Lankayan Island

This little known scuba diving island resort lies an hour and a half out from the city of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea. Lankayan is a tiny spit of land ringed by a white sand beach and covered in a labyrinth of tropical green forest. Hidden under the pandan trees and palms is a simple resort whose charm lies in it's healthy respect for the natural environment.

Surrounding the island is a reef system of flat plateaus that gradually drop off into a shallow series of coral reefs. There are no great walls and the slopes are covered primarily in hard corals, which are a haven for the many species who take refuge in the cracks and crevices. There are baby nurse sharks, leaffish, giant jawfish, all sorts of crustaceans and even the rare and elusive weedy scorpionfish.

A special feature for divers are three small shipwrecks, including one that is just below the jetty. This is a fantastic dive that meanders across the sandy seabed past a few manmade items that were deposited to attract critters and ends at the small wreck. The other two small shipwrecks are a little way from the island but both are older and covered in more growth.

Lankayan, a tiny jewel-shaped island located on the northeastern coast of Sabah, is part of the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) and is surrounded blue-green waters and coral reefs. It is also one of Sabah's top diving spots.

The availability of jungle interior and interesting diving attracts both divers and non-divers alike to Lankayan.

14 dive sites including the Lankayan Wreck, all only minutes away from the island, offer magnificent displays of marine life ranging from giant groupers to tiny ribbon eels. Enormous whale sharks are regularly sighted between March and May, and the island is also a nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles. You can watch as the baby turtles are released back into the sea.

The Langkayan Island Dive Resort has sixteen attractive wooden chalets with beach fronts and the common dining area extends to a sundeck jutting out to the beach.

A jewel like tiny island in the Sulu Sea, an hour and a half boat rides north of Sandakan; Lankayan has been declared part of an immense Marine Protected Area to adopt the eco-tourism concept. Unpopulated and covered by thick tropical island vegetation on its topside, this peaceful, untouched little bit of paradise is ringed by an endless pure of white sandy beach, offering simply elegant and exquisite accommodation in all 23 wooden, roomy and perfectly appointed seafront chalets. While the ideal destination for those who search for tranquility and relaxation in a virgin natural setting and for families with children, Lankayan Island is also becoming one of the hottest diving destination on the map today: its dive sites - all just a few minutes away - boasting unbelievable colorful macro, fauna, fascinating wrecks and in season from March to May, regular sightings of gigantic and harmless whale sharks, the "dream date " of every diver in the world. The island is also a nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles. You can watch as the baby turtles are released back into the sea.

ABOUT THE DIVING
Described as a true macro-world paradise, there are also larger marine creatures such as leopard sharks, marbled stingray and giant grouper as well as schools of bumphead parrotfish, yellowtail barracuda and scads. Lankayan Island is also a nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles as Turtle Islands Park are nearby. You can watch as the baby turtles are released back into the sea. The availability of jungle interior and interesting diving attracts both divers and non-divers alike to Lankayan.

HOW TO GET HERE
Take a short 40 minutes domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.
Meet at Sandakan Airport and transferred to Private Jetty at Sandakan Yatch Club by van. Journey takes approximately 30 minutes drive. Transfer to Lankayan Island by speedboat. Boat ride takes approximately 90 minutes.

FACILITIES
Despite the remoteness we are proud to offer all the amenities of a tropical island resort. Visitors have a choice to stay in chalets twin or triple sharing basis. Made out of local wooden materials to blend into the natural surroundings, chalets and standard rooms are attached with private balcony overlooking the white sandy beach and turquoise colored ocean. Lankayan chalets are well appointed and equipped with hot bath, coffee and tea making facilities, mini refrigerator and fresh water from mainland. Power is available with 220 V or 110 V. All chalets offer direct access to the beach which is in fact just at your front door step.

Internet access is also available at the resort's main building which opens daily from 0800hrs to 2300hrs. Internet Service Charges are at USD 4 for 30 minutes for desktop in the office and USD 5 per day for own laptop (wireless).

A TV room is available for viewing the day's video shots or other footages shoot during the dive.
Water sport gears and equipments for diving, snorkeling and ocean kayaking activities are available for rental at the dive centre
NOTE: A small over the counter shop that sells souvenirs such as postcards, T-shirts, and other necessities such as film, batteries, and toiletries is integrated at the central open building.

Activities whilst at Lankayan Island centre on the world-class diving, ocean kayaking and fantastic snorkelling but on for those who prefer to be on land there are some beautiful beach walks and inland treks to be enjoyed.

Meals are served in a relaxed and informal dining area with seafront terrace and there is also a sunset bar for drinks and barbecues. There is a TV room (largely for viewing the day's diving footage), internet access and also a small shop for essentials. The dive centre has watersports activities and equipment for diving, snorkelling and kayaking.