Things To Do When You Travel to Maratua Island

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The Paradise of divers! Perhaps this sentence could reveal a bit of the underwater beauty of Maratua Island. The name of Maratua Island may not be as popular as Derawan Island.

But, as one of the outer islands bordering Malaysia, Maratua Island has a panoramic landscape that is no less beautiful than Derawan Island.

Located on the east side of Borneo island, Maratua Island is surrounded by small islands such as Sidau Island, Ant Island, Andongabu Island, Sangalan Island, Bulingisan Island, Nusa Kokok Island, Bakungan Island, Nunukan Island, Pabahanan Island, and Pasir Gosong.

Maratua Island has a beautiful coral reefs fringing reefs type, dominated by seagrass with Halodule Uninervis, various types of fish, and mangrove forest around the beach that can be found in almost every village Maratua Island.

Dive Into The Ocean Floor

The underwater paradise for these divers is the main destination for foreign tourists from the European continent or any other hemisphere. Maratua Island has many diving spots.

From The many, Jetty Dive, Turtle Traffic, Mid Reef, Eel Garden, Hanging Garden, Cabbage Garden, and The Channel spot. The seven diving spots have unique scenery.

Jetty Dive Spot

Entering Maratua's waters in the Jetty Dive spot area, divers will be treated to a wide variety of fish such as crocodile fish, Mandarin fish, harlequin shrimp, blue octopus, giant coral reefs and many more. The diversity of marine animals that can be found in Jetty Dive Spot makes it a lot of divers coming back for the umpteenth time.

Turtle Traffic Spot

While spot diving Turtle Traffic is dominated by the scenery of cute green turtles. Not just green turtles, if lucky the diver will find Hawksbill Turtles. In addition to turtles, sea animals can be found in this area such as lobster, mantis shrimp, moray eel, and colorful coral reefs.

Mid Reef

Maratua's diving Spot in Mid Reef is often visited by Shark Thresher and Nurse Shark. Other sights, the diver will be pampered with adorable turtles, stingrays, hawkfish, cockatoos, swarms of sea horses and many others.

Eel Garden

As the name suggests, Eel Garden or Sea Eel Garden is widely found in this spot. Eel Garden stretches long on sandy seabed and is surrounded by colourful coral reefs. In this spot, you will also see the Spanish tuna fish, a herd of barracuda, and various types of coral reefs.

Hanging Garden

Hanging Garden is shaped like a vertical wall that houses a variety of coral reefs and fishes. The coral reefs of the black coral trees grow lush on the vertical walls of the Hanging Garden. They grew up hiding behind large corals. On the outside of the vertical wall, diver can find the shark and turtle swim the happy.

Cabbage Garden

This one-time diving spot resembles Hanging Garden. The small fishes that live among the coral reefs hide behind the Cabbage Garden. This Spot is also known as a gathering place for turtles.

Among other diving spots, Cabbage Garden is arguably the safest spot for the minimal divers experience.

The Channel

This one is the most interesting and challenging spot in Maratua waters. At this dive point, divers can find different types of sharks such as hammerhead sharks, grey sharks, and white muzzle sharks.

It's a must-do, only divers with high flying hours that can dive into the most extreme diving spots in Maratua.

Diving Operators in Maratua

To enjoy the beauty of Maratua's underwater waters, tourists need safe diving equipment and gear and meet safety standards. In Maratua, there are several diving operators such as Maratua Paradise Resort Maratua and Dive Centre.

The cost of diving package ranged from IDR 650.000. The price has not been rental of wetsuits. For the rental of snorkeling equipment, the cost is IDR 40.000 per 12 hours.

The cost is quite expensive, but the experience of swimming with a variety of sea animals in the middle of Maratua's enchanting waters, worth even more than the costs incurred.

Snorkel Meet Nemo or Cute Turtle in The Shallow Waters of Maratua

Diving has become a mainstay of Maratua Island, but if you do not have a certificate of diving, snorkeling in the sea off Maratua was happy. Swim all day while searching for Nemo is fun.

The best time to snorkel is in the evening before dusk. Usually, at that time, turtles swim towards the pier. If lucky, can meet stingrays too. Don't forget to prepare your underwater camera to capture the fun of holiday moments with cute sea animals in Maratua.

Relax on the seafront of Maratua Island, calm the mind of the burden of work

Other activities that can be done on Maratua Island are relaxing and sunbathing over the Mardan beach. Its soft white sand with blue sea water view can be a soothing alternative to the activities. Or just sit on the edge of the wooden jetty while looking at the loose blue sea. The beauty of sea lovers, will definitely linger there.

Don't forget to take a photo at the iconic Maratua pier like the one above.

Culinary That Must Be Tasted at Maratua Island

The taste is less complete if the holidays without tasting local culinary delights. Maratua Island, famous for its underwater beauty, has delicious cuisine.

From the number of food menus typical of East Kalimantan, culinary such as Sate Payau, Ayam cincane, Nasi bakepor, Gance Ruan, sambal raja, and spicy porridge so culinary most liked by tourists.

Gance Ruan For example, Gence Ruan himself is a cork fish or the local people call him a Haruan fish burned on top of the coals by using many stir-fry seasoning.

Then after the grilled fish will usually be greased with delicious sambal goreng. Most deliciously eaten with warm white rice after being tired of diving or snorkeling.

Staying at Maratua Paradise Resort

Maratua Paradise Resort is one of the resorts that many tourists visit in Maratua Island. This Resort has two types of room types, which are beachfront villa type and exotic water villa type with main hall and pavilion that become the center of the sea turtles.

The entire building of Maratua Paradise Resort was built using eco-friendly materials made of wood. The room itself is designed simply but stores very luxurious facilities. It is suitable for young couples who want to feel the Nuanasa of different honeymooners.

How to get to Maratua Island

The easiest path to Maratua Island is via Tanjung Redeb. From the original city, take the flight to Balikpapan.

From Balikpapan continue flights to Berau District, East Kalimantan. Upon arrival at Berau, the next destination is Tanjung Redeb.

Then, continue the journey by boat to Maratua Island. The ship operates on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays. More easily, use the services of a travel operator to Maratua Island.