Pulau Lankayan is located in the Sulu Sea north-west of Sandakan on the north east coast of Sabah. This small paradise island, with stretches of white sandy beaches, swaying casuarina pines and beautiful sunsets is another island with 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 groupers have returned to the surrounding reefs. Schools of humphead 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 that 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 stingray.
Many rare subjects can be found on many other sites including serhorses, flying gurnards, flamboyant cuttlefish, jaw fish, dragonets and sand divers. Having Pulau Selingan at Lankayan, 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.
