Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine April 2018

124 Travel | Maratua Every bit as rich in biodiversity underwater as the jungles are above the surface, the reefs of Maratua island and the Derawan archipelago lie at the heart of the Coral Triangle – home to some of the world’s best diving and a staggering variety of marine life. 1 1 A jellyfish selfie at the landlocked saltwater lake on Kakaban Island – one of the few such places in the world. The waters surrounding Maratua are teeming with marine life – from graceful sea turtles to gliding mantas... Maratua and the Derawan archipelago are an island- hopper’s dream. Located just a short speedboat ride away from the rugged mainland of East Kalimantan, Maratua is a curving crescent of beautiful white sand and mangrove forests enclosing a sapphire-blue lagoon. With a total area of more than 380km 2 , this large atoll is home to only five fishing villages. The vast majority of Maratua is an untouched paradise for wildlife. migratory populations of these gentle animals. Scientists believe that the island and its nearby neighbours are among the most important nesting habitats for green sea turtles anywhere in Indonesia. Indeed, one of Maratua’s most popular dive sites is known as ‘Turtle Traffic’, due to the large congregations of sea turtles that can be found here. The waters surrounding Maratua are teeming with marine life – from graceful sea turtles to gliding mantas to a mind-boggling variety of tropical fish surpassed only by Raja Ampat and the Solomon Islands. This combination of world-class diving and picture-perfect islands has made Maratua one of Indonesia’s hottest new destinations for beach lovers, scuba divers and snorkellers. Beyond the island’s local reefs, experienced scuba divers exploring the deep channel between Maratua and Nabucco islands can find larger pelagic species such as mantas, elusive thresher sharks and eagle rays drifting along the powerful currents. Maratua is arguably one of the best places in the world to snorkel and dive with green sea turtles, due to the large resident and Accommodation on the island ranges from affordable homestay-style backpacker spots to the beautiful Maratua Paradise Resort. Built on stilts above the turquoise water, guests at the resort can enjoy the unique experience of waking up to find a green sea turtle swimming past their window.

Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine April 2018 | Page 126