Explore Gaya Island

Gaya Island is a large island, which lies off the west coast Sabah State, on the island of Borneo in Malaysia. This island makes up part of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. There are multiple dive centres and dive resorts on the island which can take divers to the impressive underwater world here. It is also an ideal location to do dive courses due to calm conditions. The fact that it is located in a protected national park means that the marine life is in pristine condition, ready to be admired.

Dive Activity

Diving in Gaya Island

One of the main diving activities which happen here at Gaya Island are the dive courses. Due to the easy and relaxing conditions, this is an ideal place for novice divers to begin their diving journey. The dive centres and dive resorts offer a multitude of courses here. Underwater, there is a lot of chance for the macro lovers and macro photographers to admire the many species here. There are also multiple coral gardens and coral walls and slopes.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Gaya Island

With over 600 species of corals and 3000 species of marine fauna, every dive is guaranteed to have multiple stars of the show. Some of the species which divers could spot include Black Tip Reef Sharks, Nudibranchs, Barracuda, Tuna, Sea Stars, Crocodile Fish and Hawksbill Turtle and Green Sea Turtle. Something which divers will definitely notice here are the many schools of fish which fill the waters with colour here. The flourishing reefs here are made up of a collection of corals of all shapes and sizes, including Hard and Soft Coral, Barrel Sponges, Table Corals and Anemones and their defenders the Anemone Fish.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

237 Sightings
J
3
F
28
M
1
A
0
M
3
J
0
J
2
A
46
S
106
O
43
N
3
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

82 Sightings
J
2
F
24
M
1
A
7
M
3
J
4
J
0
A
13
S
19
O
6
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

31 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
11
S
15
O
0
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

547 Sightings
J
9
F
42
M
5
A
12
M
8
J
21
J
24
A
125
S
220
O
65
N
8
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

424 Sightings
J
2
F
64
M
57
A
46
M
12
J
6
J
4
A
57
S
155
O
18
N
2
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

409 Sightings
J
0
F
47
M
59
A
54
M
24
J
4
J
2
A
52
S
150
O
15
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

356 Sightings
J
2
F
25
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
8
J
8
A
96
S
156
O
50
N
3
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

351 Sightings
J
2
F
28
M
2
A
5
M
4
J
7
J
10
A
90
S
145
O
49
N
5
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

341 Sightings
J
0
F
51
M
63
A
61
M
26
J
8
J
3
A
37
S
83
O
9
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

328 Sightings
J
1
F
48
M
62
A
63
M
28
J
4
J
3
A
30
S
78
O
8
N
2
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

285 Sightings
J
4
F
75
M
62
A
64
M
30
J
0
J
0
A
27
S
15
O
0
N
4
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

202 Sightings
J
0
F
47
M
61
A
60
M
26
J
0
J
0
A
8
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

187 Sightings
J
3
F
25
M
0
A
1
M
2
J
3
J
7
A
46
S
60
O
34
N
4
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

187 Sightings
J
0
F
7
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
34
S
130
O
9
N
2
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

150 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
3
J
0
A
35
S
94
O
10
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

141 Sightings
J
3
F
7
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
5
J
4
A
26
S
87
O
6
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

138 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
20
S
102
O
6
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

84 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
4
M
4
J
2
J
3
A
26
S
39
O
0
N
4
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

64 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
1
A
6
M
6
J
5
J
4
A
15
S
7
O
8
N
2
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

46 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
1
A
4
M
5
J
8
J
6
A
7
S
0
O
3
N
2
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

41 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
2
A
3
M
6
J
0
J
5
A
6
S
6
O
2
N
4
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

38 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
7
S
18
O
0
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

34 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
1
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
25
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

29 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
3
J
7
J
3
A
8
S
0
O
1
N
2
D
2

The best Months to Dive in Gaya Island

The weather is warm throughout the year with temperatures between 29°C and 31°C. There is a dry and wet season, with the most rain falling between January to March but the rain is minimal. The best months to dive here are between March and October. Water temperatures are pleasant and warm ranging between 25°C and 30°C and the visibility averages around 15 metres and can reach up to 30 metres on the best days.

Dive Sites