The cross-border dive route
Getting from Sabah to the Derawan islands
The Derawan islands sit in the Celebes Sea. This is how the crossing actually works and what it takes to combine both regions.
Highlights
- The route connects Sabah to North and East Kalimantan across the Celebes Sea.
- No direct flights exist between Tawau and the Derawan gateways.
- Expect a transit window of 36 to 48 hours requiring two overnight stops.
- Diving on the route combines Derawan's macro life with Sangalaki's mantas.
- Entry requirements vary heavily by passport and are checked rigorously.
- The combination rewards experienced divers prepared for a rugged travel schedule.
About Getting from Sabah to the Derawan islands
The journey from Tawau to the Derawan islands goes by sea and air through Nunukan or Tarakan. There is no direct flight from Tawau: the crossing is made in stages by sea and air through Nunukan or Tarakan. Allow a day or two each way with a night in transit and treat the crossing as part of the trip rather than an inconvenience.
Both regions offer exceptional diving. A combined itinerary pairs the schooling barracuda of Sabah with the manta rays of East Kalimantan. The contrast makes the travel worthwhile for divers wanting two distinct ecosystems in one trip.
The proximity is deceptive. The journey from Tawau to Kalimantan takes you by taxi to Tawau Port then by international ferry and domestic speedboat. The reality involves overland taxis to Tawau Port followed by international ferries and domestic speedboats. Diving physiology and nitrogen off-gassing limits dictate the shape of your holiday. The team coordinates these connections to keep you moving smoothly across the border.
The short answer
Looking at a map suggests an easy hop across the border. The reality is a fragmented corridor requiring multiple modes of transport. Direct commercial air links bridging Tawau and Tarakan or Berau are currently non-existent.
Most divers choose the maritime route across the Celebes Sea. You travel by overland taxi from Semporna to Tawau City before taking an international ferry into Indonesia. You then rely on domestic speedboats to reach the Derawan islands. The transit mandates overnight stops and specific departure windows to align with port authority directives.
Read the travel information page for general advice.
The route in legs
The sea crossing from Sabah into Kalimantan requires precise timing. Island boats do not run after dark.
| Leg | Mode | Rough duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semporna to Tawau City | Taxi or minivan | 75 to 90 minutes | 82 km journey; requires an overnight stay in Tawau |
| Tawau Port to Nunukan | International ferry | 2 hours | Daily services typically departing at 9am; current schedule confirmed at enquiry |
| Nunukan to Tarakan | Domestic speedboat | 2.5 hours | Fleet provides rolling departures subject to sea state |
| Tawau Port to Tarakan | Direct international ferry | 4 to 5 hours | Direct option; tickets procured between 8am and 9am; no Sunday service |
| Tarakan to Derawan | Charter speedboat | 2.5 to 3.5 hours | High weather risk; requires an overnight stay in Tarakan; pick-ups typically 11am |
| Tawau via Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu to Balikpapan | Connecting flights | Part of a journey taking upwards of 24 hours | Flight connections confirmed at enquiry |
| Balikpapan to Berau | Domestic flight | Included in the overall aviation journey above | Connects to the road transfer to Tanjung Batu |
| Berau to Tanjung Batu | Taxi or minivan | 2 to 2.5 hours | Connects flights to the island ferries |
| Tanjung Batu to Derawan | Speedboat | 30 to 40 minutes | Strict prohibition on night crossings |
If severe weather prevents the direct open-water crossing from Tarakan to the islands the boats use a protected overland contingency route. You take a 60-minute ferry to Tanjung Selor followed by a five-hour taxi ride to Tanjung Batu port and a final local boat crossing to Derawan. Be sure to carry Indonesian Rupiah in cash for the Tanjung Batu port entry fee.
Why there is no direct flight
The commercial aviation alternative requires a massive detour. You fly out of Tawau to a major international hub like Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu. From there you board a flight to Balikpapan in East Kalimantan before connecting on a domestic carrier to Kalimarau Airport in Berau. This multi-leg journey frequently consumes 24 hours when you account for layovers and terminal changes.
Once you land in Berau the local transit is standardised. A road transfer from the airport to Tanjung Batu Port takes up to two and a half hours. Speedboats then transfer you to Derawan in 40 minutes or directly to Maratua in 90 minutes. Speedboats strictly prohibit open-water crossings after dark. Any flight landing at Berau after 3pm necessitates an overnight stay in the mainland town of Tanjung Redeb.
Maratua Island features a paved airstrip. Commercial routes using larger aircraft remain suspended. The only aviation link relies on subsidised pioneer flights using nine-seater aircraft from Tarakan. These flights suffer from frequent weather cancellations and strict payload limitations that clash with heavy scuba equipment. The government also prioritizes seats for local residents over foreign tourists. The airstrip cannot be sold as a guaranteed transit node.
Entry and paperwork
Border control between Malaysia and Indonesia is strict. The Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration dictates entry via designated checkpoints. Be sure to confirm the approved crossing point for your passport at enquiry. Both Nunukan and Tarakan are official entry ports.
The exact immigration and visa position varies heavily by nationality and crossing point. Your Indonesian visa options are confirmed at enquiry. Check the application process and timing for your passport before the border crossing. If your itinerary returns to Sabah your Malaysian re-entry requirements are confirmed at enquiry too. Everything is confirmed at enquiry. Check current rules for your passport before booking.
You also need Indonesian Rupiah in cash. There are no ATMs accepting international cards on Derawan, Maratua or Sangalaki. Liquid cash is necessary for port fees, island meals and marine park entry. You must physically withdraw all necessary cash on the mainland prior to boarding the transfer boats.
How long it really takes
Allow 36 to 48 hours for the transit. The physical distance is short. The delays come from maritime safety limits and diving physiology.
Speedboats stop open-water operations at dusk. You also need a 24-hour no-fly interval after your last dive before boarding any commercial flight. Finish diving by lunchtime on your final Sabah day before taking the boat to Semporna and a taxi to Tawau. You travel by boat then take a taxi to Tawau. You sleep in a transit hotel because evening border crossings are impossible.
The next morning you board the ferry to Indonesia. You clear immigration at Nunukan or Tarakan by mid-afternoon. Charter speedboats to the Derawan islands schedule their pick-ups for the following morning. You spend a second night in a Tarakan hotel. The result is two consecutive nights of non-diving transit. Short add-on trips of 3 nights in each location do not work. The travel leaves you exhausted and provides barely 2 days of diving at each end.
Malaysian telecommunications networks drop completely upon the vessel entering Indonesian territorial waters. You should purchase a local Telkomsel SIM card upon arriving in Tarakan or Berau.
Which order to travel
You can travel the route in either direction. Completing a Derawan week first offers a physiological advantage. The maritime transit back to Tarakan occurs at sea level. Your surface interval continues while you travel. You can dive Maratua in the morning and reach Tarakan the same day.
Check how the Sunday maritime restriction fits your dates. Direct ferries between Tarakan and Tawau do not operate on Sundays. If your transit lands you in Tarakan on a Saturday evening you are marooned in the port city for 24 hours until Monday morning services resume. A forward route from Sabah to Kalimantan gives you better control over the ferry schedules. The team steers you toward the sequence that fits your dates.
A Sabah and Kalimantan package ensures these connections align properly.
Dive regions on the route
Sipadan Island
Skill level: Advanced Open Water required | Ave depth: Confirmed at enquiry | Max depth: Confirmed at enquiry Sabah Parks issues 254 Sipadan permits a day. The island closes to all visitors every November. A day's diving at Sipadan runs from early morning until the afternoon. The resident chevron barracuda school often forms a tornado above the wall. You need an Advanced Open Water certification to dive here.
Derawan Island
Skill level: Confirmed at enquiry | Ave depth: Confirmed at enquiry | Max depth: Confirmed at enquiry Derawan is the closest island to the mainland ports. The reefs here support a dense macro ecosystem. It serves as a strong contrast to the heavy pelagic action found off Sabah. Be sure to look for unique critters in the shallows.
Sangalaki
Skill level: Confirmed at enquiry | Ave depth: Confirmed at enquiry | Max depth: Confirmed at enquiry The island is famous for manta ray cleaning stations. Manta rays visit the cleaning stations in season. Ask about the current programme and expectations when planning your dates.
Kakaban
Skill level: Confirmed at enquiry | Ave depth: Confirmed at enquiry | Max depth: Confirmed at enquiry The marine lake inside Kakaban holds populations of stingless golden jellyfish. The island reopened in 2025. A strict swimming ban remains firmly in place for 2026. Tourism is managed under a quality-control model capped at 100 daily visitors. You view the recovering jellyfish from a newly constructed two-kilometre elevated boardwalk.
Who should attempt it
This combination suits experienced divers prepared for a rugged expedition. You trade fast transfers for unique marine biodiversity. East Kalimantan is an endemic zone for malaria. You must consult your physician regarding anti-malarial prophylaxis prior to travel. You also need a dive-specific evacuation insurance policy to confirm your trip. The Divers Alert Network (DAN) Asia Pacific oversees medical evacuations in this region. There is no public hyperbaric chamber immediately accessible in the Derawan islands.
A week split between a sandbank resort at Kapalai and a beach chalet at Mataking Island provides immense variety without the border friction.
The cross-border route is worth the effort if you accept the reality of the ferries. The journey connects two of the richest reef systems in the Celebes Sea. If you want to expand your trip within Malaysia instead consider a combine with Borneo package.
Nearby places
Planning your expedition
Send the team your preferred dates along with the names of everyone coming and their current dive certification. The team comes back with what can be arranged for the sea crossing and resort availability.