Dive Lankayan Island
A protected coral island in the Sulu Sea with three reasons to visit - year-round reef diving, a sea turtle hatchery, and a seasonal whale shark migration.
Lankayan is a small coral island in the Sulu Sea, 50 kilometres northeast of Sandakan, Sabah. It sits within the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA), where over two decades of protection have produced healthy fringing reefs, abundant reef fish, and excellent macro life across coral structures and sandy flats.
Year-round reef diving covers natural reefs, coral mounds, and three artificial wrecks - including the atmospheric Mosquito Wreck, a vessel from Japan's wartime fleet. From March to May, migrating whale sharks transit through the sanctuary. From June to September, the turtle hatchery enters its most active period as green and hawksbill turtles nest on the beach.
Lankayan Island Dive Resort is the only resort on the island. It closes in January and February during the Northeast Monsoon.
