Scuba diving isn't the only thing to do! Non-divers are welcome to board our boats to snorkel the stunning reefs here at Scuba Junkie Sangalaki.

Each trip is designed to give you plenty of time in the water exploring 3 different spots around the island as well as some time to relax! Depending on numbers, our snorkelers will either join our dive boats or have their own dedicated snorkelling boat, either way our staff will be on hand to help you with safety advice, tips on the best places to snorkel as well as helping you identify cool marine life.

A full snorkel site briefing and life jacket will be provided for all snorkellers.

We are fortunate to see manta rays here pretty much all year round as the majority seem to be residents to this area. Sangalaki is a feeding ground for manta rays, which means, the mantas come to the surface to feed, making it an ideal spot to have the chance to snorkel with these magical creatures. Snorkelling is one of the best ways to interact with these gentle plankton feeders.

They swim in eurhythmy, completely unaffected by your presence, and sometimes glide right up to you before making a sharp nose-dive into the blue. It is not uncommon to find them circling you. It's impossible to describe the sensation of looking through their enormous mouths; it has to be experienced for yourself because it truly is out of this world. In addition to the manta pathways, there are snorkelling spots here with dense coral reefs and healthy marine life which will keep you amazed for ours.

Insiders tips: often around the Sangalaki jetty and towards the beach in the shallows you can snorkel with jubilee black tip reef sharks.

Just 20 minutes by boat from Derawan, Whale Shark Point is the best place in the area to snorkel with these amazing gentle giants! Among schooling anchovies, glimpses of shadows approaching, Whale Sharks appear opening their impressive big mouths devouring these small fish. Don’t worry, these guys are very calm and docile creatures that welcome snorkellers to swim nearby, but of course we also need to respect them at the same time and not get too close. Sometimes our guests have been lucky to see 4 or 5 at one time!

The whale sharks appear to be most common in the days running up to and just after a new moon. The closer to a full moon, the lower the chances of seeing these gentle giants on this excursion. The local captain (who will take you on these trips) will communicate with the fishermen on the pontoons so that you have the most up to date information on where the Whale Sharks are.

Please note it's not 100% guaranteed that you will see the whale sharks during this trip, they are wild animals and do come and go as they please. It is also important to note that when the south winds come to the area (which is usually mid-June to mid-September) the fishing pontoons and therefore also the whale sharks move to a more sheltered area called Talisayan which is approx. 2 hours boat ride from Derawan.

Although Kakaban has some incredible snorkelling all around the island, boasting stunning pristine coral, and the chance to swim through schools of hundreds of Jack fish and barracuda (a unique experience!), the interior of the island hides something very special indeed. An isolated fresh water lake teeming with beautiful stingless jellyfish. Picture yourself jumping into the lake, drifting through the clouds of Jellyfish. There are only a few stingless jellyfish lakes in the world, making it a truly spectacular experience.