Blue Light Cave

Blue Light Cave is an advanced cave dive site along the southern coast of Kakaban Island in the Derawan Archipelago, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Overview

Blue Light Cave is one of the most technically demanding dive sites in the Derawan Archipelago — a multi-chamber cave system carved into Kakaban Island’s limestone base along its southern wall. The cave entrance sits just below the surface (approximately 2 metres at low tide), leading into a narrow vertical chimney that divers descend to a large cavern at 21 metres. The cavern bottom lies at approximately 30 metres, and the primary exit is a vertical crack in the wall at 44 metres; a second, narrower exit passage leads out at approximately 64 metres and is recommended only for technical divers. The horizontal swim along the cave ceiling extends approximately 120 metres. The cave’s name derives from the blue ambient light that filters through the chimney and entrance crevices, creating luminous visual effects within the chamber. Multiple sources confirm the standard recreational exit at 44 metres and the technical exit at 64 metres; the external wall drops to approximately 250 metres. Only experienced divers with cave or cavern credentials should attempt the deeper exits.

Marine Life

• Groupers sheltering in the chimney
• Tuna and jacks visible in the blue at cave entrance
• Barracuda and manta rays occasionally passing the outer wall
• Limited reef fish inside the cavern, as light is restricted
• Potential for sharks on the adjacent external wall

Dive Profile

The approach follows the south wall of Kakaban from the boat drop. The chimney entrance at 2 metres is narrow and requires controlled buoyancy for entry. Descent through the chimney reaches the main cavern at 21 metres; the cavern bottom is at 30 metres. Divers can exit at 44 metres through the primary exit crack, or continue to the secondary exit at approximately 64 metres — the latter for technical divers only. The horizontal swim along the cave ceiling is approximately 120 metres. Current inside the cave is low; the external wall can have stronger flow. Visibility inside is good — 10 to 30 metres.

Entry and Exit

Boat dive only, requiring a 20–30 minute crossing from Sangalaki. Entry is from the surface down the chimney; the standard exit is through the primary crack at 44 metres, or back up the chimney if divers choose not to proceed to the exit. The secondary exit at 64 metres is for technical divers only. AOW certification with deep dive specialty is the minimum requirement for the standard route; cave certification is strongly recommended for the deeper exit passage.

Tips

• Dive this site at low tide when the entrance chimney is at its shallowest and most accessible.
• Carry a primary torch and a backup — the cavern interior is dark beyond the entrance zone.
• Assess gas supplies conservatively before the dive; there is no emergency exit mid-cave.
• The deeper secondary exit at approximately 64 metres is for technical divers only — the passage is narrow and the depth creates significant decompression obligation.

Safety Considerations

This is an advanced-to-technical dive site. The primary exit at 44 metres already pushes standard recreational limits; the secondary exit at 64 metres is well beyond recreational certification for most divers. PADI Advanced Open Water with deep dive specialty is the minimum for the standard route; cave certification and technical training are required for the deeper exit. The cave’s remoteness — medical evacuation from Kakaban takes over 3 hours — makes self-sufficiency essential. Never exceed certification limits inside a cave system.

Photography

The blue ambient light filtering through the chimney creates striking atmospheric shots. A wide-angle lens captures the scale of the main cavern, while a torch at the edge of the frame creates dramatic “torch beam” imagery. External wall photography is rewarding for pelagic encounters at the cave mouth.

Site Information

• Location: Kakaban Island, Derawan Archipelago, East Kalimantan, Indonesia
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Cave/cavern
• Difficulty Level: Advanced
• Maximum Depth: 44 meters

Additional Resources

• Last Updated: 2026-05-17

Sources: Wannadive – Blue Light Cave, Asia Dive Site – Kakaban, Scuba Junkie Sangalaki – Diving Kakaban, Starfish.ch – Kalimantan Diving. Last updated 2026-06-27.