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Scuba Diving In Indonesian Borneo On The Tambora Liveaboard

Indonesian Borneo is now being explored by liveaboards, making the islands of Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakoban and Maratua accessible in one trip

Diving Kalimantan, Indonesia © Chris MitchellDiving Kalimantan, Indonesia © Chris Mitchell

I recently dived in Kalimantan – the Indonesian part of Borneo – with Tambora, a newish liveaboard that is pursuing an ambitious yearly itinerary across Indonesia. I was writing a story for EZ Dive magazine, which you can read in full here. See also Tambora’s current schedule and prices).

Tambora Liveaboard © Chris MitchellTambora Liveaboard © Chris Mitchell

  • Tambora liveaboard has Kalimantan dive trips scheduled for June 2020 and July 2020. Follow the links for more info on the boat and their Kalimantan dive itinerary.

The trip was a round trip from Terakan and revolved around four islands which are all dive hotspots in their own right – Sangalaki, Derawan, Kakoban and Nabucco. We also explored a huge submerged atoll which isn’t accessible by daytrips which yielded some of the best dives of the trip (and some of the worst too ;) – I’ll be writing a full report for EZ Dive magazine and publishing a separate liveaboard review of Tambora here on Divehappy soon (as I have done previously with other Indo liveaboards like MSY Damai, Siren and MSY Seahorse). In the meantime, here’s some of the photos I took as a taster of the journey

A huge battery of barracuda hundreds strong at Big Fish Country (Maratua Channel) © Chris MitchellA huge battery of barracuda hundreds strong at Big Fish Country (Maratua Channel) © Chris Mitchell

Reef at Kakoban © Chris MitchellReef at Kakoban © Chris Mitchell

Cuttlefish at Kakoban © Chris Mitchell
Cuttlefish at Kakoban © Chris Mitchell

Kakoban Reef Scene © Chris MitchellKakoban Reef Scene © Chris Mitchell

Sunlight on a plate coral bommie © Chris MitchellSunlight on a plate coral bommie © Chris Mitchell

Clownfish and diver © Chris MitchellClownfish and diver © Chris Mitchell

Fan coral and diver © Chris Mitchell
Fan coral and diver © Chris Mitchell

So flat calm the clouds in the sky are visible through the ocean surface © Chris MitchellSo flat calm the clouds in the sky are visible through the ocean surface © Chris Mitchell

Flat calm seas on an early grey morning © Chris Mitchell
Flat calm seas on an early grey morning © Chris Mitchell

Raindrops falling on the surface above plate corals © Chris MitchellRaindrops falling on the surface above plate corals © Chris Mitchell

The reef reflected in the mirror surface of the sea © Chris Mitchell
The reef reflected in the mirror surface of the sea © Chris Mitchell

Sunlight © Chris Mitchell
Sunlight © Chris Mitchell

Close Manta encounter, Sangalaki © Chris MitchellClose Manta encounter, Sangalaki © Chris Mitchell

Manta ray feeding at the surface in the sunlight at Sangalaki © Chris MitchellManta ray feeding at the surface in the sunlight at Sangalaki © Chris Mitchell

Flabellina and egg ribbon, Derawan © Chris MitchellFlabellina and egg ribbon, Derawan © Chris Mitchell

Flabellina and egg ribbon, Derawan © Chris MitchellFlabellina and egg ribbon, Derawan © Chris Mitchell

Crocodile Fish, Derawan © Chris MitchellCrocodile Fish, Derawan © Chris Mitchell

Jawfish with eggs in its mouth - you can see the eyes of the babies if you look closely © Chris MitchellJawfish with eggs in its mouth – you can see the eyes of the babies if you look closely © Chris Mitchell

Jawfish releasing the eggs - they're the squiggly bits in top right of photo © Chris Mitchell
Jawfish releasing the eggs – they’re the squiggly bits in top right of photo © Chris Mitchell



Make Sure You Have Diving And Travel Insurance

World Nomads is one of the leading travel insurance providers and their coverage also includes scuba diving to 40 metres too if you select the relevant options. Make sure you're covered insurance-wise both above and below water.



Start Planning Your Indonesia Dive Trip Now!

:: Check the availability and pricing of liveaboards in Indonesia and book online.


:: Find the cheapest flights to Indonesia - one search will show you the prices and times from scores of airlines for your trip. A real timesaver. You'll typically need to fly into Jakarta and then get a connecting flight to Sorong (SOQ) for Raja Ampat, Labuan Bajo (LBJ) for Komodo, Biak for Cenderawasih Bay (BIK) - but check with your liveaboard operator on optimum flights


:: Make sure you don't forget to bring any of the essentials for your scuba diving trip with our comprehensive Liveaboard Packing List


:: Get dive and travel insurance for Indonesia from World Nomads - make sure you're covered above and below the water. World Nomads lets you buy insurance online quickly and easily.


:: Find available places to stay in Indonesia on Booking.com - usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too. The Jakarta Airport Hotel, located in Terminal 2, is convenient for a transit stayover.


:: Need inspiration? See our Best Places To Dive In Indonesia for ideas of where to go and what to do.


Last Minute Liveaboard Deals

  • Last Minute Liveaboard Deals December 2019

More Indonesia Diving Stories

  • Diving Raja Ampat – A Quick Guide
  • Raja Ampat to the Banda Islands Liveaboard Trip Report
  • Diving Triton Bay 2017
  • Triton Bay Whale Sharks
  • Indonesia’s Best Scuba Diving
  • Cenderawasih Bay
  • Raja Ampat
  • Komodo
  • Bali Scuba Diving
    • Menjangan Island
    • Liberty Wreck and Tulamben
  • Lembeh
  • Bangka
  • Kalimantan
  • Palau Weh
  • Banda Sea
    • Gunung Api
    • Ambon
    • Nusa Laut
    • Banda Islands
    • Banda Islands Land Tour
    • Manuk
  • Indonesia Liveaboards

Dive Happy Podcast

  • Dream Job: Liveaboard Cruise Director Podcast
  • Diving Triton Bay Podcast
  • Diving Tubbataha Reef Podcast
  • Diving Yap Podcast
  • Diving Truk Lagoon Podcast
  • Diving Sogod Bay Podcast
  • Misool Eco Resort Podcast
  • Diving Palau Podcast
  • The Manta Rays Of Myanmar’s Black Rock Podcast
  • Diving Myanmar Podcast
  • Diving Bali Podcast
  • Diving Cenderawasih Bay Podcast
  • Diving Komodo Podcast
  • Diving Raja Ampat Podcast
  • Dive Happy Podcast Home Page

My Recent Dive Trips

  • June 2019: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • April 2019: Tulamben, Bali
  • December 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • December 2018: Anilao, Philippines
  • October 2018: Moalboal, Philippines
  • October 2018: Malapascua, Philippines
  • July 2018: Tulamben, Bali
  • June 2018: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • April 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • May 2017: Apo Island and Dumaguete, Philippines
  • April 2017: Tubbataha Reef, Philippines
  • April 2017: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • March 2017: Triton Bay, Indonesia
  • March 2017: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • September 2016: Tulamben, Bali at Alba Dive Resort
  • August 2016: Cenderawasih Bay on Damai 1
  • April 2016: Sogod Bay at Sogod Bay Scuba Resort
  • February 2016: Raja Ampat and Banda Islands on Damai 1
  • April 2015: Anilao at Crystal Dive Resort
  • March 2015: Myanmar and Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • May 2013: Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • April 2013: Tubbataha Reef on Discovery Palawan
  • January 2013: Komodo, Indonesia on MSY Damai

My Less Recent Dive Trips

  • August 2012: Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
  • April 2012: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • January 2012: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • August 2011: Hanifaru, Maldives
  • June 2011: Tubbataha Liveaboard Hans Christian Andersen
  • April 2011: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • April 2011: Carpe Vita Liveaboard, Maldives
  • March 2011: Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
  • December 2010: Menjangan, Bali
  • July 2010: Tofo, Mozambique
  • July 2010: Sardine Run, South Africa
  • May 2010: Sangalaki / Derawan, Tambora
  • March 2010: MV Flying Seahorse, Similan Islands
  • March 2010: MV Orion, Southern Maldives
  • January 2010: Big Blue Explorer, Palau
  • November 2009: MSY Damai, Banda Sea Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MSY Damai, Komodo Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MV Orion, Maldives Liveaboard
  • September 2009: MV Scubanet, Koh Losin, Thailand
  • May 2009: MSY Seahorse, Banda Sea liveaboard, Indonesia
  • March 2009: Sachika Liveaboard, Maldives
  • February 2009: Daytrips, Koh Lanta, Thailand
  • January 2009: MV Jazz, Burma (Myanmar) Liveaboard

Back In The Day Bragging Rights Dive Trips

  • November 2008: Borneo Explorer, Visayas Liveaboard
  • September 2008: S/Y Siren, Komodo Liveaboard
  • August 2008: Ocean Rover, Sulawesi Liveaboard
  • August 2008: NAD Lembeh Resort, Indonesia
  • June 2008: Koh Tao
  • March 2008: Maldives, Bandos Island
  • February 2008: MSY Seahorse, Raja Ampat Liveaboard
  • January 2008: MV Jazz, Burma Liveaboard
  • October 2007: Bali Dive Safari
  • September 2007: Davao, Philippines
  • July 2007: Great White Sharks, Rodney Fox Liveaboard
  • June 2007: Big Blue, Palau Liveaboard
  • May 2007: Whale Sharks at Exmouth, Australia
  • April 2007: Borneo Explorer, Tubbataha Reef Liveaboard
  • December 2006: Komodo Dancer, Komodo Liveaboard

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