Borneo-Celebes Blues
Sangalaki, Derawan, Maratua, Kakaban and over to Sulawesi

This special 11-Night cruise takes us from Tarakan in the Northeast of Borneo across the Makassar Strait to Palu in Central Sulawesi. It allows us to sample three distinct dive areas as part of one and the same itinerary: the islands offshore northeast Borneo; virtually untouched reef structures lining the Borneo coastline; and, the many bays and islands lining the Sulawesi side of the Makassar Strait north of Palu.

We’ll start it off with a group of current-swept islands rising out of the depth of the Makassar Strait. Each island has its own specialty: Observe schools of manta rays at Sangalaki, who come here to feed on plankton. Dive amongst turtles and search for the many hidden critters in the waters around Derawan. See the barracudas, sharks, and once again mantas outside the V-shaped island of Maratua. Immerse in the saltwater lake full with non-stinging jellyfish in the middle of the island of Kakaban – or dive the spectacular walls fringing the island.

Moving on, we will do some exploratory dives on the long reef lining the Borneo coastline, a huge place no-one else but us is diving! Next we cross over to the Sulawesi side of the Strait, following closely the coastline with its many beautiful islands and hidden bays. Diving here is characterized by large reefs with great soft and hard coral coverage, and inevitably pelagics, including sharks on basically every dive.

Our point of departure/arrival, Tarakan and Palu, are both well connected to the rest of the world – to Singapore via Balikpapan, as well as to Bali and Jakarta.