
Top Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Locations in Balikpapan, Indonesia
1. Tanjung Picnic Island
A small island with crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs, offering great snorkeling opportunities.
- Rich Marine Life: Abundance of tropical fish, turtles, and even the occasional shark
- Accessibility: Easy boat trip from Balikpapan city
- Peaceful Atmosphere: Quiet, unspoiled beach for a relaxing experience
2. Tambak Raya Island
An island known for its stunning coral formations and diverse marine life, ideal for scuba diving.
- Coral Diversity: Variety of hard and soft corals to explore
- Wreck Diving: An opportunity to dive the remains of a World War II shipwreck
- Underwater Photography: Excellent conditions for capturing beautiful underwater photos
3. Sangalaki Island
A marine sanctuary with diverse and untouched coral reefs that provide an unforgettable scuba diving experience.
- Marine Sanctuary: Protected area ensuring healthy and abundant marine life
- Manta Ray Encounters: High chances of encountering manta rays during a dive
- Biodiversity: Home to over 200 species of coral and more than 1,000 fish species
4. Derawan Island
Famous for its turquoise waters and breathtaking coral reefs, offering amazing snorkeling and diving experiences.
- Turtle Point: Popular spot to swim with green turtles
- Night Diving: Opportunity to see rare nocturnal marine animals like the bobtail squid
- Island Hopping: Option to explore multiple islands within the Derawan Archipelago
5. Sangalaki-Kakaban Islands
A unique destination with both a jellyfish lake and beautiful coral reefs for diving and snorkeling.
- Jellyfish Lake: Swim in a safe, non-stinging jellyfish lake
- Mangrove Forest: Explore the rich mangrove ecosystem on Kakaban Island
- Coral Reefs: Beautiful coral reefs with diverse marine life for snorkeling and diving
6. Muna-Buton Marine National Park
A vast protected area featuring a myriad of underwater ecosystems, providing extraordinary scuba diving adventures.
- Biodiversity Hotspot: Home to over 400 species of coral and more than 1,500 fish species
- Cave Diving: Opportunities for cave diving with stalactites and other unique formations
- Humpback Whales: Possibility of sighting humpback whales during migration seasons
7. Wakatobi Dive Resort
A world-class diving resort with pristine reefs and an incredible variety of marine life.
- Pristine Reefs: Untouched coral reefs teeming with marine life
- Wall Diving: Opportunity for wall dives with breathtaking drop-offs and overhangs
- Macro Photography: Excellent conditions for capturing close-up underwater photos of tiny creatures
8. Karang Tengah Island
A remote island with excellent scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities in its pristine waters.
- Remote Location: Minimal human impact, ensuring healthy marine life
- Shark Encounters: High chances of spotting grey reef sharks and whale sharks
- Pelagic Life: Chances to encounter pelagic species like tunas, manta rays, and eagle rays
9. Sipadan Island
A world-renowned dive site featuring awe-inspiring coral formations and rich marine biodiversity.
- Barracuda Point: Famous spot for swimming among schools of barracudas
- Turtle Alley: Popular area for observing turtles passing through
- Thresher Shark Point: Chance to see thresher sharks at their cleaning stations
10. Bangau-Ranjet Island
A beautiful island with clear waters and a variety of marine life, perfect for snorkeling.
- Shore Snorkeling: Beautiful reefs just steps from the beach
- Mangrove Forest: Explore the mangrove ecosystem and its rich wildlife
- Island Hopping: Option to explore multiple islands within the Bangau-Ranjet Archipelago
11. Lembeh Strait
A world-famous macro diving destination with an abundance of small, interesting critters.
- Macro Diving: Opportunity to discover tiny and unusual marine creatures
- Muck Diving: Diving in sandy or muddy bottoms to find rare critters
- Critter Photography: Excellent conditions for capturing close-up underwater photos of small creatures
12. Borak Island
A picturesque island with excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities in its vibrant coral reefs.
- Coral Reefs: Beautiful coral reefs teeming with marine life
- Turtle Encounters: High chances of swimming with green turtles
- Island Hopping: Option to explore multiple islands within the Derawan Archipelago
13. Sand Island
A small, secluded island with clear waters and a variety of marine life for snorkeling and diving.
- Rich Marine Life: Abundance of tropical fish, turtles, and even the occasional shark
- Seclusion: Small, secluded island for a peaceful experience
- Beach Relaxation: Relax on the powdery white sand beach
14. Wakatobi Island
A beautiful island with stunning coral reefs and a variety of marine life for diving and snorkeling.
- Coral Reefs: Untouched coral reefs teeming with marine life
- Wall Diving: Opportunity for wall dives with breathtaking drop-offs and overhangs
- Macro Photography: Excellent conditions for capturing close-up underwater photos of tiny creatures
15. Mabul Island
A popular dive destination with crystal-clear waters and a variety of marine life for snorkeling and diving.
- Coral Reefs: Beautiful coral reefs teeming with marine life
- Macro Diving: Opportunity to discover tiny and unusual marine creatures
- Island Vibe: Vibrant island atmosphere with numerous dive shops, resorts, and restaurants