As well as the wonderful walls of Bunaken, Tasik Divers is now operating in Bali, as well as the very soon to be opened "Derawan Divers Lodge" off the coast of Borneo.

These two new destinations will compliment the already established operation in Manado.

In Bali there will be the opportunity to mix the amazing culture of the "Island of the Gods” along with such diving as the Liberty wreck and Mola-mola whist on a "Dive/Culture" safari.

On Derawan, it’s a small island off the coast of East Kalimantan where you have the opportunity to dive & snorkel with gentle Turtles and majestic Manta's. Also the options to dive/snorkel in one of the worlds very rare Jellyfish lakes and visit a turtle sanctuary and see for yourself these beautiful creatures emerging from the sand and taking their first breaths of fresh air...all in the same day!!!!!

Derawan -
The Derawan Islands (: Kepulauan Derawan) are in the province of East Kalimantan in Indonesia. They include Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua, Panjang and Samama Island and submerged reefs and islets. They are located in the Sulawesi (Celebes) Sea, on the coastal shelf of East Kalimantan (2°17'N - 118°13'E).

Located in a biodiversity hotspot, the Derawan Islands feature 872 species of reef fishes, 507 species of coral, and invertebrates, including protected species (5 giants clam species, 2 sea turtles, coconut crab, etc). Some of the islands harbour the largest green turtle nesting sites in Indonesia.

There are two inhabited islands, namely Derawan (1 village of 1,259 people) and Maratua (4 villages of 2,704 people). Fishing is an important income-generating activity for the community, with diving and eco-tourism now beginning to offer alternatives. 

There are 31 named islands, although most are uninhabited and others have NGO workers observing and sustaining the habitats of the amazing creatures to be found in this glorious and mainly unspoilt archipelago. Out of these islands we are mainly concerned with Derawan, Maratua, Kakaban & Sangalaki.

(Here’s a take on the diving from two of our Instructors’, Monica & Nadine. Mon is actually a partner in the project, Nadine will very likely be the resident instructor/manager there…Jamie was here doing his dive master course)
Jamie

The dive that really stood out for me was a local site found just a few minutes away from the Derawan Jetty, which I had the privilege of diving twice!  It boasts some fantastic life on a coral slope filled with rocky outcrops, playing host to schools of Snapper, a few rather large Turtles, and a wide variety of Nudibranch.  There is also a shallow wrecked pylon structure, around which many critters and fish congregate.  Even better It proved to be a fantastic spot to see the rare Hornet Ghost Pipefish; two per dive!  Dives last 60 minutes, but I would have happily carried on for another hour!
Nadine



SANGALAKI
Diving with Mantas
After a short half hour speed boat ride we arrived at ‘Manta point’.  We decided to do a stationary dive at a well known Manta cleaning station: ‘Manta Run’.  After twenty minutes of sitting on our knees waiting, the attention dwindled and I started concentrating on a little cleaner shrimp in front of me.  Suddenly it went dark!  After three days of sun, I thought now the rain is coming to the Derawan Archipelago.  Wrong. I looked up toward the surface to see this big, beautiful animal of three meters passing over on top of me.  I gazed in awe as it slowly moved over to one of the stations to get its daily clean-up.  Definitely a once in a lifetime experience to see this animal after  10 years waiting to see my first Manta so close up… AMAZING!
Monica

Derawan.
Really didn’t know what to expect after over 10 years diving in Bunaken.  Finally, I step onto the jetty at Derawan Island.

It was great!  But wait… under the Jetty I see one Turtle… then another… then more and more of them! This is more than great! Encouraged, I decided to do a dive just in front of Derawan Island at ‘the lighthouse’.  Got on board, suited up, 5 minutes out, buddy-check and jump. As soon as I enter the water I see Nimbrotha Nudibranch.  Swimming on a little there is a huge Sea fan and beneath, a Moray Eel, along with many more Nudibranch just waiting to say hello.  Wow, so much macro life to see in just a few minutes.   Then I was thinking, where are these famous Turtles?  Actually they are all around me! One even right in front of me, but didn’t notice as they are so well camouflaged ha.ha.ha.ha 1,2,3… well that’s it too many of them.

Finishing my dive I was thinking:  “well, for the first time in all my years guiding and instructing, I can guarantee to my guest 100% to see turtles to my guests when diving in Derawan!”

Never one to stay still, the Management and team here at Tasik Ria Resort/Tasik Divers is always looking forward! Right in our sight is a new horizon in the shape of a wonderful small Island called Derawan....found a few miles off the coast of East Kalimantan....

Here you will be transported to the early days of diving where not many others have been...of course that doesn’t mean primitive, just means unspoilt!!!! Here you will be able to relax far away from the hustle & bustle of daily life and when diving doing so with Mantas and Turtles...how about snorkelling in one of the Worlds few jellyfish lakes, or visiting a turtle sanctuary and getting the chance to see hatchlings take their first breaths of fresh open air!!! If you want all this, plus amazing fish life in a new lodge where comfort meets traditional then Derawan is for you.

Once you arrive at Derawan Dive lodge, it’s easy to see why you have traveled so far... for a little step back in time!!!! Although it’s a small operation,  along with its white sandy beach and cozy intimate atmosphere, what impacts you most is the sense of being away from it all.......a chance to see why travelers from another age would have been so enchanted! With so much “stuff” in our lives today, it’s a rare and beautiful thing when we can still have the opportunity to discover such a unique and charming hideaway.....all this along with the Tasik guarantee of friendly helpful staff who will take wonderful care of you, whether under the water or above.....

We are not neglecting our mother ship Tasik Ria either, with newly upgraded sea view rooms there is something for everyone out here in the Celebes Sea.......

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