It has been a while since our last dive and filming destination post, ………. time just flies by!

However, we recently found ourselves back in Indonesia, just off the East coast of Borneo. After almost 40 hours of travel, including 4 commercial flights, with extended layovers in Singapore and Berau, a taxi ride and a three hour speedboat transfer, we arrived at an incredible tropical destination named Nabucco Island Resort.

THE RESORT

From our very first inquiry email almost 12 months earlier, to Dara, the INCREDIBLE resort manageress, it was clear that this was a professionally run and super efficient resort.

Dara was super clear and helpful with all aspects of our booking, and all the way through to the seamless transfers and our arrival at the paradise Nabucco Resort.

What an amazing place, from the "oh so yummy" food ( note: we are both vegetarians and Yusuf and his team created incredible varied dishes for us), to Florian always sorting out our meal plans and drinks.

There are a number of dive resorts and home stays in the Derawan Islands area and the owners of Nabucco Resort, and Extra Divers, also have two other resorts in the area. Extra Divers do the vast majority of their marketing in Europe, unlike most of the other resorts in the area, who market extensively in East Asia.

THE DIVING

A big shout-out to Ivan and his team at the professionally run dive center, for being so accommodating.

In the water, our fabulous dive guide Hadie, spotting filming subjects way before we did, having our backs at all times and always smiling, even when carrying our large cameras. On the dive boat, Captain Rusdi and Kirwan assisted endlessly and to ALL the Nabucco staff for making our dive holiday absolutely fantastic.

As for the diving itself, we chose this destination for it’s pelagics and BIG schools of fish. After all, this is BIG FISH COUNTRY and known for it’s channels and deep water.

Hadie, our very competent and friendly dive guide, got to show us Grey Reef Sharks, enormous schools of Baracuda and Big Eyed Jacks, bigger than we have ever seen before, huge Rays, endless Green and Hawsbill turtles and schools of Bumphead Parrot fish.

…BUT THE HUGE SCHOOLS!!! …..

Not to forget our very first Leopard Shark sightings, and lots more.

The coral reefs around the Maratua area are in very good condition, with an amazing diversity of healthy and colourful hard and soft corals, making this area a paradise for Snorkelers as well.

Other sightings while we were there, but unfortunately not seen by us, where Schools of Hammerheads, white tip Reef Sharks, and Thresher sharks.

In between all this “Big Fish Country” Hudi found Cuttlefish, Orangutang Crabs, PygmySeahorses and numerous Nudibranchs.

The day trip to Kakaban Jelly fish lake was most enjoyable and included three incredible dives on some pristine reefs, with turtles, Barracuda and more sharks.

What a wonderful adventure it was

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN!

To Dara, Ivan and the happy team at Nabucco Island Resort, we can not wait to return with a fun filled dive group of friends in the near future. SOON!