In recent years, Malaysia has emerged as one of the most alluring tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. The exotic beauty of its national parks, the diversity of Asian cultures, traditions and religions, combined with some of the region's best tourist infrastructure make Malaysia increasingly appealing to visitors.
There are very few destinations worldwide that offer travellers such diversity as Borneo - both below and above the water. This fascinating island is home to the world's oldest forests and jungles. A modern, efficient road system, airports, resorts and shopping centres make it an excellent choice for combining world-class diving with thrilling land-based adventures.
Layang Layang: Borneo's Crown Jewel
Layang Layang is a 14 km² atoll rising 2,000m from the ocean depths. In 1985, the Malaysian Federal Government began creating a 15-acre island on part of the reef. Thus, what Malaysians knew as "Terumbu Layang Layang" or "Swallow's Reef" became Layang Layang Island.
Facing the calm waters of the central lagoon stands the Layang Layang Resort with 82 rooms and 4 suites, featuring a PADI dive centre run by specialist instructors who organise boat trips.
With visibility around 50 metres and over 12 dive sites, spectacular diving is guaranteed, with drop-offs plunging to 2,000 metres. Those venturing beneath the surface discover one of the most fascinating underwater landscapes and incredible biodiversity. The reefs conceal many unidentified lifeforms and uncatalogued species. Major encounters are commonplace here - whitetip sharks, leopard sharks, huge hammerhead schools, manta rays...
During migration season, numerous bird species make this island their temporary home. The best viewing spot is the island's western tip, where you can observe massive bird colonies swirling at sunset. At any time, you might spot hundreds of diverse bird species, some endemic to the area.
Sipadan
Off Borneo's coast, 30km from Semporna, lies the world-renowned Pulau Sipadan, featuring such a unique and perfect marine ecosystem that it ranks among the world's top diving destinations. This rocky island emerges from the abyss. Apart from its surrounding beach, it's covered in dense jungle, with a low profile and less than a mile in diameter. Few maps accurately mark Sipadan's position. The island itself is the pinnacle of an underwater mountain - an isolated rock column rising from 7,000 metres.
Dive sites are distributed between three islands approximately 20 minutes apart by boat. Sipadan, one of the diving world's holy grails, is renowned for pelagic encounters: hammerhead schools, barracuda, whitetip sharks, leopard sharks, giant tuna... Mabul boasts stunning reefs, cliffs covered in hard and soft corals, colourful nudibranchs, and abundant reef life.
Finally, there's Kapalai, the submerged island, nursery to many reef fish. Some unusual species like frogfish or seahorses can only be spotted in this area.
