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: 200

Moray Eel

209 Sightings
J
3
F
0
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: 27

Barracuda

59 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
1
A
6
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: 600

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: 28

Clownfish

509 Sightings
J
8
F
11
M
5
A
11
M
5
J
21
J
22
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: 130

Butterfly Fish

332 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
8
J
4
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: 90

Angelfish

326 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
2
A
5
M
3
J
7
J
9
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: 100

Parrotfish

257 Sightings
J
2
F
9
M
0
A
3
M
0
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: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

232 Sightings
J
0
F
7
M
0
A
0
M
0
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: 60

Soldierfish

180 Sightings
J
0
F
0
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: 250

Grouper/Basslets

165 Sightings
J
3
F
5
M
0
A
1
M
0
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: 85

Surgeonfish

154 Sightings
J
0
F
10
M
1
A
3
M
0
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: 90

Goatfish

148 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
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: 110

Snapper

141 Sightings
J
1
F
8
M
0
A
4
M
2
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: 350

Damselfish

134 Sightings
J
3
F
0
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: 60

Squirrelfish

130 Sightings
J
0
F
0
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: 40

Triggerfish

80 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
2
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: 12

Lionfish

73 Sightings
J
4
F
11
M
0
A
6
M
2
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: 130

Pufferfish

60 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
0
A
5
M
4
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: 3000

Nudibranch

44 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
1
A
3
M
4
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: 80

Stingrays

38 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
0
A
3
M
5
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: 20

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: 80

Emperor

30 Sightings
J
0
F
0
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: 8

Bannerfish

26 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
0
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