The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is a cluster of islands comprising Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug, all only 10 to 20 minutes speedboat ride from the city of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The five islands of the parks are characterized by shallow waters, sumptuous coral garden and all boast splendid white sandy beaches.
The reefs lie in shallow waters with little current making it an ideal location for novice divers, however, the diverse and sometimes rare marine creatures also make it an interesting dive location for experienced divers and underwater photographers. To dive in the park you must contact on of the local dive centers based in Kota Kinabalu who also offer a full variety of PADI courses ranging Discovery Scuba Diving to instructor.
Amongst the sandy seabed a good variety of marine life can be found such as Scorpion fish, Blue-spotted rays, cuttlefish, mantis shrimps and the occasional green or hawksbill turtle. At some locations, rare creatures such as harlequin ghost pipefish and mandarin fish can be found especially with the help from local dive guides.
During the cooler months from November to February, plankton blooms attract krill which in turn attract whale sharks, the world's largest fish. At times, the density of the krill can be so thick in these murky conditions underwater encounters with these colossal animals can be exciting as they appear out of the gloom here in
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.
