Divers
Wall and drop-off diving
The reef edge falls away sharply: one dive moves from bright coral shallows to deep blue in a few fin kicks.
Destinations · Nabucco
Nabucco Island, a dive islet on the Maratua rim
A very small island on the outer rim of the Maratua atoll, known almost entirely for diving: a reef wall and channel water on its doorstep.
- Speedboat beyond Derawan
- ~1.5 h
- Usual dive range
- 5 – 30 m
- No town or market
- Rim islet
- Best season
- Apr – Nov
Where it is
On the Maratua atoll rim, not next to Derawan
Nabucco Island is one of the small islets on the rim of the Maratua atoll, close to Nunukan Island, in Berau Regency, East Kalimantan. You can walk its shoreline in a few minutes, and there is no town, market or public transport.
Its relevance to travellers is the reef wall and channel water on its doorstep, which is why it appears on dive maps more often than on tourism maps. Every visit is a boat movement inside the Maratua area.
For most travellers it is a specialist stop rather than a trip in itself. If you want the atoll wall and channel, it belongs on a shortlist with Nunukan and Maratua; for a first broad look, Kakaban, Sangalaki and Derawan fill the days more completely.
Underwater
What you see around Nabucco Island
The attraction is underwater. The Maratua rim is a wall system where reef shallows drop steeply into deep blue water. Most recreational dives run between about 5 and 30 m.
Getting there
Road, then sea, then sea again
Every practical route runs through Berau. Our meeting point is Kalimarau Airport (BEJ).
| Leg | Mode | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|
| Your own flight to Kalimarau (BEJ), Berau | Flight, booked by you | Depends on your flight |
| Kalimarau Airport to Tanjung Batu | Road transfer | ~2.5 to 3 hours |
| Tanjung Batu to Derawan Island | Speedboat | ~40 minutes |
| Derawan to the Maratua atoll (Nabucco and Nunukan area) | Speedboat | ~1.5 hours |
Sea legs are weather-dependent. Boat times are normal-condition estimates, and a captain who delays a crossing for swell is doing his job correctly.
Nabucco Island Resort
What we will and will not claim about the resort
Nabucco Island is associated with dive-resort operation, and we keep a separate reference page for that search. We will not publish a room count, star rating, facilities list, certification claim or reviews for a property we do not operate and cannot verify in writing.
Nabucco is not one of the 13 destinations on our trips and not a stay we book: we do not sell trips to Nabucco. Our itinerary covers:
- Derawan Island and Pasir Gusung Sanggalau
- Maratua: Dolphins Point, Goa Halo Tabung
- Kakaban: Laguna Kehe Daing and the jellyfish lake
- Sangalaki: Manta Point, turtle conservation
- Talisayan, Manimbora, Labuan Cermin (4D3N)
Where our guests sleep
Our stays in the Maratua area
If being on Maratua rather than on Derawan matters to you, choose a Maratua stay: you choose the stay, and the price depends on it.
Private · 3D2N / 4D3N
Maratua · Cottage
Borneo Cottage Maratua
- 3D2N 2 guests, total
- USD 1,390 ≈ USD 695 / person
- 4D3N 2 guests, total
- USD 2,290 ≈ USD 1,145 / person
Private · 3D2N / 4D3N
Maratua · Beach villa
Maratua Paradise Beach Villa
- 3D2N 2 guests, total
- USD 1,490 ≈ USD 745 / person
- 4D3N 2 guests, total
- USD 2,290 ≈ USD 1,145 / person
Private · 3D2N / 4D3N
Maratua · Water villa
Maratua Paradise Water Villa
- 3D2N 2 guests, total
- USD 1,690 ≈ USD 845 / person
- 4D3N 2 guests, total
- USD 2,590 ≈ USD 1,295 / person
Private Trip Derawan rates from indonesiajuara.asia: total for two guests, standard tier.
When to go
April to November, for the crossings
April to November is the best season, chosen for sea conditions. December to March is the wetter period, when the crossings between Derawan and the Maratua atoll are less reliable, though trips still run. Inside the best season, months differ in visibility and swell; turtles are resident year-round.
Our private trips run 3D2N or 4D3N from Kalimarau Airport, with a minimum of two guests. On both, day two covers Maratua, Kakaban and Sangalaki.
Best time to visit- Jan Rough Reduced
- Feb Rough Reduced
- Mar Variable Mixed
- Apr Calm 20 m+
- May Calm 20 m+
- Jun Calm 20 m+
- Jul Calm 20 m+
- Aug Calm 20 m+
- Sep Calm 20 m+
- Oct Calm 20 m+
- Nov Variable 20 m+
- Dec Rough Reduced
In season Crossings weather-dependent Sea state · visibility
Trip costs
Private Derawan trip prices
Nabucco is not on our itinerary and we do not sell trips there; these are the published rates for our standard Derawan trips.
Flights to Berau (BEJ), fins, tips and personal expenses are not included. Your written quotation states the exact inclusions for your dates.
Answers
Nabucco Island questions
On the rim of the Maratua atoll in the Derawan Archipelago, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan, close to Nunukan Island. It is roughly 1.5 hours by speedboat beyond Derawan Island. It is a small rim islet, not a populated island with its own town.
Keep exploring
More in Destinations
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