Meet the Team
About Maratua Dive Resort
Every dive at Maratua is led by people who know these waters intimately — guides who have spent years exploring the reefs of Maratua, Kakaban, and Sangalaki.
At Maratua Dive Resort, your experience underwater is in the hands of people who have spent years — in some cases, decades — diving the very reefs you’ll visit. Our guides know the currents, the seasonal marine life, and the hidden corners of these waters in a way that only comes from living and working here.
Every member of our team is from Maratua itself. Beyond supporting the close-knit community of this remote island, this means the people looking after you carry an intimacy with these waters that no amount of training elsewhere can replicate.
Meet our core team
The people behind your stay — from the water to the kitchen.
Arief
Resort Director
Arief has spent over two decades in hospitality, including time as General Manager at a dive resort in the region before taking on his current role. He is also the Resort Director of Borneo Cottage Maratua, our sister property which has been welcoming guests since 2017. Originally from Sulawesi, he met his wife on Maratua Island and has called it home ever since. His deep roots here and long career in the area mean guests are in experienced, trusted hands from the moment they arrive. Like many Indonesians, Arief goes by a single name.
Amir
General Manager
Amir manages the resort’s day-to-day operations while remaining an active PADI Instructor, personally training local staff to become the next generation of DiveMasters at Maratua. He has been diving these waters for over two decades, rising from DiveMaster to General Manager through experience alone. His knowledge of Maratua, Kakaban, and Sangalaki — their currents, seasonal visitors, and best sites — is unmatched in the region.
Kamaruddin
Operations Manager/Divemaster
Originally from Sulawesi, Kamaruddin keeps the resort running behind the scenes — coordinating boat schedules, managing facilities, and making sure every dive day runs on time. He is also a certified PADI DiveMaster, stepping in to lead dives and support the dive team whenever needed.
Refli
Divemaster
Refli recently joined the Maratua family as a Divemaster, bringing fresh energy to the team. We look forward to sharing more of his story as he grows into these remarkable waters.
Taupik
Divemaster
Taupik is a dedicated member of our dive team with a quiet focus on keeping every guest safe and making sure no interesting marine life goes unnoticed.
Alda
Reservation & Front Office Manager
Alda is your first point of contact and your last. She manages guest communications, coordinates arrivals, and oversees housekeeping to make sure your room is always ready and welcoming. If you have a question before you arrive or a request during your stay, Alda is who to ask.
Jainuri
Chef
Jainuri grew up in Teluk Harapan, one of Maratua’s five villages, and has been cooking professionally for over two decades. His food is grounded in the flavours he has known his whole life — an authentically local presence in the kitchen that no amount of training elsewhere can quite replicate.
Lisa
Chef
Lisa runs the kitchen and makes sure everyone is well-fed and energised after long days in the water. Her menus draw from Indonesian home cooking and broader Asian cuisines, with something to satisfy every appetite.
Our Sister Property
Borneo Cottage Maratua has been welcoming guests to Maratua Island since 2017. Set within Teluk Harapan, one of the island’s five villages, it sits closer to the heart of local island life and is offered at a lower price point than this resort. The same ownership oversees both properties.
Guests who prefer a village setting and easy access to the local community will find Borneo Cottage Maratua a good fit. Maratua Dive Resort, by contrast, is deliberately tucked away from the village — quiet, secluded, and facing west over open water.
Thank you for choosing us. We look forward to diving into this journey with you!