04:00–05:00
Leave in the dark
The early run starts before sunrise so you reach the platforms as the sky lightens.
Destinations · Talisayan
Talisayan whale sharks at the bagan platforms
A pre-dawn snorkel beside the lift-net fishing platforms off Talisayan, Berau, where whale sharks feed at first light. Included on our 4D3N Derawan trip.
- Usual start
- 04:00–05:00
- In the water
- 60–90 min
- Typical juveniles
- 4 – 8 m
- Best season
- Apr – Nov
The encounter
What a Talisayan whale shark tour involves
Local fishermen work wooden bagan lift-net platforms through the night, drawing baitfish with lamps and hauling the nets at first light. Whale sharks learned to link the platforms with an easy meal and arrive to feed at the surface while the crew is still working.
Whale sharks are filter feeders with no interest in people, and they move slowly enough that a snorkeller can hold position beside one. Most seen here are juveniles of four to eight metres; the species grows beyond twelve.
No diving certification is needed. Confident swimming in open water with a mask and snorkel is the real requirement. Fins are not included in our trips, so bring your own.
The morning
A sunrise experience, or it does not happen
The timing dictates the whole day. There is no afternoon version of this activity.
Trip length
Included on 4D3N, not on 3D2N
Every trip meets at Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau: about 2.5 to 3 hours by road to Tanjung Batu, then about 40 minutes by speedboat to Derawan.
| Trip | Whale sharks | What else it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 4D3N | Included, on day three | Day two: Maratua, Kakaban, Sangalaki. Day three: Talisayan, Manimbora, Labuan Cermin |
| 3D2N | Not included | Day two: Maratua, Kakaban, Sangalaki |
If the whale sharks are your priority, choose the 4D3N: private, or the open trip at USD 280 per person.
When to go
The best whale shark season in Derawan: April to November
The best season is April to November, set by sea state rather than by the sharks. July to September is the calmest and driest stretch, with the most reliable pre-dawn crossings; April to June has fewer visitors on the platforms; October and November can bring squalls. December to March is the wetter period, though open-trip departures still run.
Whale sharks are wild and no operator can guarantee them. Sightings are frequent enough that the stop is a fixture, but a blank morning is possible. Book two to three months ahead for July to September.
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
Swim responsibly
The platforms are working fishing gear
The fishermen are the reason the sharks are there at all, and behaviour in the water decides whether the encounter lasts.
In the water
- Keep at least 3 m from the body and 4 m from the tail
- Enter quietly, from the side the guide indicates
- Leave bait handling to the crew
- Wear a rash guard or reef-safe sunscreen
Never
- Touch, ride, chase or block a whale shark
- Use flash photography
- Enter on top of a feeding animal
- Feed the sharks yourself
The wider route
Where Talisayan fits in the Derawan route
Talisayan is the mainland-coast stop; the rest of the route is offshore or on the same day-three run.
Day three Manimbora
On the same early run as the whale sharks and Labuan Cermin.
Swimming Labuan Cermin
The two-layer freshwater and saltwater lake.
Snorkel or dive Sangalaki Island
Manta rays over the shallows and turtle conservation.
Basic snorkelling Kakaban Island
The stingless jellyfish lake and Laguna Kehe Daing.
Snorkel to advanced dive Maratua Island
Channel currents, walls and Goa Halo Tabung.
Prefer to see the full menu of stops first?
Trip costs
Talisayan whale shark tour prices
The whale shark morning comes inside the Derawan trip: included on 4D3N, not included on 3D2N. Published Indonesia Juara rates.
Flights to Berau (BEJ), fins, tips and personal expenses are not included. Rates as published on indonesiajuara.asia.
Answers
Talisayan whale shark questions
Between 04:00 and 05:00, because the whale sharks feed at the bagan platforms while the fishermen haul their nets at first light. You are usually in the water from around sunrise for 60 to 90 minutes. There is no afternoon departure.
Keep exploring
More in Destinations
Plan the whale sharks
Tell us if the whale sharks are your priority
Share your travel month and group size, and we will confirm the 4D3N route that includes them.