Explore 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.

Top Sandakan Dive Sites

1. Mosquito Wreck

Home to potential sightings of manta rays and schools of barracuda and jacks, Mosquito Wreck is a Japanese World War II wreck with a bow gun. This site is suitable for advanced scuba divers, offering a thrilling wreck dive experience.

2. Goby Rock

Featuring sandy bottoms with gobies, shrimp, and blue-spotted stingrays, Goby Rock also has coral pinnacles with nudibranchs and reef fish. Suitable for both scuba and freediving, it is an easy to intermediate site.

3. Jawfish Lair

Jawfish Lair is known for its sandy terrain where jawfish reside. Suitable for easy scuba diving, this site allows divers to observe these interesting creatures in their natural habitat.

4. Jetty Wreck

Jetty Wreck offers a glimpse of wreck diving in easy conditions, with small wrecks and artificial reefs attracting a variety of fish. This site is suitable for beginner to intermediate scuba divers.

5. Lankayan Wreck

Lankayan Wreck is an advanced dive site with a fascinating artificial reef thriving with marine life. Scuba divers can enjoy a multitude of fish species and occasional turtle sightings around the wreck.

The best Months to Dive in Sandakan

There are two seasons, the dry season and the rainy season, and so the main difference is the amount of rainfall as the air and water temperatures remain warm throughout the year. The air temperatures range between 27°C and 31°C while the water temperatures stay between 26°C and 30°C. Water conditions are pretty calm,

the strongest winds being in December to February. The visibility is, on average, 20 metres but can reach up to 50 metres on the best days between March and October, which is the best period to dive here. April and May are the months divers may be able to spot a Whale Shark.