Lankayan

The appeal of Lankayan lies in its isolation and its ecological recovery. The diving here contrasts entirely with the east coast. You will not find the deep walls or the high-velocity drift dives of Sipadan. The topography consists of shallow patch reefs and artificial wrecks rising from a flat sandy seabed. The maximum depths rarely exceed 30 metres.

The environment requires good buoyancy control to avoid disturbing the silty bottom. This deliberate pace makes it a haven for macro photographers hunting for rare nudibranchs and crustaceans. You come here to escape the crowds and to support a conservation model that actively restores the ocean. The generally mild currents make the island exceptionally well-suited for beginners and Open Water divers.

The marine area surrounding Lankayan suffered historically from destructive fishing methods. That changed radically in December 2001 when the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) was gazetted. This protected zone covers 46,317 hectares of the Sulu Sea and encompasses the uninhabited islands of Lankayan, Billean and Tegaipil.

A non-profit organisation named Reef Guardian manages the sanctuary using a strict no-take policy. The team enforces the rules using advanced marine radar tracking and continuous sea patrols staffed by Honorary Wildlife Wardens. A daily conservation fee levied on all visitors funds the operation directly.

The ecological dividends are highly documented. Sea turtle nesting on the island surged from roughly one hundred nests in 2004 to over eight hundred nests in 2021. Scientific surveys demonstrate that total fish biomass is more than 3 times higher inside the protected zone than in adjacent unprotected waters. Benthic surveys show live coral cover inside SIMCA averages 47.25 per cent. SIMCA became the first marine site in Malaysia to achieve the prestigious IUCN Green List status in May 2022. You can read more about these regional efforts on the marine conservation page.

Lankayan is a natural nesting site for green turtles and hawksbill turtles. Nesting happens all year with peak hatching between June and September. Reef Guardian personnel protect these sites and operate dedicated hatcheries to keep incubating eggs safe from predators. You can ask management about the current programme to learn when warden-led hatchling releases happen.

The migratory corridor brings whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) through SIMCA waters. Whale sharks pass through between March and September and are seen occasionally. Encounters usually happen as surface sightings or snorkelling opportunities rather than prolonged reef dives.

There is only one place to stay on the island. The Lankayan Island Dive Resort maintains an intimate footprint to limit environmental impact. The property features sixteen beachfront chalets and nine premium over-water chalets. The resort acts as the sole base for exploring the SIMCA reefs and wrecks.

The benthic topography surrounding the island consists mostly of flat sandy expanses. Reef Guardian initiated a major artificial reef programme to build three-dimensional complexity and block illegal trawling nets. The Lankayan wrecks range from authentic historical vessels to confiscated fishing boats cleared of toxins and scuttled to attract biomass. There are currently eleven verified shipwrecks sunk or discovered within the SIMCA boundaries close to the island.

Lankayan Wreck

Skill level: Advanced Beginner | Ave depth: 15 m | Max depth: 24 m This site centres on two confiscated illegal fishing vessels connected by navigational ropes. The structures shelter giant groupers and bamboo sharks while thick schools of yellow sea perch hover above. Seasonal whale sharks occasionally pass through the blue water above the wreck. You must limit exploration to the exterior because ongoing structural degradation makes internal penetration unsafe.

Mosquito Wreck

Skill level: Intermediate | Ave depth: 15 m | Max depth: 25 m This authentic World War II vessel belonged to the Japanese Mosquito Fleet and lies heavily degraded on its side. The prominent intact bow gun provides a dramatic focal point for wide-angle photography. Dense schools of jacks and barracuda often patrol the perimeter while resident tropical groupers inhabit the twisted metal. This site is a historical heritage location where you must look without touching.

Jetty Wreck and House Reef

Skill level: Open Water | Ave depth: 15 m | Max depth: 20 m This small fishing boat sits directly beneath the main resort jetty and connects to the surface via guide ropes. The wreck supports highly concentrated macro life including painted frogfish and blue-spotted stingrays. Schools of batfish often orbit the highest points. The surrounding white sandy bottom harbours goby and blind shrimp pairs alongside flatworms and nudibranchs. The isolated structure allows you to easily isolate subjects against a stark black-water background on a night dive.

Jawfish Lair

Skill level: Open Water | Ave depth: 15 m | Max depth: 28 m This undisturbed jawfish habitat features a healthy hard coral garden tapering to open sand. The reef is a place to look for mimic octopus and resting leopard sharks. The primary targets are male yellow jawfish mouth-brooding eggs in their sandy burrows. You need flawless buoyancy to watch them because sudden movements cause the fish to retreat instantly. Be sure to observe SIMCA's strict no-touch policy rather than using the reef to stabilise yourself.

Goby Rock

Skill level: Open Water | Ave depth: 5 m | Max depth: 20 m This classic patch reef slopes from a shallow hard coral garden down to a flat sandy floor. The site holds a plenty of gobies sharing their burrows with symbiotic blind shrimp. White-tip reef sharks often patrol the upper edges while blue-spotted rays rest in the sediment below. You must settle carefully near the sand without disturbing it to capture the symbiosis on camera.

Pegaso Reef

Skill level: Open Water | Ave depth: not recorded | Max depth: 20 m This recovering patch reef sits north of Lankayan and typically offers better visibility than the inner sites. The absolute highlight is the abundance of massive giant clams resting on the coral rubble with bright iridescent mantles. The surrounding water column holds black-tip reef sharks and flashing silver fusiliers. You must maintain excellent buoyancy to avoid startling the highly sensitive clams.

Froggy Fort

Skill level: Open Water | Ave depth: 10 m | Max depth: 16 m This thoroughly documented patch reef features nearly half live hard coral cover. The signature species here include diverse nudibranch populations and well-camouflaged frogfish blending completely with the encrusting sponges. You need a trained eye and a deliberately slow swimming pace to locate the hidden subjects across the shallow slope.

Mel's Rock

Skill level: Open Water | Reef top: 12 m | Max depth: not recorded This small patch reef sits south of the island and consists of massive coral blocks surrounded entirely by open sand. The site is a hotspot for nudibranchs feeding on abundant hydroids. The massive ancient barrel sponges host ornate pink squat lobsters deep within their grooves. You must exercise extreme caution to avoid damaging the fragile sponges when approaching for super-macro photographs.

Moray Reef

Skill level: Open Water | Ave depth: 10 m | Max depth: 25 m This highly fissured reef structure features deep crevices and small cave systems. Multiple species of moray eels heavily populate the holes across the reef. You should bring a dive torch to peer into the dark spaces for tight macro shots of moray faces. This location is less frequented by daily dive boats so it offers a sense of isolation.

Twin Rocks

Skill level: Open Water | Ave depth: 12 m | Max depth: 15 m Two distinct small coral reefs sit closely together here separated by a bright sandy corridor. The reef walls feature beautiful gorgonians and black coral bushes hosting transparent shrimp. Resting bamboo sharks often shelter under the deeper overhangs. The water column above teems with dense clouds of glassfish and blue fusiliers. The 2 reefs give you plenty of scope for both wide-angle and macro photography.

A note on the Cement Wreck

You might see older dive logs mention a Cement Wreck. The massive cement freighter known to wreck divers actually lies off the coast of Labuan in western Sabah. Any cement structure dived inside SIMCA is a minor artificial fish aggregation device built from breeze blocks rather than a historical shipwreck.

Sandakan acts as the starting point for Lankayan and for Sabah's most famous terrestrial wildlife sanctuaries. This makes Lankayan the most logical island to combine with Borneo jungle trips. You can spend several days diving the SIMCA reefs before transferring inland to see orangutans at Sepilok and look for pygmy elephants along the Kinabatangan River.

Diving operates from March to December; the resort closes annually in January and February. The best visibility runs from March to October. From the March reopening to mid-November you have good diving with softer visibility towards the end. The months from mid-November to December bring a mix of cloud, rain and sun before the January and February closure. The water remains a comfortable 26 to 30 °C year-round. You must remember that Sipadan closes completely every November if you are planning a two-coast trip.

You fly into Sandakan airport where resort staff meet you. The boat journey from Sandakan to Lankayan takes roughly 90 minutes depending on sea conditions. Be sure to check your flight arrival times against the boat schedule because island boats do not run after dark. You can find full logistics on the travel information page.

Sabah enforces strict aviation laws governing drone flights. You must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate of Competency and submit an Authorisation to Fly application at least fourteen working days before flying. Unauthorised drone use carries severe penalties so always check the current federal regulations before packing your equipment.

Lankayan suits macro photographers seeking a quiet environment to document rare benthic life. It provides a peaceful setting for couples and works well for travellers pairing their dive trip with the Sepilok wildlife sanctuaries.

It does not suit divers hunting for high-adrenaline drift dives or deep oceanic walls. If you want huge pelagic schools and strong currents you should base yourself in Semporna to dive Sipadan.

• Lankayan Island Dive Resort
• Combine with Borneo
• Sipadan

Send your dates, the names of everyone coming and your certification levels. The team comes back with what can be arranged for your island stay and any mainland wildlife extensions.