Manta rays
Year-round.
Ipin17 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Griff88 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nanosanchez — CC BY-SA 4.0
A small uninhabited white-sand island in the Derawan archipelago, world-famous for giant manta rays that feed in its waters almost year-round, making it one of Asia's best places to see mantas, whose wingspan can exceed four metres, gliding calmly near the surface. Boats search for mantas in the waters around the island, and when one is spotted visitors slip in to snorkel quietly beside it. The island has a turtle conservation post where green turtle eggs are protected and hatchlings released to the sea, a release visitors can sometimes watch. There is usually no fee to land, and the boat from Derawan is shared with a group. Manta sightings are not guaranteed but very common. Do not touch or chase the mantas, keep your distance and follow the guide's instructions. The island is usually combined with Kakaban and Maratua on a day trip.
Year-round.
Hatchling releases.
White sand.
Derawan archipelago, about an hour by boat from Derawan
No: they often swim near the surface and can be seen snorkelling, sometimes even from the boat.