Derawan & Sangalaki · Indonesia · Wall · Cave & cavern
Pala Pala
Reef sharks resting on the sand inside the cave
Area photo: Fahrian44 · CC BY-SA 4.0
An extended wall with a large cave cut into it, dived at 36.8 m. That depth is the whole shape of the dive: it is hard to do properly on a single tank and gas has to be held back for a decompression stop. Reef sharks are always inside the cave, lying on the sand bed until divers come through the entrance.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Derawan & Sangalaki and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The dive is an extended wall with a large cave set into it, and the entrance is wide enough that finding it is not the problem — managing the depth is. The site is dived at 36.8 m, which is hard to do properly on a single tank, so the gas plan is made on the surface and includes enough reserve to sit out a decompression stop at the end rather than surfacing straight off the wall.
Take a good primary light and a backup into the cave; past the entrance there is nothing else to see by. Reef sharks are always inside, usually lying on the sand bed, and they move off as divers come through the opening, so the encounter is a short one near the mouth rather than time spent among them. The wall is what is left for the way back, worked shallow while the reserve gas holds.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Derawan & Sangalaki: April–October dry season gives the clearest water and most reliable manta encounters at Sangalaki.
Know before you go
- At 36.8 m the dive runs close to decompression limits: it is hard to do on a single tank, and gas has to be reserved for a stop before the ascent.
- The cave is an overhead environment — a good-quality primary light and a backup are needed, not optional.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Pala Pala?+
It is dived at 36.8 m. That is deep enough that a single tank is a stretch for the site, and that the plan has to hold back gas for a decompression stop at the end.
Sources
- Pala Pala — Scubago
More dive sites in Derawan & Sangalaki
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Muck & macro
Mandarinfish at dusk, then straight into the night dive
Similar dives elsewhere
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