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- Kakaban Jellyfish Lake — A freshwater lake trapped inside an island full of stingless jellyfish you can swim among. It’s otherworldly, unlike the usual snorkel spots, and the odd mix of clear water, mangrove rim and slow-floating jellies is why I come back; this is my personal favorite.
- Sangalaki Island (manta cleaning stations & turtle beaches) — World-class for getting close to manta rays at the cleaning stations and for seeing hawksbill/green turtles nesting and hatching. The encounters here are raw and marine-focused — not a zoo — which makes them special.
- Maratua Atoll & Inner Lagoon — A proper atoll with a calm blue lagoon, dramatic outer wall dives and a tiny Bajau settlement clinging to the rim. The mix of turquoise lagoon swims, cliffs you can jump off, and a living sea-nomad
- Kakaban Jellyfish Lake — A freshwater lake trapped inside an island full of stingless jellyfish you can swim among. It’s otherworldly, unlike the usual snorkel spots, and the odd mix of clear water, mangrove rim and slow-floating jellies is why I come back; this is my personal favorite.
- Sangalaki Island (manta cleaning stations & turtle beaches) — World-class for getting close to manta rays at the cleaning stations and for seeing hawksbill/green turtles nesting and hatching. The encounters here are raw and marine-focused — not a zoo — which makes them special.
- Maratua Atoll & Inner Lagoon — A proper atoll with a calm blue lagoon, dramatic outer wall dives and a tiny Bajau settlement clinging to the rim. The mix of turquoise lagoon swims, cliffs you can jump off, and a living sea-nomad culture gives Maratua a vibe you can’t copy elsewhere.
- Derawan Village (turtle releases & village life) — The main inhabited island, where local fishers and turtle releases are daily reality. Join a dusk or dawn release, sip palm coffee, watch traditional wooden boats come in — it’s low-key cultural immersion without staged performances.
- Pulau Panjang (the sandbar) — A long, skinny sand spit that peels away from the island at low tide; perfect for sunrise photos, private picnics and simple beach time. It feels like your own private island for an hour when the tide’s right.
- Gosong sandbanks (small, temporary sand islands) — Hidden gem: scattered “gosong” sandbanks around the archipelago that appear and disappear with tides. Boats drop you on one for snorkel-and-sandbar lunches, and at night the sky and silence are ridiculous — pure island therapy.
- Gusungan (mangrove islets and quiet reefs) — Hidden gem: small, low-profile islets fringed with mangroves and shallow reefs that locals use for fishing and calm snorkeling. Fewer tour groups go here, so the coral and birdlife are often undisturbed.
- Bajau homestays and village visits — Hidden gem: staying with a Bajau (sea-nomad) family or wandering their stilt villages gives genuine insight into a seafaring lifestyle — fishing techniques, boat maintenance, and simple meals you won’t find in a resort menu.
- Night turtle nesting & hatchling releases (select beaches) — Seeing a nesting turtle or helping tiny hatchlings stagger to the sea is a visceral, hard-to-forget experience unique to the islands’ rhythms. Do it with a local guide who knows the right beaches and respectful ways to participate.
- Coral gardens and quiet snorkel spots around the smaller islets (Samama, nearby reefs) — These are not dramatic walls but shallow, riotous coral gardens teeming with fish, nudibranchs and macro life. Great for snorkelers who want relaxed, close-up marine time without the dive-boat crowds.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.