Big Fish Country

Big Fish Country is an advanced drift dive site at the northern channel mouth of Maratua Island in the Derawan Archipelago, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Overview

Big Fish Country sits at the entrance to the large tidal channel that links Maratua Atoll’s enclosed lagoon with the open Sulawesi Sea. The channel is swept clean by powerful tidal currents that create upwellings of nutrient-rich water at the mouth, attracting what ZuBlu describes as “what many people believe is one of the largest schools of barracuda in Southeast Asia.” Divers station themselves at the channel entrance at approximately 27–30 metres, hooking into the reef edge and watching schools of thousands of barracuda, jackfish, and grey reef sharks pass in parade. Scuba Junkie Sangalaki notes the currents can range from “challenging to extreme” and have designated this site off-limits to their own guided groups due to downwelling risk — it is strictly for highly experienced divers. Maratua Seaview Resort operators report occasional sightings of whale sharks and mola-mola at the channel mouth.

Marine Life

• Chevron barracuda (Sphyraena qenie) — schools reported in the thousands
• Grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, and oceanic black-tip sharks
• Hammerhead sharks (periodic)
• Big-eye jackfish (Caranx sexfasciatus) in dense aggregations
• Yellowfin tuna, rainbow runners, and surgeonfish
• Eagle rays and manta rays passing in current
• Giant groupers and Napoleon wrasse on the channel walls
• Schooling fusiliers, sergeant fish, and batfish

Dive Profile

Divers position at the channel junction at approximately 27–30 metres where pelagic traffic is greatest. The channel itself exceeds recreational depth limits and is not entered. A reef hook allows stationary observation in the current. Bottom time at depth is limited by the physical exertion of fighting or managing strong currents. Visibility is typically excellent in the open channel — 20–40 metres in good conditions.

Entry and Exit

Boat dive only. The crossing from Sangalaki is approximately 70 km and requires a long liveaboard leg or multi-hour speedboat journey. Timing the dive to tidal exchange is critical; local guides at Maratua-based operators assess current conditions before any dive here. Exit is by ascending the wall away from the channel and surfacing for pickup — an SMB is essential.

Tips

• A reef hook is essential equipment — without one, divers cannot station themselves in the current safely.
• ONLY dive this site with a guide who has direct, current knowledge of conditions on the day.
• At least 100 logged dives, including significant drift-diving experience, is a sensible minimum — Scuba Junkie Sangalaki considers this site too high-risk for their guided groups.
• The site is most productive during strong tidal exchange — your guide will know the optimal window.

Safety Considerations

This is one of the most challenging dive sites in the Derawan Archipelago. Scuba Junkie Sangalaki explicitly describes the currents as potentially causing “dangerous downwellings and whirlpools” and states that medical evacuation takes over 3 hours. Do not attempt this site without extensive drift-diving experience and appropriate guide support. PADI Advanced Open Water with a reef hook and dive computer is the absolute minimum certification.

Photography

Big Fish Country offers some of the most dramatic wide-angle underwater photography in Kalimantan — tornado barracuda formations and shark silhouettes against blue channel water. A reef hook allows hands-free shooting while stationary. Clear water and strong ambient light at 27–30 metres make natural light photography viable with fast glass.

Site Information

• Location: Maratua Island (north channel entrance), Derawan Archipelago, East Kalimantan, Indonesia
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Drift dive
• Difficulty Level: Advanced
• Maximum Depth: 30 meters

Additional Resources

• Last Updated: 2026-05-17

Sources: Scuba Junkie Sangalaki – Diving Maratua, PADI – Big Fish Country, Maratua Seaview Resort – The Dives, Bluewater Dive Travel – Derawan Islands, ZuBlu – Maratua Island. Last updated 2026-06-27.