Explore Sabah

Sabah is the northernmost state of the island of Borneo in Malaysia. There are fantastic diving sites off both the west and the east coast of Sabah making it a fantastic gateway to some of the best diving in Malaysia. The state of Sabah itself is known for its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes made up of dense rainforests, white sandy beaches and an abundance of wildlife. Off the east coast, off the town of Semporna, lie the world famous Sipadan and Mobul Islands, while the west coast has the Kota Kinabalu region with its islands such as Gaya Island. Whether it be the tiny marine critters hiding among the flourishing coral reefs, the impressive gentle giants of the sea such as Manta Rays and multiple different species of sharks Sharks, or thrilling underwater topography including wrecks, steep coral walls, caves, if divers use Sabah as a base they can experience it all. Divers can either dive through the numerous dive centres and dive resorts scattered around here, or can take a liveaboard which will visit most of the locations on the east side of the state. Aside from the many stunning things to see, what makes this an even more popular diving region are the ideal conditions for diving, in all aspects. Water and air temperatures are warm, the air being between 25°C and 33°C and the water is between 25°C and 30°C, the visibility ranges between 10 and 50 metres on the best days. It is an ideal location for dive courses and for novice divers to do some unforgettable dives due to the easy conditions; calm waters and, for the most part, lack of currents. This is a paradise diving region, above and below the water for divers with all interests to be amazed by what our underwater world can offer.

Places to Explore

Layang-Layang Island

Layang Layang, also known as “The Jewel of the Borneo Banks,“ is located Northwest of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and mostly for advanced divers.

Mabul & Sipadan Island

4 Divesites

Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, formed by living corals growing on an extinct volcanic cone.

Kota Kinabalu

20 Divesites 11 Centers

Kota Kinabalu is trendy among snorkelers and divers, with one of the most popular choices being Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

Mantanani

1 Divesite

Mantanani is a group of three islands which lie off of the north west coast of the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo in Malaysia. The three islands are Mantanani Besar, the largest of the three, Mantanani Kecil and Mantanani Lungisan. It is only recently that these islands made it on the map of diving destinations, and luckily they did! The shallow reefs and nutrient rich waters means many species to revel over in crystal clear waters and paradise island elements added to it. Some highlights include World War II wrecks, many Sea Turtles and an abundance of Rays, and the true stars of the show; Dugongs!

Sandakan

Sandakan is a coastal city which lies on the north east coast of the state of Sabah, on the island of Borneo in Malaysia. It is the second largest city in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu, and is a gateway to some fantastic diving regions of Malaysia. Even though there are many eco tourism activities to be done on-land here, there is no direct diving from the coast, but the main diving region visited from Sandakan is Lankayan Island which lies 90 minutes by boat from the coast. If divers are looking for a remote getaway while exploring the thriving underwater world, then this is the place to go.

Semporna

7 Centers

Semporna is a town located on the east coast of the island of Borneo in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Semporna has become more famous over time due to it being the departure point for some of the best diving in the world including Sipadan Island and Mabul Island. There are numerous dive centres and dive resorts which cater to the increasing popularity of snorkelling and diving at the islands in this area. Visitors interested in exploring the waters here can do this either from Semporna itself and use it as a base, they can do it from one of the handfull of liveaboards which depart from here, or they can travel to and stay on Mabul Island for a more tropical but also more low key stay. Aside from the pristine waters, the ideal climate with warm temperatures and impressive visibility, what makes these two islands so popular is that Sipadan has a large array of big species, while Mabul has a large collection of small marine critters, so divers can see a range of species and really enjoy all that these waters have to offer.

Mataking

1 Divesite

Mataking is an island located off the coast of Semporna, in the state of Sabah on the east coast of the island of Borneo in Malaysia. This is one of those diving destinations that just has it all, tropical landscape, clear waters, macro marine life, large marine species and great diving conditions. It is bound to excite divers of all levels with some highlights being species such as Manta Rays, Grey Reef Sharks, Nudibranchs and Frog Fish, all amongst colourful and lively coral reefs. The dive centres here will take divers to the best of the best dive sites here, all while avoiding large crowds.

Pom Pom

Lying just 30 kilometres north east off of the coast of the town Semporna in the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo, Malaysia, is the tiny coral reef island named Pom Pom Island, in the Celebes Sea. This island is a hidden gem when it comes to diving and also when it comes to its true tropical island elements which will provide divers and visitors with a truly special experience. There is one resort located here which also has its own dive centre. There are multiple dive sites around the island with highlights being the coral wall sloping down past 150 metres, a high abundance of macro marine life and many Sea Turtles which reside here. All this combined with ideal diving conditions and warm weather, this is a great choice for a relaxing diving holiday.