SWIM WITH STINGLESS JELLYFISH
Kakaban Island, Maratua Atoll
Girthed by ragged limestone cliffs and kaleidoscopic coral reefs,
faraway Kakaban Island harbours a rare evolutionary secret, deep
within its jungly interior. Hidden from the world and cut off from
the sea, a vast inland lake almost as big as the island itself pulses
with jellyfish, shimmering and swarming in numbers
unimaginable.
Although it seems like poor judgement I take the plunge,
pushing off into the deep and f linching as jellyfish swirl around
my ankles and bump my mask, slipping and sliding along my bare
arms, outnumbering me by thousands.
But there’s nothing to fear here because Kakaban’s jellyfish are
stingless.
The island hangs off the magnificent coral fringe of Maratua
Atoll, located a couple of hours by speedboat from Indonesian
Borneo. Book yourself a stilt cabana stretched out over sea and
spend your days eyeballing manta rays, drifting with green sea
turtles, and pin diving into deep limestone sea caves.
The essentials: Fly from Jakarta, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur
to Balikpapan and onto Berau, then take a speedboat to Maratua.
Charter a boat for the day-trip to nearby Kakaban. Visit from June
to September and bring snorkelling gear, sunscreen and cash.
Maratua Guesthouse and Nouri Cottages are solid beachfront
choices.
