Derawan Islands Turtles

The encounter

Species / spectacle: Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) grazing on seagrass, plus occasional hawksbill turtle, reef fish and rays; Berau is the largest green-turtle nesting region in Southeast Asia.

How you see it: dive/snorkel

Typical duration: Snorkel sessions of 1-3 hours; half- or full-day island-hopping boat trips.

When to go

Snorkelling year-round; calmer, clearer seas in the dry season (roughly March-October).

Green turtles are reliably seen every month around Derawan's seagrass beds and jetty.

Best time of day: Daytime for snorkelling over seagrass; nesting is a night-time event and only on restricted / managed beaches.

Turtle nesting and hatchling emergence on nearby protected islands (e.g. Sangalaki, Sambit) continues through the year.

Sightings are seasonal probabilities, not promises - even in peak season nature does its own thing.

Who it suits

Difficulty (1-5): 1 (light)

Physical demand: Very easy - swim from the jetty or beach in calm shallow water; suits weak swimmers with a flotation aid.

Accessibility & group fit: Highly family-friendly and beginner-suitable; turtles often visible from over-water bungalow decks without entering the water.

Options for a mixed group: Small boats and flexible snorkel groups; easy to split into small parties per boat.

Permits & responsible travel

Regulation / permits / fees: Within the Derawan Archipelago marine conservation area (KKP3K KDPS, approx 285,000 ha) managed with East Kalimantan fisheries authorities; turtle and egg harvest is banned and access to nesting islands is restricted or permit-controlled (Confirm.).

Guide / crew: Local boatmen / guides for island trips; a guide is not strictly required for shore snorkelling off Derawan jetty.

Do not touch, chase or ride turtles, keep distance, avoid flash photography and never block a surfacing turtle; use reef-safe sun protection.

Permits, fees and quotas change - confirm before booking.

Safety & hazards

Boat traffic near the jetty, mild currents, strong sun; avoid handling marine life.

Weather / conditions: Northwest monsoon (roughly November-March) brings rougher seas, rain and reduced visibility; watch boat traffic and mild currents.

Limited local capacity; small clinic on Derawan, referral hospital in Tanjung Redeb (Berau mainland).

Getting there & staying

Access logistics: Fly to Kalimarau airport (Tanjung Redeb / Berau, BEJ), road to Tanjung Batu port (approx 2.5-3 hr), then speedboat to Derawan; direct speedboats also run from Sanggam harbour.

Accommodation / camping: Derawan village homestays, guesthouses and over-water bungalow resorts.

Gear / water / connectivity: Snorkel gear rentable in the village; mobile / data connectivity is reasonable on Derawan Island.

Facilities: Village amenities, dive shops, restaurants and shops on Derawan.

Crowds / solitude: Derawan gets busy on weekends and Indonesian holidays; quieter midweek.

Operators & guiding

Nearby operators / hubs: Berau / Tanjung Redeb and Tanjung Batu are the logistics hubs; dive resorts and boat operators on Derawan and Maratua.

Guided trips / outfitters: Derawan-based snorkel and dive operators, island-hopping boat outfitters from Berau; regional operators such as Scuba Junkie (Sangalaki).

Operators change - confirm current licensing before you book.

Live conditions & sources

Recent sightings and today's conditions are a runtime layer - check the sources: YKAN / TNC (ykan.or.id); Global Conservation Derawan MPA; ANTARA News; Indonesia Ministry of Tourism (indonesia.travel).