Updated October 12, 2022
Are you looking for your dream dive vacation? This is the fourth in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations worldwide. In this post, the focus will be Layang Layang and Lankayan, islands off of Sabah in Malaysia. In addition to this series on dive resorts, the best worldwide liveaboard dive locations and services are reviewed in their own series. To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.
Have you ever been diving in Layang Layang or Lankayan? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.
Layang Layang Diving
Located 300 km (188 miles) northwest of Sabah, Layang Layang Island is made up of 13 linked coral reefs and is part of the 600 islands, reefs, and shoals of the Spratly’s. Layang Layang means “Place of Swallows” in Malay. It’s not large at 14 square kilometers (8.75 square miles) but has an extremely rich and diverse ecosystem surrounding it.
The relative isolation has allowed the reef to remain healthy and pristine. The atoll sits in a 2,000-meter (6,500-feet) deep sea and is characterized by wall diving. The current is usually gentle but a number of the sites are fairly deep making them more suitable for advanced and experienced divers. Macro photographers will enjoy the smaller critters and the list of spectacular larger animals is extensive. Layang Layang has at least 11 distinct dive sites that are most famous for shoals of scalloped hammerheads that are usually prevalent in April and May. Resident attractions include leopard, lemon, and whitetip sharks, green and hawksbill turtles, barracuda, giant clams, morays, and leaf scorpionfish. Dogtooth tuna, whale sharks, and mantas are pelagic visitors.
The resort is open from March through June within the April to August dry season, the best time weather-wise for diving. Visibility is usually from 10-40 meters (33-130 feet) and water temp in the season is 25-30° C (77-86° F). There is high demand during this short season, so early booking is advised.
Layang Layang Island Reef Summary
Depth: 5->40 m (16->130 ft)
Visibility: 10-40 m (33-130 ft)
Currents: usually mild
Surface conditions: calm
Water temperature: 25-30° C (77-86° F)
Experience level: intermediate-advanced
Number of dive sites: ~20
Lankayan Island Diving
Lankayan Island is situated about 50 km (31 miles) northeast of Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia. Unlike the more rugged coastline of Layang Layang, Lankayan has beautiful white sand beaches where romantic couples can take in the sunset and watch the abundant fireflies and fruit bats in their after-dark activities. The single resort there is environmentally conscious and only a short boat trip from the Sepilok orangutan sanctuary.
While not as spectacular as the more famous neighbor to the south, Sipadan, or Layang Layang, Lankayan has pristine healthy reefs, a number of interesting wrecks suitable for beginners, and some outstanding muck diving for the macro photographer. Year-round access is possible to more than 40 dive sites.
Larger resident attractions are schooling barracuda and jacks, giant groupers, stingrays, and leopard and blacktip sharks, masses of which swim in the shallows to the delight of snorkelers and beachcombers. If you are there from March to May there is a good chance of seeing whale sharks. From June to September green and hawksbill turtles nest on the beach. Giant clams and other large mollusks along with fascinating smaller critters like glassfish, painted frogfish, harlequin phantom pipefish, leaf fish, nudibranchs, seahorses, porcelain crabs, and gobies of all colors can be seen. Jawfish Lair is, naturally, the place to see jawfish. Several wrecks that can be safely accessed by relative beginners are nearby including the Lankayan, Mosquito, and Jetty Wrecks.
During the rainy season from December to March Lankayan is sheltered from monsoons and major rains but the resort closes from October to March. It is warm year-round with water temperatures from 26-30° C (79-86° F). Visibility is usually good ranging up to 25 m (83 ft).
Lankayan Island Reef Summary
Depth: 5-30 m (16-100 ft)
Visibility: 3-25 m (10-83 ft)
Currents: Moderate
Surface conditions: Calm
Water temperature: 26-30° C (79-86° F)
Experience level: beginner-advanced
Number of dive sites: >40
Distance: ~50 km (1½-2 hours) northeast of Sandakan
Lankayan Island Dive Sites
Layang Layang and Lankayan Resorts
Both of these rather small islands are distinguished by having only one resort each. Fortunately, both focus on scuba diving and provide excellent overall services in their relatively remote and idyllic locations.
Layang Layang Island Resort
Featuring
- The only diving operator on the island
- Swimming pool, billiard table, and bar football
- Massage center, canoes for hire
- Protected bird park
- Malay, Chinese, Indian and continental cuisine
- Offers full board and diving packages
- Unlimited shore dives
- Experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 10 divers per DM)
- Scuba equipment (approx. $58 per day)
- 10 catamarans with twin 4-stroke 90 HP Honda engines
- The Malaysian Navy also has a base on the island
Lankayan Island Resort
Featuring
- The only diving operator on the island
- Swimming pool, billiard table, and bar football
- Massage center, canoes for hire
- Protected bird park
- Chinese and Western cuisine
- Offers full board and diving packages
- Unlimited beach dives
- Experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 10 divers per DM)
- Scuba equipment (approx. USD 38 per day)
- Monohull speed boats – maximum of 15 persons
Liveaboard Diving
There are currently no liveaboard yachts cruising Lankayan or Layang Layang. There are, however, a couple of wonderful boats doing safaris further south on the east side of Borneo to the Derawan Islands and other great Indonesian sites. Here is my review and links to the vessels:
For reviews of diving at other Malaysian locations please check these posts:
- Kuching Diving Sarawak Malaysia
- Scuba Diving Kota Kinabalu
- Scuba Diving Malaysia Labuan Wrecks
- Best Perhentian Islands Holidays Scuba Diving
- Tioman Island Scuba Diving Review
- Best Dive Resorts Malaysia – Layang Layang & Lankayan Island Borneo
- Best Sipadan Scuba Dive Resorts
Transportation and Resorts
Transportation
Air to Layang Layang – Located in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea between Vietnam and Borneo, Layang Layang is a one-hour flight on regular special chartered flights from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. Coordinate with the resort for the arrangements.
Air to Lankayan – From Kota Kinabalu, you need to catch a flight to Sandakan Airport. The hotel will arrange a pick-up to get you the rest of the way. The boat transfer takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Coordinate all details with the resort.
Resorts
The website linked below is the contact for lodging and can arrange a booking. The rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates. Please take note of the limited season and book well in advance.
Lankayan and Layang Layang Photos
With the pristine coral reefs, biodiversity including wrecks, sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, macro critters, reef tropicals, and interesting onshore scenery, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities. For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:
Scuba Diving Trip Insurance
A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on Malaysian scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
Joe, I have done some snorkeling as a young man, and while on vacations in the Caribbean. I can see by your photos and video how gorgeous it is in Asia and the Philippines to learn and go diving there. your website has made me want to consider learning from a diving school in the midwest in the near future. What kind of cost are most schools to learn from?
Hi Bill,
Thanks for your kind comments and interest in learning to dive.
The open water diver course consists of 5 pool or shallow water training sessions, some study and 4 dives in open water. It can be done in 3-5 days. For locations like the US midwest, the cool season is the time when they might have an option to do the open water dives someplace warmer like Florida, Mexico or the Caribbean. That would jack up the cost some, but would probably be worth the money, if you have time for the trip. The basic course cost without a special trip would be in the range of $400-600. They aren’t as likely to be busy in the fall and winter, so perhaps you can look for a discount of sorts.
Let me know what comes of this. I’d like to see you get started as a diver and get a chance to see some of the really special locations and creatures. There is also a lot of good diving to be done in the lakes around the US. The dive shops will be able to direct you to the best local diving.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.
Best regards,
Joe
Wow, that looks pretty awesome. Sadly I am not much of a diver, my ears don’t handle the depth well. But I do really enjoy snorkling. Would this be a good destination for snorkling too?
I guess snorkling would make me miss out on seeing those big school of fish though, what a sight that must be IRL
Hi Linda,
Thanks for your comments and interest.
That’s too bad about your ears. Both Layang Layang and Lankayan are suitable for snorkeling, but Lankayan would be the better choice. They have a great beach and shallow water areas with lots of fish of interest, particularly juvenile blacktip reef sharks in large numbers in the sandy flats just off shore. Also, there are boat trips from there to places like the Sepilok orangutan sanctuary. If you find that you can get past the ear problem, it is also a great place to do the open water diver course.
A number of other places and liveaboards are great for snorkeling. If you would like to know more, or have any other questions, please get in touch.
Best regards,
Joe
Thanks for the tips Joe! I will keep this in mind for my asia trip next year!
Great, Linda!
Hey, Joe! Thanks for sharing. This blog has given me the urge to want to visit Malaysia sometime soon when I can. I am from Jamaica in the Caribbean and I must say that Layang Layang Island is very beautiful. I think anyone planning to visit an Aisan country, especially Malaysia will be glad to visit your site so they can include it as a part of their destinations to visit and book early.
I think I would definitely enjoy myself there.
Hi Nickoy,
Thanks for your kind comments.
I haven’t made it to Jamaica yet. I hope to get there someday. The music and the people are great.
It would be wonderful if you get a chance to come to Asia. These two islands are interesting and have great diving, but there are many other places to consider that aren’t quite as isolated. For great diving in Malaysia there is also Sipadan, which is fabulous. I urge you to look at other destinations on my website. I review a couple dozen that you can find in the menu under Liveaboards/Resorts.
If you or your friends have any questions, please get in touch.
Best regards,
Joe
Thank you for writing such an extensive review on Malaysia resort diving. Everything sounds very interesting and I think now I have full information in case I want to bring my family on a Malaysian vacation.
I’m not very conversant with Malaysian climate and would like to know when is the best time to come for vacations there and what would be a rough budget for a couple if stay for a month?
Hi Paul,
Thanks a lot for you kind comments and questions.
The rainy season is from December to March, but the temperature is warm year round. On these two islands your pricing as indicated on the website for both is over $179 per day per person as a diver. For two of you that is over $10,000 for a month. I have a feeling that isn’t what you would have in mind. Are you a diver? If so, I can give you a lot of advice of places to go, particularly around Asia, that are more reasonable for long stays, but they won’t be in the same class or standard as these two special locations. If you want to go to Sabah, you could try Kota Kinabalu which would give you access to a lot of the great nature of the region including orangutans, nature preserves, mountains and forests and the option of going to Layang Layang, Lankayan or Sipadan from there for a shorter visit. Checking with Agoda I see hotels there ranging from $10 to $670 per night. I suggest you to check out accommodations at a site like that for an idea of the quality and conditions.
If you are not a diver and would like to learn, let me know and I can guide you as to how to get it done and where.
I hope you get a chance to come to Asia for a look. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Best regards,
Joe
Thanks, Joe, for all the great information about Lankayan Island. Now I have my bucket list place to go. The green and hawksbill turtles, beautiful fish and the Sepilok orangutan sanctuary all look so intriguing. I am not a diver, so I am wondering if you can recommend the best place to learn to dive on Lankayan.
Dana
Hi Dana,
Thanks for your comments and question.
There is only one place in Lankayan, the Lankayan Island Resort. You could do the open water divers course there. It takes around 4 days and consists of 5 pool sessions to learn the basic skills, some study and classwork and 4 open water dives in the ocean. Lankayan is a great place for this as there are excellent shallow water conditions for new and learning divers. I hope you go for it. The diving there is great.
If you have another location in mind or a different price range, please let me know. I can help you find another good option.
Best regards,
Joe
Great post and good info!
I love to travel, but I never went to Malaysia for now, but seeing the beauty it has, it is really remarkable.
Borneo is my favorite personally, I heard a lot of good things about it, also the people are very gentle there and the price isn’t too high. So I will check it out deeper, I think I have my next travel goal in sight!
Thanks for sharing it.
Hi Emmanuel,
Thanks a lot for your kind comments.
Borneo is fascinating all around. There are other great diving locations like Sipadan and Semporna and wildlife abounds on land, as well.
Are you a diver? If you would like some advice about doing the course I can give you some direction. It takes around 4 days and consists of 5 pool sessions to learn the basic skills, some study and classwork and 4 open water dives in the ocean. You can do it at those two locations or many others around Borneo.
Best of luck.
Joe