North Sangalou

North Sangalou is a reef dive site in the Derawan Archipelago, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, featuring a rolling coral landscape that descends from the shallows to 40 metres.

Overview

North Sangalou is described by Scuba Junkie Sangalaki’s dive guide as a site that “surprises many with its vast, undulating reefscape” — divers descend to find a rolling coral landscape of ridges and valleys rather than the flat shelf typical of other Sangalaki area sites. The terrain drops progressively to 40 metres, though most diving occurs to 30 metres, where pelagic species patrol the outer reef. The site combines macro life in the shallower coral gardens with wider encounters deeper — white-tip reef sharks, mangrove whiprays, and blue-spotted stingrays are reported. Blue-spotted ribbontail rays (Taeniura lymma) hide in sandy gully floors between the coral ridges.

Marine Life

• White-tip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) on the deeper reef
• Mangrove whiprays and blue-spotted stingrays in sandy gullies
• Nudibranchs and flatworms throughout the coral garden
• Triggerfish, angelfish, and parrotfish on the reef face
• Fusiliers, snappers, and trevally in open water
• Moray eels in crevices along the ridge walls
• Schooling batfish in open water above the reef

Dive Profile

The rolling terrain descends from approximately 8 metres on the upper reef, dropping progressively toward the outer reef base. Scuba Junkie describes the reef as “rolling to 40m” but recommends a maximum dive depth of 30 metres — the recorded maximum depth for this site. Intermediate divers work the 15–25 metre zone where the reef rolls most dramatically. Currents are moderate; visibility in this area can reach 20–30 metres. An SMB is recommended for open-water ascents.

Entry and Exit

Boat dive only. The site is on the outer reef and typically accessed from Sangalaki-based operators as part of a multi-site day. Entry is at the reef crest; navigation follows the rolling contours.

Tips

• Spend time at 8–12 metres on the way back up — the upper reef is colourful and hosts nudibranchs and macro life that rewards slow searching.
• Check sandy gully floors at around 15–18 metres for resting blue-spotted stingrays.
• The rolling topography can disorient divers — maintain close buddy contact and check your compass heading periodically.

Safety Considerations

At 30 metres recommended maximum depth, this site is at the edge of Open Water limits. Advanced certification or equivalent experience with deep dive planning is appropriate, particularly given the outer-reef open water setting. The outer reef setting means return to the boat is via open water — deploy an SMB for all ascents.

Photography

The undulating reefscape provides unusual composition opportunities — shooting along ridgelines creates depth and leading lines in wide-angle images. Macro life (nudibranchs, shrimps) on the upper coral garden complements wide-angle pelagic shooting deeper. Good ambient light in the 15–20 metre zone supports natural light reef photography.

Site Information

• Location: Derawan Archipelago, East Kalimantan, Indonesia
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 30 meters

Additional Resources

• Last Updated: 2026-05-17

Sources: Scuba Junkie Sangalaki – Top Dive Sites Derawan, Dive The World – Sangalaki, Asia Dive Site – Sangalaki. Last updated 2026-06-27.