Scuba Diving in
Pulau Mantanani

Pulau Mantanani is a group of three isolated islands north-west of Kota Belud, a one hour drive from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Until recently, the islands were only known to a few locals. The largest island houses the only dive resort, Mantanani Resort which is situated at the western end on the edge of a white sandy bay. Nestled amongst the tall coconut palms styled house.

Three wrecks have been discovered which still hold plenty of secrets and are now home to a menagerie of marine creatures such as lionfish, scorpionfish, octopus, glassfish and the coral reefs surrounding the islands have plenty to offer, both the novice and experienced diver. Many species of rays can be found. marbled stingray, blue spotted ray, and large schools of eagle rays.

One of the most memorable dive experiences in Mantanani is the Eikyo Maru wreck, formerly a 7,000 tonne Japanese supply ship which sank in October 14, 1944. Eikyo Maru was part of a fleet making its way from Labuan towards the Palawan Passage during the Battle of Leyte. It was downed by an American submarine, the USS Dace's torpedoes. The coordinates of the sunken vessel was only discovered in 1998.

The wreck stretch 200m from bow to stern. You won't see the wreck till you're at least 10m below the surface. The foredeck sits at 31m below the surface. Covered with soft corals, The entire shape of the wreck is covered with shades of red, purple, yellow and white, and clouded by shoals of cardinal fish, batfish, tuna, and yellow-tailed barracuda. You may also spot an occasional glimpse of dolphins from afar. The structure is missing part of its top deck from the torpedoes hit, revealing the rib-like internal structure of the vessel.

For macro photographers, the "muck diving" is amazing, seahorses, imperial shrimps, pink-eye gobies, jaw fish, blue-ringed octopus, ribbon eels and many nudibranch you will not be able to find in the books! There are now 16 dive sites identified in Mantanani with many more still to be explored.

Best time to go is from April to December. Don't go from December through April. Visibility can be as high as 40m.

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