This journey combines the legendary marine life of Sipadan with the dazzling coral reefs and breathtaking island scenery of the Derawan Archipelago.  Malaysia's world-renowned island of Sipadan provides some spectacular coral wall diving, some of the most prolific underwater habitats for marine turtles and a host of colourful reef life such as flamboyant cuttlefish performing their colourful displays. Indonesia's Derawan Archipelago is a much less visited jewel nestled in the Sulawesi Sea. Manta rays meet in large numbers here to feed in its rich waters.  Species such as great barracuda, dogtooth tuna and even the mysterious thresher shark are regularly encountered. Set against vibrant reefs and beautiful white sand islands, Derawan is a stunning location to dive in.

Jacques Cousteau referred to Sipadan as "an untouched piece of art". This tiny tropical island, created by a now extinct volcano rising from the seabed, lives up to its international reputation as one of the best locations on earth to dive. The reefs stretch out wide from the island in places and its steep drop offs enable close proximity with the reef whilst you hover your fins clear of any coral.  Close up, life on the reef is a stunning array of colour, whether watching iridescent mandarin gobies, or a freckled frogfish.  Larger marine life includes nurse sharks, giant bumphead parrot fish, white tip reef sharks, spotted eagle rays, schooling barracuda and more.  Whether focusing on the macro or or encountering gentle leopard sharks languishing on the seabed, diving around Sipadan and its neighbouring islands of Mabul and Kapalai has something for every diver.  For those wishing to see turtles underwater, Sipadan is one of the best places in the World to do so.

The Derawan Archipelago lies south of Sipadan in Indonesian Borneo and the Sulawesi Sea.  The islands here are known for large expanses of healthy and vibrant corals 'fed' by the rich waters from the Berau River.  These waters help encourage the interest of manta rays and other plankton feeders and their predators. With over 500 species of hard corals recorded so far, these reefs hold the second highest diversity of corals anywhere on Earth, second only to Raja Ampat. The Derawan archipelago is perhaps best-known for its manta rays, which gather in the calm, sheltered waters in their hundreds to feed. Divers have seen in excess of fifty of these elegant, enormous rays on a single dive, gliding effortlessly through the waters around them.

A number of shark species are found in the area, attracted to the over-abundance of life on the reefs and encounters with them are common. Whitetip, blacktip and grey reef sharks are all frequently seen cruising the reefs, with gentle leopard sharks lazily resting under corals. Species such as shortfin makos and scalloped hammerheads are sometimes seen patrolling the outer edges of the reefs. A special draw at Derawan are regular encounters with 6m long thresher sharks which come into the reefs, their long tails scything through the water, to herd and catch small fish.

In addition to sharks and its macrofauna, islands around Derawan represent the largest breeding site for green turtles in Indonesia. It is also home to bizarre jellyfish lake nestled on the island of Kakaban. Protected from the sea, the jellyfish here have been trapped in the lake for only a few hundred years yet have evolved into four unique, stingless species. This is the largest and most diverse jellyfish lake in the world and it is possible to snorkel amongst the jellyfish, in this ephemeral, strange habitat.

A dive trip which combines Sipadan and Derawan combines some of the best marine life found in both Malaysia and Indonesia. Whilst opportunities to reach Sipadan are best from a liveaboard, we enjoy the Derawan archipelago based on the Maratua atoll some hundred times larger than Sipadan in the stunning setting of crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches, skirted by lush green vegetation. 

Last but not least, we use Singapore as an international hub for this dive trip, making this a three country journey. Here you will spend a total of three nights, staying in a beautiful boutique hotel in the midst of the China Town conservation area.

Whilst exploration of Borneo's highly diverse terrestrial wildlife does not feature in this itinerary, we can easily add it in based upon your interests and how much time you have.

Day 1 *
Arrive Singapore.
A boutique hotel will be arranged for you in the China Town conservation area.

* Singapore is the ideal 'pivot point' for this twin location dive trip, where you will stay at one of its very best boutique hotels in the China Town conservation area.

Day 2 *
(B)
Free to explore Singapore.
Accommodation in Singapore's China Town.

Day 3
(B,D)
Take a taxi or Singapore's famous railway link to the airport.
Fly Singapore to Tawau. You will be met upon arrival and transferred to the dive liveaboard.

Days 4 - 5
(B,L,D)
4-5 dives onboard the liveaboard visiting some of the islands of Sipadan, Kapalai, Mabul and Si-Amal.

Day 6
(B,L,D)
AM: 3 dives onboard the liveaboard.
Midday: Boat returns to Semporna to re-provision.

Day 7
(B,L,D)
3 dives onboard the dive liveaboard.

Day 8
(B,L,D)
4-5 dives onboard the dive liveaboard.

Day 9
(B)
You will leave the liveaboard and be transferred to Tawau where you will be put onboard a public ferry to Tarakan.
You will be met upon arrival in Tarakan in Indonesian Kalimantan and taken to your hotel.

Day 10
(B,L,D)
You will be collected from your hotel and taken to Tarakan airport.
From here you will fly to the island of Berau.
You will be met here and transferred to a speed boat and then taken out to the Maratua Paradise Resort.

Days 11 - 15
(B,L,D)
5 days of diving based on Maratua atoll.
The amount of diving you will be able to conduct on Day 15 will depend upon the time of your flight on Day 16. You will need to set aside sufficient Surface Interval Time to decompress.

Day 16 *
(B)
From Maratua you will be taken by speed boat back to Berau in time for a flight to Balikpapan.
In Balikpapan you will connect with a flight back to Singapore where you will stay overnight.

Day 17
(B)
Depart Singapore.