01
Diving + Conservation
8D / 7N · Ocean Gardener cert
- 21 guided fun dives across Maratua's reefs
- Coral restoration sessions & reef monitoring
- 10 corals planted in your name
- All meals & Berau airport coordination
In Nature We Are One
GaiaOne crafts regenerative experiences designed to protect and nourish nature — and ourselves. Every dive you take plants new coral, funds research, and helps restore one of Earth's most biodiverse ecosystems.
The mission · Why coral reefs matter
Dive deep into
conservation that holds.
Daily reef dives, coral planting and ocean monitoring that make a measurable difference underwater — earning your GaiaOne Ocean Gardener certification along the way.
10
Corals planted in your name on the reef
100%
Of dive proceeds fund coral restoration
1 day
Ocean Gardener course certification included
“Coral conservation is a marathon, not a sprint.” GaiaOne · In Nature We Are One
25%of marine species depend on coral reefs for survival
500Mpeople rely on reefs for food & livelihood
75%of reefs face immediate risk from climate change
Pricing · Expedition packages
One ocean.
Two ways to meet it.
8 days · 7 nights at Borneo Cottage, Maratua. Just six places per track — six divers and six freedivers — for an intentionally intimate group.
02
Freediving Retreat
8D / 7N · No certification required
- 21 guided freedives across all zones
- Daily breathwork & depth technique
- Ocean mindfulness programme
- Jellyfish Lake & whale shark excursion
Dive destinations · Maratua
The Turtle Capital
of Indonesia.
Three island systems, one expedition. Boat dives only — strong currents, pristine walls, and hundreds of green sea turtles nesting and gliding.
- 01Turtle Traffic
- 02The Channel
- 03Lighthouse & Fusilier
- 04Gorgonzola
- 05Jellyfish Lake · Kakaban
- 06Blue Cave
8 Days · 7 Nights
Your week
beneath the surface.
01Arrival
Berau → Maratua
Transfer from Berau Airport · 3 hr boat to Borneo Cottage · resort orientation · equipment check & check dive · welcome dinner.
02Maratua
Three dives · the warm-up
Turtle Traffic · Fusilier Paradise · Cabbage Coral. Evening dinner on the oceanfront.
03Maratua
Walls & a night dive
Lighthouse Reef · Gorgonzola · Night Dive. Big-fish territory in the deep blue.
04Kakaban
Jellyfish Lake
Outer reef wall · Barracuda Point · Blue Cave · swim in the landlocked Jellyfish Lake · Discovery Coral Workshop.
05The Channel
Current Dives
The Channel ×2 · Gorgonzola · review your planted corals · farewell dinner.⚠ Adv OW + 50 dives
06Sangalaki
Turtle nesting grounds
Boat to Sangalaki · reef dive over the nesting ground · Sangalaki Wall · dinner.
07Dry day
Coral course & whale sharks
Optional sunrise whale-shark excursion · Intro to Coral Course + planting activity · Water Caves excursion.
08Departure
Safe travels
Breakfast · check-out · 3 hr boat to Berau Jetty · transfer to Kalimarau Airport. Book flights 11 AM or later.
01Arrival
No diving · arrive & breathe
Transfer from Berau · 3 hr boat to Maratua · orientation · breathwork intro session · welcome dinner.
02Maratua
First freedives
Breathwork session · House Reef orientation · Turtle Traffic · Cabbage Coral on breath-hold.
03Maratua
Depth & technique
Morning breathwork · depth technique · Fusilier Paradise · static apnea practice · Hanging Garden · village walk.
04Kakaban
Jellyfish Lake
Outer reef walls · Barracuda Point · swim in the landlocked Jellyfish Lake · ocean meditation.
05Maratua
Water caves
Fresh-water cave excursion · lunch · jetty jumping & House Reef freedive.
06Sangalaki
Walls & spinner dolphins
Sangalaki reef · Sangalaki Wall · whale-shark watching opportunity · spinner-dolphin spotting.
07Whale sharks
Giants & coral
Whale-shark excursion · lunch · Intro to Coral Course + coral-planting activity.
08Departure
Safe travels
Breakfast · check-out · 3 hr boat to Berau Jetty · transfer to the airport.
Accommodation · All 7 nights
Borneo Cottage,
Maratua Island.
Private oceanfront cottages with balcony, en-suite bathroom and the Borneo Dive Centre on-site — your home base between dives.
- Ocean-view balcony
- En-suite bathroom
- Fresh meals daily · vegan options
- Fan & mosquito nets
- Oceanfront common areas
- Coffee, tea & water
Every expedition includes
No surprises. Just the ocean.
Airport transfers
Berau/Tarakan pickup & all boat transfers between islands.
7 nights' stay
Oceanfront cottage at Borneo Cottage, Maratua.
All meals daily
Breakfast, lunch & dinner throughout — vegan options.
21 guided dives
Across Maratua, Kakaban, Sangalaki & The Channel.
Coral conservation
Restoration sessions & GaiaOne Ocean Gardener cert.
10 corals adopted
Planted in your name on the reef.
Whale shark excursion
Sunrise swim alongside gentle giants at the bagans.
GaiaOne memento
Expedition t-shirt to take the mission home.
Not included: marine park fees · equipment rental · gratuities · harbour fees · flights to Tarakan/Berau · travel insurance.
The film · 90 seconds
See it before
you feel it.
A short descent through Maratua — reef, restoration and the deep blue.
Share the mission
Send a reel to a dive buddy — help fund the reef.From past travellers
Six strangers.
One reef. A crew for life.
Small groups, real conservation work, and the kind of diving you plan the next year around.
“I came for the diving and left changed. Planting coral you'll see grow for years — nothing else has come close.”
“No certification, never freedived before. The breathwork coaching was so patient — by day three I was gliding over the reef.”
“Turtles everywhere, the tiniest group, and a team that genuinely cares about the ocean. Booking the next one already.”
100% of dive proceeds fund coral restoration
Guided by certified dive & freediving instructors
In partnership with Borneo Dive Centre
Secure checkout via Xendit
Be part of the change
Reserve your place.
Only six spots.
Join a select group of conservation-minded travellers on a Maratua expedition that transforms both reefs and lives.
- Reserve your spotSecure your place — limited to 6 participants per expedition.
- Pre-expedition briefingReceive preparation materials, kit list & gear recommendations.
- Transform the reefDive, plant and restore — leave Maratua changed forever.
Maratua · 26 Nov – 4 Dec 2026USD
Only 4 of 6 places left
Which expedition?
Held 2 years as credit
Balance due later
Secure Xendit checkout
Early-bird US$1,899 until 1 Sept (US$2,299 after). Secure checkout via Xendit; prices in USD, charged in IDR at today's rate. Dorm option −$200 · min. 2 pax. Restoration & certification by our partner Ocean Gardener. Not included: marine park & harbour fees, equipment rental, gratuities.
Good to know
Questions, answered.
Do I need to be a certified diver?
Only for the Diving + Conservation expedition, which needs an Open Water certification (a few advanced sites such as The Channel ask for Advanced Open Water + 50 logged dives). The Freediving Retreat needs no certification at all.
I've never dived before — can I still come?
Absolutely. Choose the Freediving Retreat — it welcomes all levels, with daily coaching that builds you up gently. Not sure what fits? Book a quick call and we'll match you to the right track.
How fit do I need to be?
You should be comfortable in the water and in reasonable general health. Some Maratua dives have current, so we tailor the daily plan to your level and experience. If you have any concerns, tell us on a call — we'll be honest about fit.
What's included — and what isn't?
Included: 7 nights' oceanfront stay at Borneo Cottage, all meals daily, 21 guided dives, all boat & airport transfers, coral conservation sessions with your Ocean Gardener certification, a whale-shark excursion and a GaiaOne memento. Not included: marine park & harbour fees, equipment rental, gratuities, flights to Tarakan/Berau and travel insurance.
How does the deposit work?
The $500 deposit secures your place and is non-refundable — but we hold your booking for two years, so you can put it toward any other retreat, trip or dive package we organise. The balance is due closer to departure. Prefer to arrange it personally? Book a call and we'll walk you through it.
How do I get to Maratua?
Fly into Berau (Kalimarau) or Tarakan in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. We coordinate your airport pickup and the ~3-hour boat transfer out to Borneo Cottage on Maratua Island — and back again at the end.
How large is the group?
Each departure runs two intimate groups side by side — six scuba divers and six freedivers, for twelve guests in total. With only six places per track, spots for the 26 Nov – 4 Dec 2026 departure go quickly.
Questions first?
Book a call
with the team.
Pick a time that suits you. Tell us how to reach you and a GaiaOne guide will be in touch personally — no bots, no pressure.
- Talk through certification, fitness & logistics
- Tailor an expedition to your level
- Ask anything about the conservation work
Not ready to commit?
Stay in the loop.
Join the interest list — we'll send the full details and let you know as the six places fill.