Nunukan Island Resort – Maratua Atoll
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Diving vacation Indonesia: Nunukan Island Resort
Step into the world of pristine beauty and pure nature (AND adventure) on this diving vacation to Nunukan Island Resort. Far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this trip offers an oasis of peace and comfort in the midst of nature.
We find this dive vacation perfect for both novice divers who can enjoy no-stress diving on the fantastic house reef, and an ideal dive trip for experienced divers who want to do action-packed boat dives or perhaps exploration dives! Almost all nearby dive sites are also suitable for snorkelers!
Discover the Magic of the House Reef of Nunukan
Diving at Nunukan Island Resort is fantastic and super easy. The adventure begins right on the resort’s house reef, where a steep wall offers new impressions every meter you dive. Whether you choose a gentle dive along the entire length of the reef or a boat dive to legendary dive sites such as Sangalakki, Kakaban or the Big Fish Country, everything is possible here. From macro photography to schools of fish and colorful coral, the underwater world offers a variety of colors and life. An undiscovered atoll just 30 minutes south of the island awaits adventurous divers who want to explore.
Stay at Nunkan Island Resort: Pure Nature and Comfortable
The Nunukan Island Resort, opened in August 2008, offers the perfect harmony between relaxation in beach bungalows and fantastic diving. Located at the southern tip of the Maratua Atoll on the island of Bakungan, this is a paradise for adventure divers, peace seekers and nature lovers looking for an authentic island experience. Don’t expect extreme luxury, but do expect comfort. The accommodation is built with materials typical of the environment and uses solar energy for hot water, thus respecting nature.
Best travel time for a diving vacation to Maratua
The best time to go on diving vacation to Kalimantan-Borneo is between May and November – then there is the least chance of rain. Diving is possible year-round, although visibility can sometimes be more limited during the rainy season from October to January. The water temperature remains constant around 27 degrees, while the air temperature is usually around 31 degrees. In January and February, this resort is closed.
Thresher sharks are seen year-round and manta rays between August and the end of the year….
Tip! Just a 30-minute boat ride from Nunukan Island Resort is the sister resort Nabucco Island Resort. These two resorts combine perfectly, taking calm dives on Nunukan’s house reef – with perhaps a trip to Jellyfish Lake. Then you move on to Nabucco, closer to the dive sites with current and action ánd so big stuff.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for Nunukan Island Resort
Throughout the year, the water temperature is between 27℃ & 28℃. A 3mm full wetsuit will then suffice in most cases.
Turtles on Nunukan Island
Between June and September, sea turtles lay their eggs in the sands of Nunukan. These eggs then hatch about 60 days later. So are you going to Nunukan between June and November? Then you may be experiencing this up close and personal.
What will you experience on this diving vacation?
View itinerary here
Day 1 to 2 | Trip to Balikpapan
The first two days of your trip are mostly about flying. First, you fly from Europe to Balikpapan via Jakarta. Depending on the flight times, you will stay overnight in Jakarta or Balikpapan or fly directly to Berau. From Berau, transfer by boat to Nunukan Island Resort. We do our best to make sure your flights are as compatible as possible, so your trip is smooth and comfortable – but you’ll be on the road for a while.
Day 3 | Arrival at Nunukan Island Resort
Today is the day you have long looked forward to – you have finally arrived at the beautiful Nunukan Island Resort! This will be your home for the next week, filled to the brim with the finest diving and, of course, relaxation. Once checked in, take your time to unpack your gear and meet the people at the dive center. You’ll have plenty of time to relax and explore the island.
If you feel like it, you can also book a relaxing massage or do some snorkeling around the jetty to catch your first glimpse of the enchanting underwater world.
Important to know: Arrival is only possible on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Day 4 to 8 | Diving around the Nunukan Atoll
Standard included in this dive vacation are 10 (boat) dives on the house reef. On site, you can expand this with trips to Jellyfish Lake (Kakaban) and boat dives to dive sites like Big Fish Country where there is a lot of current and big stuff coming along!
Diving on Nunukans house reef is fantastic. You may be thinking “I’m not going to do 10 dives in the same place anyway,” but the diversity and scope of the house reef is so great – so you just have to! The house reef isaccessible by boat and you can choose your desired boarding point, then descend into the underwater world around the island. At the end of your dive, a short shuttle will take you back to the pristine, snow-white sandy beach. Nunukan’s house reef is home to an abundance of biodiversity, from tiny macro wonders to schools of fish and vibrant coral gardens. The walls are decorated with soft and hard coral, and the varied topography includes walls, canyons, caves and areas of reddish plate-like algae. And let’s not forget the encounters with charming green sea turtles, which are abundant thanks to dedicated conservation efforts. The Maratua Atoll, where Nunukan is located, is a major breeding ground for green sea turtles in Indonesia and the second largest in the world, with more than thousand baby sea turtles released into the wild each year thanks to the island’s caring managers.
For adventurous divers, dive sites such as Sangalakki, Kakaban and the Big Fish Country flow channel are available for half or day trips. Nice thing about Kakaban is that there is a“Jelly Fish Lake” in the middle of the island. You may snorkel here (not dive) and can spot as many as 4 different species of jellyfish, which do not sting! See thresher sharks ? These are occasionally spotted at Muaras and Kakaban.
Day 9 | Relax day
Day 10 & 11 | Back home, Orang-Utans or Island hopping?
At the end of your journey, you find yourself at a crossroads. You can extend your stay by taking a boat trip of about 30 to 45 minutes to Nabucco Island Resort or Virgin Cocoa Resort, where even more diving adventures await you. Alternatively, you can take a jungle trek, where you have the chance to come face to face with Orang Utans – a truly unforgettable experience. The duration of the jungle trek can vary from a few days to several weeks, fully customized to your needs. Of course, there is also the option to go back home, because unfortunately all good things eventually come to an end – but you do have the choice to postpone that end for a while.
Nunukan Island Resort
The stay and surroundings
The Nunukan Island Resort, opened in August 2008, offers the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure on an enchanting island on the east coast of Kalimantan, located on the southern tip of the Maratua Atoll on Bakungan Island. This resort is ideal for divers, peace seekers and nature lovers looking for a unique nature experience in stylish accommodation. With 22 comfortable and spacious bungalows right on the white sandy beach, equipped with amenities such as air conditioning, a safe, minibar, mosquito net and a terrace with a deck chair for relaxation, the resort offers comfort and beautiful sea views. You can opt for half board or full board with delicious meals at the restaurant, which serves both Asian and European delicacies. At EWDR, we have selected full board by default. The resort also features a dive center, an Internet corner, a small store and Wi-Fi for guests. The resort’s unique design is inspired by its surroundings, and solar energy is used to heat water.
Travel costs
What is included
This dive vacation to Nunukan Island Resort is available from US$ 1.651 per person based on two people in one double room. Are you traveling alone or want a single room? Then this trip costs US$ 2.217 p.p. The diving trip can be expanded as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about this diving vacation to Indonesia ? Get in touch with us!
Included in this diving trip, from US$ 1.651 p.p.
- 7 Nights in a Seaview Room
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Return transfers Berau - Nabucco Island
- Dive package consisting of 10 dives around the house reef
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Return flight to Jakarta from US$ 882 p.p.
- Return flight Jakarta - Berau from US$ 386 p.p.
- Hotel in Jakarta or Balikpapan approx. US$ 66 p.p.
✈︎ The quoted (international) flight prices are indicative prices and based on departures from Europe.
However, we can arrange flights from any location worldwide.
Booking your own flights is of course also possible.
Optional
- Sunset or Night dive, US$ 13 p.p. surcharge per dive
- Diving equipment, US$ 31 per diving day
- Nitrox, US$ 8 per tank
- 15L bottle US$ 4 per tank
- Big Fish Country (2 dives), US$ 28 p.p. supplement
- Sangalaki & Kakaban (2-3 dives) US$ 50 p.p. surcharge
- Muaras Atoll (2 dives) US$ 39 p.p. supplement
- South Maratua (2 dives) US$ 20 p.p. supplement
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving at Extra Divers at Nabucco Island Resort - general information
Mainly boat dives on the large house reef. For a surcharge, you can also go further afield:
Halfdaytrip “Muaras” (2 dives, additional charge to house reef) 35.00 €
Halfdaytrip “South Maratua” (2 dives, additional charge to house reef) 18.00 €
Halfdaytrip “Big Fish Country” (2 dives, additional charge to house reef) 25.00 €
Daytrip “Sangalaki & Kakaban” (2-3 dives, additional charge to house reef) 45.00 €
A dive package of 10 dives is included in this dive vacation as standard. That amounts to 2 dives per day. Diving on the house reef is available between 07:30 and 17:00. Want to dive more? Then you either pay 40,- per dive extra or, you know you’re really going to dive a lot? Then you can also buy 10 more dives for €380. So then you make 4 dives a day!
Yes, this is upon request and at an additional charge.
Yes certainly, at Nunukan it’s mainly about the house reef even.
Yes, several SSI diving courses are offered. You can learn to dive or specialize here.
Yes, the diving school is on the resort and available from the jetty.
Diving equipment
DIN with INT inserts available
As far as we know, there are no 15L tanks.
Yes, surcharge €7 per dive
Prices below are per day:
Wetsuit € 7,00
BCD € 7,00
Regulator € 7,00
Mask/ Snorkel/ Fins € 6,00
Computer – mandatory per diver € 7,00
Full Equipment € 28,00
Torch € 7,00
Activities, Excursions and Wellness
Yes definitely, you can snorkel all around the island and snorkeling trips are also offered, where you join the divers.
Local snorkeling trip 8.00 €
For snorkeling trips further afield, surcharges apply as listed under optional charges.
At the resort you can relax, there are beach volleyball opportunities, you can snorkel around the island by the jetty and explore the island. Don’t expect a full program of activities. It’s all about tranquility, diving and nature here.
For a fee, you can book a massage.
Accommodation / Resort
Yes, but the connection is not very fast because of its remote location.
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