Lankayan Island is located in the Sulu
Sea north west if Sandakan on the north east coast of Sabah.
This small paradise island, with stretches of white sandy
beaches, swaying casuarinas pines and beautiful sunsets is
another island wit only one dive resort, Lankayan Island Dive
Resort. The resort was built in 1997 and since then tourists
have slowly been discovering the serenity and tranquility of
this remote peace of paradise, Lankayan offers a fantastic
variety of macro marine life, a muck-diving arena that rivals
both Mabul and Kapalai Island. However, with new protection from
local fishermen, the larger marine creatures such as leopard
sharks, marbled stingray and giant grouper have returned to the
surrounding reefs. Schools of bumphead parrotfish, yellowtail
barracuda and scads also appear at many dive sites.
Among the 40 dive sites is ‘Lankayan Wreck’, an ocean going fish
poaching vessel thah demised in the area of its illegal
activities. This wreck now hosts many different species of fish
from small glassfish, harlequin ghost pipefish, painted frogfish
to giant grouper and marbled stingrays.
Many rare subjects can be found on many other dive sites
including seahorses, flying gurnards, flamboyant cuttlefish,
jawfish, dragonets and sand divers. Having Pulau Selingan, home
to Sabah’s Turtle Sanctuary nearby, it is not a surprise to also
see the occasional hawksbill or green turtle on one of your
dives.
