Welcome to Sabah Islands in Malaysia
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Welcome to our islands !
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Each private villa is rough hewn and
hand-crafted, terraced into the hillside reflecting the traditional
simplicity of the Borneo architectural style with comforts for sophisticated
and discerning luxury traveller. Location : Malohom Bay, Gaya Island, Tunku Abdul, Rahman Park Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. |
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Nested into the lush tropical wildness of ancient and dense Dipterocarp forest. Gayana offers a rare glimpse into a primordial jungle. Caressed by the gently, lapping of the South China Sea, visitors will come to an understanding of the fragility of perfection. Gayana Island Eco Resort located on Pulau Gaya has a Giant Clam Rehabilitation Centre and also run a 'Reef Project'. This island in Sabah has a coral growth nursery and conduct clam induced spawning. Giant clams are one of the many marine species to have demised around Sabah in recent years. University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) run an extensive marine research program especially into alternative marine culture programs designed to reduce fishing intensity from Sabah's coral reefs. Giant clams, groupers and Napoleon wrasse are some of the subjects grown and bred in specialized farms. They also run a whale shark research program, each year when the whale sharks pass through the waters close to Kota Kinabalu they attempt to tag the sharks to document their migration routes. Each year, PADI Project Aware beach and reef cleaning events are run to heighten public awareness in the importance of a clean marine environment. This has become a popular event with all the Dive Resorts and local people participating. Gayana Island EcoResort has 44 quaint chalets, seafood restaurant, reef rehabilitation research centre, environmental interpretation centre and a beachside bar. It also offers the visitors the unspoiled ambience of island life in such splendid, tantalizing and enlightening style. Here you can also sit on your private deck and listen to the squawking of the hornbill, watch the soaring of the magnificent sea hawk or scrutiny the flurry life of marine animals swimming beneath you. |
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Banggi Island The biggest island of Sabah is Banggi Island located at the north of Kudat Town (area of 440.7 square kilometers) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banggi_Island This island is also the largest island in Malaysia followed by Betruit Island, Langkawi Island and Penang Island. Village people on this island are mostly fishermen and farmers who live a tranquil and simple lifestyle. |
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Sabah Islands in Malaysia What makes Malaysia so unique for diving is the geographical position, being in the centre of the richest marine resources in the world. The ocean's currents caused by the Coriolis effect, carry with it the nutrients and food required for the growth of many species of corals & plants resulting in a fantastic reef system of hard and soft corals. It is the abundance of varied species of marine life the reef supports that draws scuba divers from the world over to our shores. Purely examining it from a diver's point of view, contributing factors to the top dive locations in Malaysia include the presence of the most unusual marine creatures, the health of the coral reef, visibility and clarity of the waters, the number of marine species it has and the experience of one's stay at the resorts in the vicinity of islands around Sabah. Sipadan, Sabah Further south off the seas of Semporna lies Sipadan, Mabul & Kapalai islands. Sipadan is Malaysia's diving haven. Rated as the top dive destination of the world, it has since applied for the World Heritage Site status. Free of dive operators, the island is now maintained by Sabah Parks. This unique outcrop yoometres from the ocean floor, has provided a sanctuary for more than 3000 species offish, including Grey Reef Sharks, Great Barracudas, Eagle Rays, Hammerhead Sharks and Manta Rays just to name a few, with scores of colourful Anthias and Butterfly Fishes set to be your eye candy as you comb the reef along the walls. The ever present currents on both sides of the island, challenges the diver to drift along or nn alongside the almost stationary school of Jacks or the whirling barracudas in numbers exceeding a thousand. On the more shallow reefs near the surface, drifting along with the numerous Sweetlips and Surgeonnsh with almost perfect visibility makes you feel like you are in a borderless aquarium. Mabul, Sabah About 10 minutes away by speedboat, you would find the Bajaus and sea gypsies' inhabited island of Mabul, where five resorts make their base. All of these resorts offer world class service to make your surface interval truly remarkable. It is an open secret that Mabul houses at least three species of seahorses and innumerable species of nudibranchs that have won the hearts of photographers the world over. New species are discovered regularly, some unnamed while some are seasonal. Here you would find the affable Aplysia Sea Hare with the biggest nerve cells rummaging through the sea grass beds of Mabul's dive site. Kapalai, Sabah On the fringing sandbanks of Kapalai, lies a treasure trove of marine marvels that would captivate you and perhaps, cause you to go into decompression diving for staying too long underwater after repetitively going back to the same site! The bizarre antics of critters in Kapalai would leave you in awe as mantis shrimps dart in and out of their burrows in the busy afternoons totally ignoring your presence, your huge dome port and robotic arms of your strobes. Allied cowries that roam freely with their pretty mantles as if there wasn't a predator in the ocean and decorator crabs that would pick a fight with your steel pointer as you uncover them to show your buddy. Nudibranchs are aplenty here. The Solar-Powered Nudib ranch (phyllodesmium longicirrum) derived its common name from the algae that reside in its mantle and ceratas, photosynthesis- ing and manufacturing food for the sea slug. They usually grow to about 12. —170111 and it's a sight to behold. If you search the rubble of lettuce corals and such in Kapalai, chances are, you might find yourself the biggest Solar Powered Nudib ranch in the region! Roach Reefs, Tawau, Sabah Not too far off is the man-made island of Roach Reefs. This 'furthest reef off Tawau has an interesting past, having sunk six disused buses to be artificial reefs in one of the dive sites. The island was once used as a stopover for anglers, this place has since turned into a dive resort. One of the sites has an endless field of table corals with big fishes queuing at cleaning stations to be cleaned. From Harlequin Sweetlips to whirling barracudas, the maximum depth here does not exceed ^4 metres. Superb coral life and the presence of a school of huge bumphead parrotfash makes the scene very much like that of the oceanic Sipadan. The six buses are located at Bus Stop, where you can find thousands of fish congregating to go to school! Some does not alight from these buses at all while some move from one bus to another. The currents here are quite a challenge. Keeping pace with the grouper within require you to hold on to the structure in order to save your air but it doesn't prevent you from the attention of nosy remoras. Orang Utan Crabs will peek from their nooks in between Bubble Corals to see you looking for them while the Titan Trigger awaits your homecoming as you surface to swim back to shore from your dawn dive. Layang Layang, Sabah Further north of the Luconia Shoals off Borneo, lies the atoll of Layang Layang, once called Swallow Reefs. Located 30okm offKota Kinabalu, Sabah, the reef wall drops to an amazing 2,000 metres down to the ocean floor. It is home to thousands of migratory birds, a haven to large pelagic ftsh such as grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, hammerheads as well as large schools of barracudas and mackerels and many turtles. Exceptional visibility on reefs so pristine that giant clams here grow to the size able to envelop a human being. There is lagoon in the middle of the atoll, about ^om deep for the enjoyment of night dives and smaller critters. Tenggol, Terengganu On the east coast of the peninsula, at the South China Sea, the most untouched island ofTenggol, continues to mystify divers with the pristine and dense coral gardens fringing the island. Beautiful crinoids emerge with the currents to grip barrel sponges as large as life while Tiger Cowries forage in the surrounding habitat for food. With the myriad of coral species available here, accompanying them are the multicoloured nudibranchs which lay their egg ribbons on the rocks and under-hangs of crevices. The Octopus is almost a regular feature of any dive at Gua Rajawali dive site while schools of tunas seek shelter during rough seas. Come migration season of May- September, whale sharks and manta rays make their way inward to the bay of Tenggol and off Tokong Timur where they are usually encountered. Several wrecks make interesting dive sites for the adventurous, with crockery left behind, they leave a tale waiting to be told. Tioman, Pahang Further south, the volcanic island of Tioman has never failed to draw in divers from neighbouring countries, to take pleasure in discovering all that it has to offer. Wrecks and artificial reefs acting as nsh aggregators have populated the natural reefs with so much marine life that not running into one is impossible. Everywhere you dive, you will be swarmed with fish and pelagics. In the sandy rubble fringing the reef, you may find the ugliest and most hideous fish, testing all your senses of admiration for this weird, spiny creature, the Devil Scorpionftsh. A predator that lies in wait for the next juicy meal that swims by, with the piercing of the spines filled with neuro-toxins which would will immobilise the fish to be devoured. Dayang and Aur, Johor These two islands are very close by, possibly broken apart from the continental shift hundreds of years ago. Very good visibility, this place has one of the most challenging dive sites in the east coast with swift currents and pelagics at almost every turn. Cuttlefish seem to abound here, without any fear of divers approaching. Nudibranchs are fat and spongy from the abundance of food available in the corals. The migration of the whale sharks and manta rays could be seen in the waters here after they move from Tenggol to Tioman before stopping over at Dayang and Aur. There was a World War 2, fighter plane that crashed into the ocean which turned into a wreck dive site but over time, those who knew of the dive site are nowhere to be found but only pictures prove of their existence till this day. Whichever destination you choose, you are only limited by your sense of adventure. Even in a place where you dive frequently, there are new things to discover and new species to be found if you care enough to document them. Especially when Malaysia sits on the nursery ground of the region and have a consistent flow of nutrients feeding the reef, you will not be short of thrilling sights. The marvel of the ocean does not end with the last dive but increases as you plan for the next. |
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Beginning life some 450-500 million years ago, the Earth's coral
reefs are now the largest ecosystem upon the planet. They sustain and support
over 1 million species worldwide and one coral reef alone may harbor some 3000
species. The major Indo-Pacific ocean currents cross the seas that surround
Sabah's sandy shores making them amongst the most bio-diverse marine
environments in the world. Within a single dive around
Pulau Layang Layang divers may observe many
of the 150 species of butterfly fish. Used by marine biologists as indicators of
coral reef health, the greater the number and species diversity of butterfly
fish reflects the abundance and diversity of corals. Pulau Layang Layang's
pristine coral reef not only plays landlord to countless butterfly fish but also
other reef dwellers such as, angelfish, snappers, wrasse, sweet lips, parrotfish
as well as the larger pelagic; barracuda, manta, schools of hammerhead sharks,
dolphins and whales. Pulau Sipadan is
famous for its vast numbers of Green and Hawksbill turtles which feed and breed
within its waters before the females climb ashore to lay their eggs above the
white sandy beaches. Around north Sabah and the more recent discovered Mantanani Resort rare sightings of dugongs have been recorded. With the yearly occurrence of whale sharks along the west coast during the months of December to February, Sabah really has some spectacular marine creatures to be discovered by visiting divers. Sabah and its surrounding waters have been recognized as a
marine turtle sanctuary since the opening of the
Turtle Island Parks on its
east coast. Managed by Sabah Parks, the beaches welcome nesting green and
hawksbill turtles every night all year round. Similarly, the Wildlife Department
monitors and protects nesting green and hawksbill turtles that visit Pulau
Sipadan's shores. On nearby Pulau Mabul,
the Fisheries Department together with Sipadan Mabul had sunk hundreds of
concrete pipes to form small artificial patch reefs surrounding a small wooden
shipwreck. A fish poaching vessel was also sunk off the island of
Pulau Lankayan and already hosts a myriad
of creatures from the smallest ghost pipefish to the giant stingrays and
schooling barracuda. |
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Getting There
: Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia provide direct flights
from Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru to Tawau.
At the new Tawau airport you are picked up by an
air-condition minivan and transferred 1.5 hours to the
Semporna Town. From Semporna all operators bring their guests by speedboat to the islands. Following traveling times occurs: · Semporna Town - Mabul Island 30 Minutes · Semporna Town - Kapalai Island 45 Minutes · Semporna Town - Sipadan Island 60 Minutes · Mabul Island - Sipadan Island 20 Minutes · Kapalai Island - Sipadan Island 15 Minutes · Mabul Island - Kapalai Island 5 Minutes |
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Island - Sandakan region |
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Though physically close to Sipadan, the diving at Mabul Island is completely different |
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This small paradise island, with stretches of white sandy beaches, swaying casuarina pines and beautiful sunsets is another island with only one dive resort...... |
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Kinarut (near Kota Kinabalu) |
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Island - Kota Kinabalu region |
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 In the Bajau language, "semporna" means, "perfect". This town with its feet in the sea, Semporna
sea side town and its many islands are like a dream come true
for ocean
lovers... pure white sandy beaches, coconut palms and tranquil waters lapping over
colorful reefs in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Sulawesi Sea.
The richness of the ocean, marine life with fishes of all kinds, sea cucumbers, shells, pearls and seaweed farming - all these have attracted seafarers and fisher-folks to Semporna and its islands. |
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Island - Labuan region |
Islands of Sabah
| There are many rare and endangered sea creatures such as the green and hawksbill turtles, napoleon wrasse, giant clams as well as countless species of sharks and schools of thousands of barracuda and jacks. Sabah is not only known for its reef’s larger inhabitants but and also as a ‘muck diving’ paradise with such rarities as the mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, mandarinfish, harlequin ghost pipefish, seahorses, ribbon eels, plus many types of weird and wonderful frogfish and nudibranches. |
| Klias Peninsular River Cruise, Borneo Dinawan Island Resort; Pulau Tiga Resort; Tabin Wildlife; Langkayan Island Resort and Sandakan English Tea House. |
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Meleca |
Pahang |
Penang |
Perak |
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Terengganu |
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External Links : |
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SEMPORNA ISLANDS PARK ACTION PLAN 2001-2005 : |
http://www.mcsuk.org/semporna/actionplan/actionplan.htm |
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Safeguard Semporna's exceptionally high level of marine biodiversity : |
http://www.dive-the-world.com |
| Map of dive sites in Sabah | http://www.starfish.ch/dive/Borneo.html |
| A new diving frontier in the Sulu Sea | http://lankayan-island.com/ |
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Island - Kota Kinabalu region |
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Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Parkrk 20 minutes by speed boat from KK city < CHINESE version > |
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Welcome to Tanjung Simpang Mengayau - A new tourist attractions of Malaysia Simpang Mengayau is most
northern tip of Borneo Island. This is the meeting point of the
Sulu Sea and South China Sea. Northward from this area, is the
southern part of the province of Palawan in the Philippines. Welcome to the meeting point of the sea pirates...... |
