Dive Site: Kakaban Jellyfish Lake

Dive site facts: Kakaban Jellyfish Lake

Depth

10-30 m (lake up to 17m)

Current

Strong (open ocean), None (lake)

Visibility

10-30 m (open ocean)

Water temperature

27-30°C

Entry

Boat (ocean) / Steps from jetty (lake)

Level

Advanced recommended

Dive type

Wall, drift, pelagic, unique lake

Region / port

Derawan Archipelago, East Kalimantan

Coordinates

4.7065° S, 123.7776° E

Conditions & Currents

The open-water dive sites around Kakaban Island are known for strong currents, particularly at sites like Barracuda Point or Meditation Wall. These currents attract large pelagic species, making for exciting drift dives where divers passively observe the wall and schooling fish. Divers should be experienced with current diving, and reef hooks, SMBs, and whistles are recommended. The lake itself is a calm, protected environment, but currents are a defining feature of the surrounding marine dives, influencing dive profiles and requiring careful planning by guides based on daily conditions and diver certification levels. Visibility in the open ocean can range from 10 to 30 meters, while the lake water is murkier and green.

Marine life & sighting chances

Moon jellyfish

common

Box jellyfish

occasional

Spotted jellyfish

common

Upside-down jellyfish

common

Sponges

common

Sea cucumbers

common

Gobies

common

White-tip reef shark

occasional

Black-tip reef shark

occasional

Grey reef shark

occasional

Thresher shark

occasional

Hammerhead shark

occasional

Leopard shark

occasional

Barracuda schools

common

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Diving at Kakaban typically involves boat entry to steep wall dives or drift dives, such as Meditation Wall. Divers descend along the wall, often letting the current carry them past schools of barracuda, jackfish, and various shark species. Depths can reach up to 30 meters, adhering to no-decompression limits for recreational diving. Macro sites like Kakabanana allow for slower, more detailed exploration of critters like pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs. The lake itself is accessed from a jetty with steps, offering easy entry for snorkeling or swimming (when permitted) at depths up to 17 meters. Safety stops are conducted as standard at 5 meters for 3 minutes in the open ocean.

Underwater photography

For capturing the unique stingless jellyfish in the lake, a wide-angle lens is ideal to convey the vastness of the jellyfish population. Due to the brackish, murkier water, natural light photography often works best, especially close to the surface. Avoid using fins in the lake to prevent stirring up the sandy bottom. For the open-ocean dives around Kakaban, both wide-angle lenses are suitable for pelagic encounters with sharks, barracuda schools, and expansive walls. Macro lenses are excellent for specific sites like Kakabanana, targeting pygmy seahorses, frogfish, and nudibranchs. Strong currents require good buoyancy control to maintain position and capture sharp images.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Sangalaki

  Known for manta rays at Manta Point and turtle hatching.

• Maratua

  Features Big Fish Country with schooling barracuda and sharks, and Turtle Traffic with abundant green sea turtles.

• Derawan Islands

  Main logistics hub with house reef diving for macro life and easy access.

Getting there & logistics

Access to Kakaban Island typically involves flying into Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau, East Kalimantan. From there, transfers by speedboat take visitors to the Derawan Archipelago, with Kakaban being about an hour's ride from Derawan Island, which serves as a common logistical base. Diving packages, often 3D2N or 4D3N, are available from local operators. While liveaboards visit the region, many resorts operate from Derawan or Maratua, with day trips to Kakaban. A small entry fee (approx. 100,000 IDR for non-Indonesians) may apply to access the lake area.

Safety & environment

The nearest recompression chamber is approximately 500 km away from the Derawan Archipelago, necessitating robust dive insurance with adequate coverage for remote evacuations. Site-specific hazards for ocean dives around Kakaban include strong currents, which require advanced diving skills, proper equipment such as reef hooks and surface marker buoys, and adherence to guide instructions. In the lake, the primary safety protocol involves avoiding fins to protect the delicate ecosystem and prevent disturbing the sediment. While swimming in the lake has historically been a major draw, recent closures for ecological recovery mean visitors must check current regulations regarding lake access. Always follow environmental protocols, including no touching of marine life and no sunscreen in the lake.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Kakaban Jellyfish Lake FAQ

Liveaboards diving Kakaban Jellyfish Lake

These liveaboards may visit Kakaban Jellyfish Lake on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Naga Biru

Indonesia

12 guests40 m

Ecopro Duyung Baru

Indonesia

6 guests27 m

Jaya

Indonesia

14 guests23 m

Wellenreng

Indonesia

9 guests25 m

Komodo Aggressor

Komodo, Indonesia

16 guests29 m

Blue Manta

Indonesia

20 guests45 m

Mari

Indonesia

14 guests32.2 m

Situju7

Komodo, Indonesia

10 guests32.7 m

Pindito

Indonesia

16 guests37.79 m

Mermaid II

Komodo, Indonesia

18 guests

Pearl of Papua

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

14 guests30 m

Putri Naga

Komodo, Indonesia

6 guests25 m