, Balikpapan or Surabaya. The routing options, including the alternative approach through Tarakan, are set out in how to get to the Derawan Islands and in more detail on Derawan via Berau.

If you would rather not change islands at all and prefer to sleep on the water between dive sites, compare a resort stay against a Derawan liveaboard before you commit.

How to book a Derawan dive resort stay

Trips are operated by Indonesia Juara, part of Juara Holding Group since 2015, with a minimum of 2 travellers. Send your dates, group size and preferred tier to sales@indonesiajuara.asia and you will receive a per-person quote with the assigned property named in writing before any payment is requested. If the property you are offered is not one of the seven listed above, ask why.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a hotel actually called Derawan Dive Resort?

No single property in the Derawan Archipelago officially carries that name. “Derawan dive resort” is a search term travellers use for dive-focused accommodation across Derawan Island, Maratua and the surrounding islands. Indonesia Juara books from seven confirmed properties, including Reza Derawan Resort and Maratua Paradise Resort, and names the assigned property in writing before payment. Any site presenting a single branded “Derawan Dive Resort” with reviews and star ratings is worth verifying before you send money.

How much does a Derawan dive resort stay cost per person?

Rates start from USD 281 per person and run to USD 672 per person, depending entirely on group size and tier. Nine travellers on the Standard tier pay from USD 281 each; a couple on the Premium tier pays from USD 672 each, because two people absorb the full cost of a private boat. Accommodation is priced inside the 3D2N or 4D3N private trip rather than as a nightly room rate, so there is no separate room-only price to compare.

Which island should I stay on for diving, Derawan or Maratua?

Derawan Island is the practical default for a first visit and for 3D2N schedules because it has the most rooms and the shortest transfer. Maratua is quieter, more remote and better suited to 4D3N trips and divers who want more time on the water. Both bases visit the same nine destinations by private boat, including Kakaban, Sangalaki and Labuan Cermin, so the underwater itinerary does not change with your choice of island.

When is the best time to book a Derawan resort?

The season runs April to November, an eight-month window, and trips are not sold outside it. Book 6 to 8 weeks ahead if you want a real choice of property, because the pool is only seven properties deep and mid-season holiday periods fill first. Inside two weeks of departure you will generally be assigned whichever property has availability at your tier rather than choosing one.

Is scuba diving included in the resort package price?

Scuba diving is quoted separately and is not part of the published base rate. The trip as priced covers accommodation, the private boat, the island-hopping route across nine destinations and ground handling from Kalimarau Airport. If you want certified dives, equipment rental or a course, request them in writing at the enquiry stage so they appear on your confirmation. Never assume a dive package is bundled because a property is described as a dive resort.

Can I book a room only, without the trip?

The seven properties are booked as part of the Private Trip Derawan, with a minimum of 2 travellers, rather than as standalone rooms. This is because the boat, route and guide determine the quality of a Derawan stay far more than the room does, and splitting them tends to leave travellers stranded on an island with no transport to Kakaban or Sangalaki. If you need a budget room-only option, the Derawan homestay guide covers community-run stays instead.