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make sure you get the most out of your dive trips, every time. Plan a Trip Today...
Borneo Divers & Layang Layang Resort Joint Promotion!
 
Ten days in paradise and one of the best diving resorts you'll ever visit! Enjoy the best of both Sipadan and Layang Layang and take advantage of their joint promotion, valid until December 2001. more...
Dive with Borneo Divers
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park - Adjacent to the town of Kota Kinabalu and just mere minutes away, lie a cluster of 5 superb islands - Mamutik, Manukan, Gaya, Sapi and Sulug and beneath the surface of the water are homes to macro creatures. These islands offer the finest dive spots featuring coral reef teeming with exotic marine life. At most sites there are the usual wide variety of tropical fishes, color reef, sponges and crinoids. more...
Labuan Island is situated 62 miles (115km) south of Kota Kinabalu (where our headquarters are located) and lies 5 miles (8km) off the mainland of Sabah at the northern 'mouth' of Brunei Bay. It is a busy duty-free seaport and Malaysia's International Offshore Financial Center. Borneo Divers
has identified four ship wrecks to dive on near Labuan; two from World War II and two from the 1980's. These ships lie in 100-115 feet (30-35m)
of water, with the top portions at 25-70 feet (8-12m). Visibility varies greatly season to season (and even day to day) from 20 feet (6m) to 70
feet (20m). We have adopted the names these wrecks go by locally: "Cement" Wreck, "American" Wreck, "Australian" Wreck, and "Blue Water" Wreck.more...
Thank you to Borneo Divers
We'd like to thank all the friendly staff at Borneo Divers on Sipadan. The cook makes fantastic sushi, the divemasters were cheerful and helpful and showed us great stuff! The rooms were always clean and comfortable. We even got to see the caves with the turtle carcasses. Dive
Global highly recommends Borneo Divers. They all came out to wave us goodbye when we had to leave...
Malaysia Airlines
There's never been a better time to discover Malaysia. The recent currency revaluations have created unbelievable bargains. Malaysia is one of the
friendliest, most diverse and fascinating destinations on the planet, offering the world's oldest rain forest, spectacular beaches, great diving,
modern cities and people renowned for their genuine warmth. more..
Orang Utang Sanctuary
If you are visiting Sabah, don't miss out on the chance to see the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center:
This world famous sanctuary enables visitors to come in close contact with the remarkable 'man of the forest', the Orang Utan and witness an exciting conservation program in action.
The sanctuary was established in 1964 to help once captive or displaced Orang Utan to learn to fend for themselves in the wild. The sanctuary is located at the edge of the Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve which is 43 square
kilometers of old, beautiful and fascinating rain forest.
Sepilok is an excellent opportunity to walk the Borneo rainforest without the need to organize a major expedition. Discover the diversity of plants,
ferns, climbing plants, insects, wildlife including 277 different species of birds and at least 300 varies types of trees.
How to get there: Sepilok Nature Resort is situated approximately 30 minutes by road west of Sandakan, Sabah. It is easily accessible by Labuk Road, 24 km's from Sandakan town and 11 km from the Sandakan Airport. You can stay comfortably at the Sepilok Resort. Nestled among the swaying oil palm and other tropical plants is a gateway to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center. The Sepilok Nature Resort combines comfort, privacy, good food and a rich conservation heritage for nature education and ecotourism.
The resort is thoroughly modern, yet the combination of timber chalets, oil palms, and the lake exudes a laid back tropical garden ambience totally in
synchrony with it's pastoral environment.
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Malaysia: Sipadan, Labuan, Kota Kinabalu and Layang Layang
Sipadan Island Off the North Eastern coast of Borneo, called Sabah, lies a tiny jewel of an island, Pulau Sipadan, with a marine ecosystem so
perfect and unique that it is world renowned as arguably, one of the best dive spots in the world. Unique, as the only oceanic island in
Malaysia, Pulau Sipadan rises as a pristine coral sea mount, 650 meters from the floor of the Sulawesi sea. The ocean teems with a wide range
of rare marine species, some of which are totally endemic to the Island. The Island's dense primary jungle remains largely unspoiled by the presence
of man, and is populated by the harmless monitor lizard and rare coconut crab.
 Layang Layang is an atoll 14 square kilometers in diameter jutting 2000
meters from the Ocean depths. In 1985, the Malaysian Federal Government began reclamation works and created a 50-acre island on one part of
the reef. Thus, what is ardently known to East Malaysians as "Terumbu Layang Layang" or "Swallow's Reef" has now become Layang Layang island. Being in the middle of nowhere has its advantages. The nearest human inhabitation is 300 km away separated by the fierce South China Sea. Marine life enjoy total isolation from human encroachment. Its pristine walls with outstanding underwater visibility of 50-60 meters year round bears testimonial to its heritage. Layang Layang is wall diving mecca. The ocean floor drops to an amazing 2000
meters from the edge of the atoll. The combination of deep water and pristine walls attracts big fish galore. One of Flaying Lasagna's famous
resident is the hammerheads. Big school of these rarely seen oceanic sharks congregate here, their silhouettes dramatically plastering the
clear blue water with "hammerhead wallpaper" Another major attraction of diving in Layang Layang is the feeling that this is frontier
diving and you could see almost anything. Every dive brings some new surprises - whether it's a dogtooth or a fantastic forest of gorgonian
fans. The exceptionally clear water has promoted superb coral growth,
and the craggy walls are a mass of soft coral and sponges.
 Since its inception, Borneo
Divers has been a pioneer in the development of recreational diving and diving resort management in Sipadan Island. In addition, Borneo
Divers also operates daily diving trips to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park off Kota Kinabalu as well as wreck diving in Labuan. The service of this
outfit is always excellent no matter which location you visit! Borneo Divers operates three dive Centers:
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (off Kota Kinabalu)
Excellent and easily accessible areas for teaching and educational diving activities. Its calm water is ideal for macro and close up photography. For the more adventures, a sunken World War II Japanese freighter wreck beckons.
Labuan Island
Four different offshore wrecks are popularly explored and used in wreck diving instruction. Two wrecks are World War II warships and the others
cargo vessels.
Sipadan Island
This famous dive spot is rated one of the top five wall diving destinations in the world with a drop-off from the beach plummeting 600 meters (2,000
ft) straight down. Its concentration of marine life has been described as fantastic. We pioneered recreational diving on Sipadan, having been
there since 1985.
The Layang Layang Resort and Dive Center is located on an island Layang Layang
is an atoll 14 square kilometers in diameter jutting 2000 meters from the Ocean depths. In 1985, the Malaysian Federal Government began reclamation works and created a 50-acre island on one part of the reef. Thus, what is ardently known to East Malaysians as "Terumbu Layang Layang" or "Swallow's Reef" has now become Layang Layang island.
Dive sites of Layang Layang
Gorgonian Forest (130ft)
At 130ft, it is worth making repeated dives here because of the abundant marine life, especially pelagic (sharks galore!). You will
also see many Gorgonian fans that make the dive site so characteristic. There is a huge school of jacks that can be seen
frequently, swim into them if you dare. Trust me, it will be a most exhilarating experience. A few gigantic clams can be seen at the
end of the dive.
D'wall (130ft)
Dramatic drop off with many ledges along the wall. Look out for sharks and marble rays resting on the ledges. Can get really close
to them. Along the wall is also a variety of coral and smaller marine life. Take time to explore the crevices and you will be rewarded.
Visibility can drop because the overhanging wall often cuts off the sun’s rays. So bring along a torch.
Wrasse Strip (65 ft)
Schools of baby mantas have been spotted here. There are also a
few "cleaning stations" where larger fish actually "freeze"
and let themselves be cleaned by the cleaner wrasse. This site is a great photo op.
Sipadan & Labuan
Many international carriers fly into Kuala Lumpur. From there it is easy to get to the Borneo Divers dive centers by Malaysian Airlines.
All destinations require you to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu in northern Sabah first. From there it is a short plane ride, bus drive
and boat trip to the Island of Sipadan. Borneo Divers will arrange all transportation to Sipadan, Labuan for you.
Layang Layang
From Kuala Lumpur fly to Kota Kinabalu. From there it is another flight to Layang Layang, just north of Sabah. Direct flights are available
from Tyoko, Taipei, Kaoshiung, Seoul, Hong Kong, Manila, Cebu, Davao, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. From Kota Kinabalu to Layang Layang, there
are regular flights operated by a private airline. There is a 1067 meters runway on Layang Layang. Limited seats are available, so do check on
seat availability far in advance.
Winter is great one day and perfect the next, with daily temperatures ranging from a daytime maximum of 25-27 degrees to an overnight minimum
of 17-20 degrees. The sun is out, the birds are singing and the tropical water is sparkling. As our region is totally tropical (being 16 degrees
south of the equator) summer is generally much warmer and subject to high seasonal rainfall from December to April. Heavy intermittent downpours
followed by long periods of sunshine are the most characteristic aspect of our weather at this time of year. Daily maximums are 30-34 degrees
with 20-24 degrees overnight.
You have to take the good with the bad, and during the summer months North Queensland is affected by cyclone activity. If you intend visiting during this period, it is probably best that you familiarize yourself with the necessary
cyclone precautions and emergency procedures.
Fielding's Asia's Top Dive Sites | Buy
Diving Southeast Asia: A Guide to the Best Dive Sites in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines & Thailand (Periplus Action Guides), Fiona
Nichols, John Williams, & Kal Muller | Buy
Dive Sites of Malaysia and Singapore | Buy
Malaysia Diving Guide, Andrea & Antonella Ferrari | Buy
Malaysia Beneath the Waves
Marine Life of Malaysia and South East Asia, Gerald Allen
Islands of Malaysia, Mike Gibby
Sipadan, Borneo's Underwater Paradise
Malaysia, an Underwater Paradise, Andre & Antonella Ferrari
Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei :: Malaysia
| Buy
Read about Destination Malaysia...
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