Borneo is home to spectacular tourist attractions, beautiful beaches, lush jungles, exotic wildlife like orangutans and majestic waterfalls.
Borneo is also one of the most highly rated dive destinations in the world blessed with a diverse wealth of marine life. Some of the best diving destinations in Asia are mostly concentrated in Southeast Asia because the visibility is usually good and the water is warm.
The coral reef ecology in this region is mostly tropical and there are numerous notable wreck diving sites.
Checkout our list of the five most awesome diving locations in Borneo.
1. Lankayan Island
Lankayan Island is a small island located in the state of Sabah, Malaysia and is one of the leading locations for those who want to enjoy diving in Asia. Lankayan Island is a renowned for splendid scuba diving.
There are many lovely reefs around the island to dive and many wrecks (Jetty, Mosquito). The sandy bottom of the water surrounding the island is also home to a variety of small critters. It is quite common for divers to spot whale sharks there as well.
The island merely has one resort and tourists who want to dive there first have to fly to Sandakan and travel to the island in a boat from the resort.
2. Maratua Island
Maratua Island is among the Berau islands located in Indonesia, on the eastern coastal shelf.
One of the only salt water lakes in the world is settled in this area and Indonesia’s largest nesting sites of green turtles can be found on Berau Islands’ white sand beaches. Although Maratua Island is known for its deep sea diving spots, it is also possible to snorkel there as well.
Manta Spot is a renowned spot for snorkeling, where manta rays can be seen near Sangalaki Island. At Maratua Island, divers also get the chance to view big fishes like sharks.
3. Mataking Island
Mataking Island is an island located in Sabah, Malaysia. It is located on the Celebus Sea. The island lies on the continental shelf’s edge with fringing reef of hard and soft corals surrounding it.
Not only is the island a wonderful place for diving, it is also ideal for divers who also want to snorkel or simply relax.
The Reef Dive Resort operates on the Island and to stay here and enjoy diving, an advance booking has to be made with them. Alternatively, divers can stay at Semporna too.
4. Kalimantan Island
Kalimantan is a part of the island of Borneo, Indonesia.
The Berau Archipelago, which is located in East Kalimantan in the Celebes Sea, around the islands of Derawan, Manatua and Sangaliki, is where a majority of the diving activities take place.
West Kalimantan is also home to some lesser visited sites including Batu Payung and Radayan Island. Kalimantan has a tropical climate, which also makes at an ideal location for diving.
5. Sipadan Island
Sipadan is an island located off the east coast of Sabah. Sipadan has beautiful coral reefs, with rich marine life, and beautiful sandy beaches.
This island is renowned for having some the finest diving in Asia. In fact, according to some claims, Sipadan is the best dive site in the world. This claim may be rather big, but this site definitely offers world class diving opportunities.
Most divers stay near the island, on Mabul or Semporna, and then take a boat to Sipadan Island to dive. Some companies also offer the chance to volunteer programs in Borneo here where you can help wildlife and conservation efforts.
Plan Your Drive Holiday to Borneo
Borneo really is one of the best places to visit in Indonesia and Malaysia, full of beautiful islands, incredible biodiversity and pristine reefs. So why not take advantage of all the diving opportunities that Borneo has to offer and visit any of the above amazing dive locations on your next trip.
