The Derawan Island chain includes the islands of Derawan, Sangalaki, Maratua and Kakaban, and is home to one of the world's only saltwater lake as well as one of the largest green turtle nesting sites in Indonesia. These paradise islands are situated within the fabled Coral Triangle, with all the richness and beauty within its exotic underwater landscapes that one would expect from such a location. Over 20 dive spots across the island allow visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves amidst the bountiful treasures which lie tucked neatly beneath the sapphire waters. Maratua's garden under the sea proudly exhibits an abundance of colorful coral reefs populated with a large variety of species of fish, green turtles, manta rays and other marine life.

Maratua Island

Maratua is a large tropical island partially encircling a massive lagoon on one end and fringed with sheer rocky walls and coral reefs along the other end. This giant upside down U-shaped island covers about 384 square kilometers of sandy white beaches and mangrove forests and 3,735 square km of territorial waters which scientists believe contain the third highest level of marine biodiversity in the world after Raja Ampat and the Solomon Islands.

Swim with the stingless Jellyfish at Kakaban Lake

The ecosystem of the lake is very similar to that of the open sea, but with a twist! The trapped sea-water diluted with rain water and ground water creates a unique habitat that has caused the creatures trapped inside to evolve! The lake has warm, brackish water of 11 to 17 meters in depth, and is carpeted in marine green algae. Four species of jellyfish crisscross the waters of Kakaban Lake, but unlike their counterparts beyond the coral wall, the lake-jellies have no natural predators, resulting in the evolution of the species to no longer need their venom as self-defense.

Maratua, Noah Resort