Tucked away in the turquoise waters of northeast Sabah, Lankayan Island Dive Resort is the sole custodian of a pristine, sand-fringed island. This exclusive retreat is designed for divers who prioritize a strong connection with nature and the assurance of a protected marine environment. The resort operates with a strong ethos of conservation, playing an integral role in the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA), which safeguards the vibrant reefs at its doorstep. Choosing Lankayan Island Dive Resort means accepting that there are no shops, no nightlife, and no other boats; just you, the reef, and a handful of fellow divers.
The diving experience here is defined by accessibility and intimate encounters. The Lankayan Island Dive Resort offers unlimited shore diving, allowing you to explore the house reef and the acclaimed Lankayan wrecks at your own pace. The macro life is exceptional, with seahorses, frogfish, and flamboyant cuttlefish commonly sighted. Seasonally, from roughly March to May, the nutrient-rich currents can attract passing whale sharks, offering a majestic spectacle for those on scheduled boat dives.
Above the surface, the island is a nature sanctuary. The pace is unhurried, with time measured by the rhythm of the tides and dive schedules. A stroll along the beach may reveal turtle tracks, a testament to the resort’s active on-site hatchery program. Evenings are often spent on the jetty, where sunsets paint the sky and the shallow waters below become a stage for baby sharks and nocturnal marine life. Guests at Lankayan Island Dive Resort quickly learn that the surface intervals are as memorable as the dives themselves.
Accommodation at the Lankayan Island Dive Resort is intentionally rustic-chic, comprising wooden chalets nestled amongst the island's native casuarina trees or over the sea. The design emphasises harmony with the environment, offering comfort without intrusion. The central, open-air restaurant serves buffet-style meals with panoramic sea views, functioning as the relaxed social hub of the island.
This resort particularly suits divers seeking a focused, eco-conscious getaway away from crowds. Its location within a marine protected area ensures a sense of exclusivity and a tangible commitment to sustainable tourism. The combination of effortless shore diving, robust conservation practices, and genuine seclusion forms the core identity of the Lankayan Island Dive Resort.
For those looking to extend their Borneo adventure, a stay at Lankayan can be effectively paired with a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, creating a comprehensive wildlife and wilderness experience that spans both jungle and reef.
Sitting snugly in this dream location is this delightful beach resort constructed mostly of wood and consisting of 18 stilted beach chalets and 9 water chalets. Many of the beach chalets are directly on the waterfront while others are set further into the little virgin rainforest that covers most of the island. The water chalets are set directly over the sea. The chalets at Lankayan Island Dive Resort are spacious, air-conditioned, with en-suite facilities and tastefully furnished with local arts and crafts. You can enjoy sunset drinks on the privacy of your own balcony or by getting to know other guests at the resort bar.
All the chalets have:
- Air-conditioning
- Some with private balconies
- Private bathroom with hot water shower and bath
- Toiletries, towels, hairdryer
- Daily housekeeping
- Bedside lamps and cabinet
- Mosquito netting
- Fridge
- Personal safety box
- Wardrobe, mirror and shelves
- 220V 24-hour electricity, 3-pin Euro-style power points
- Adaptors available from reception
- Fire alarm and fire extinguishers
Lankayan Island Dive Resort offers a diver's paradise wrapped in convenience and natural beauty. Each dive package includes 3 boat dives daily, plus unlimited beach dives, allowing guests to explore the vibrant underwater world of Lankayan at their own pace. With over 32 dive sites surrounding the island, including reefs and wrecks, all are easily accessible by boat within just a few minutes of the jetty. This means more time underwater and less time in transit, making the Lankayan Island Resort ideal for both seasoned divers and those looking to maximise their time in the water.
Dive boats trips:
- 3 times per day 8 am, 10:30 am and 3 pm
- Monohull speed boats (2 x 150 HP engines). Maximum capacity 15 persons
- Shaded area, Steel entry and exit ladders. Life jackets, first aid kit and oxygen
- Dive guides are provided on all dive trips (1 divemaster for every 10 divers).
Shore diving:
- Unlimited jetty dives until 8 pm for guests with the diver package. No solo-diving, dive within recreational limits.
- Night dives are complimentary when diving with your own buddy, adding a magical dimension to the experience.
Snorkelling at Lankayan Island Resort:
- Beach and chalet snorkelling at high tide only and until sunset.
- Snorkel boats: 2 x 1-hour trips - 9:30 am and 2:30 pm. MYR 54 per person per trip. Guides available on request.
- Additional costs for snorkellers: Any rental equipment needed.
Dive centre features:
• Scuba equipment rentals, • Outdoor shower, • Gear washing zone
• bathroom and changing rooms, • Coffee, tea and drinking water
'Open Water Diver' and 'Advanced Open Water Diver' PADI courses are available, and, if you've never tried scuba before - Discover Scuba Diving.
Safety:
The nearest chamber treatment facility to Lankayan for diving injuries is at Semporna. Semporna is 200 km from Lankayan and reachable only with air transport. We therefore urge you to take out appropriate scuba insurance, and bring the policy details with you.
Each dive boat carries a small tank of emergency breathing oxygen and there is a further supply back at the resort.
The nearest medical facility is on the Borneo mainland at Sandakan.
Covered by thick tropical island vegetation of tall casuarina trees and pandan screwpine on its topside, this peaceful, untouched little piece of paradise is ringed by an endless pure white sand beach and nearby coral reefs that are ideal for diving. The island is located within a marine protected area, SIMCA. SIMCA stands for Sugud Island Marine Conservation Area. Baby sharks swim in the shallows, turtles will pop their heads up in the water perhaps planning to come ashore to lay eggs and turtle hatchlings scurry down the beach for their first swim in the sea.
There is little in the way of organised fun, but that is Lankayan's charm. The pace of life here can be as slow as you wish to make it and non-diving partners seeking a lovely island break can enjoy the nature and seclusion while their diving partner is below the surface.
Lankayan Island Dive Resort facilities: Restaurant (with wi-fi) & bar - Lounge with satellite TV - Mini book library - Ocean kayaks rental - Snorkelling - Beach volleyball - Babysitting - Gift shop
Security: As a counter-terrorism measure, there are 12 armed Malaysian military personnel stationed on the island.
Location: Lankayan Island, Sabah
After a day immersed in the vibrant macro life of the Celebes Sea, the culinary experience at Lankayan Island Dive Resort provides a satisfying return to the surface. The resort’s open-air, timbered restaurant is a cornerstone of the island rhythm, offering panoramic views over the beach and shallows, where schools of fusiliers and the occasional blacktip reef shark often pass by.
Meals are primarily served as a varied buffet, featuring a mix of Chinese and Western dishes. The daily schedule ensures dive times and meal times complement one another. Breakfasts (6 - 10:30 am) offer both continental and local options, while lunches (12 - 2 pm) and dinners (7 - 8:30 pm) showcase fresh salads, succulent seafood, and tasty grilled items. For special occasions, private BBQ dinners can be arranged on request.
The team readily accommodates special dietary needs with advance notice, ensuring every guest can dine with confidence. As you recount the day’s sightings over a cooked meal, the catering service and serene setting affirm why Lankayan Island Dive Resort is a cherished base for discerning scuba divers and snorkellers.
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MORE PACKAGE DETAILS
Special offers: Packages prices have been discounted by 7% until further notice. Offer closes: 31 Dec 2050
The Lankayan Island Dive Resort is open from March to December every year. January/February, the resort is closed due to bad weather.
Special rates apply for Malaysians and expatriates with Malaysian work permits. Please contact us for details at info@dive-the-world.com
Destinations:
Lankayan Island (Diving environment: wreck diving, healthy reefs, beginner & advanced divers, off the beaten track; Highlights: whale sharks, turtles, great macro life/marine diversity).
No diving on day of departure.
Resort diving includes:
Dives (as detailed in the packages above), unlimited self-guided shore and night dives, and snorkelling in front of scuba centre, boat rides to sites, experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 10 divers per DM), tanks, weights and weightbelts, drinking water, hot drinks.
Diving excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own):
Scuba equipment (USD 43 per day). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.
Optional extras:
Extra boat dives, scuba computer, dive insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased on site are subject to change.
Resort accommodation includes:
Bed, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinking water, hot drinks, return resort transfers from Sandakan airport.
Accommodation excludes (mandatory):
8% sales and service tax (SST) on package prices above (payable in advance), Lankayan conservation fees per person per night, payable in advance (USD 16), Malaysian tourism accommodation tax (USD 2 per room per night). A public holiday surcharge (USD 25 per night) is applicable for stays on public holidays (1 May, 30 May, 2 June, 31 August, 16 September). Single supplement on single travellers only, payable in advance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).
Note: for bookings of less than 4 adults on a 2 nights package, or bookings for 3 nights with less than 2 adults - there is a roundtrip boat transfer surcharge (from Sandakan jetty to Lankayan Island) of USD 199 (+8% SST) per group, if there are no other guests to transfer on the day. This fee is payable on arrival.
Single Supplement:
At Lankayan Island Resort, this is a compulsory additional charge on single travellers for the sole occupancy of double/twin accommodation.
Optional extras:
Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, snacks, internet access, boat snorkel tours (USD 13 - min. 2 pax), snorkelling equipment (USD 9 per day), kayak hire. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.
How to get there:
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (and then Sandakan) is the main gateway to Pulau Lankayan and there are direct flights to and from Bangkok, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Taiwan, Kaoshiung, Singapore, Philippines, Kuala Lumpur and Brunei. Guests are collected at Sandakan Airport (code: SDK) and taken to the town jetty for registration before being transferred to the island.
The boat transfer to Lankayan Island Dive Resort is daily and takes between 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours. To get the 10:30-11 am transfer on the same day, you need to take one of the earlier flights, arriving Sandakan before 9:30-10 am. Otherwise you can stay overnight in Sandakan and get a transfer the next morning.
The once-daily boat transfer from Lankayan Island Resort departs at 7 am. Guests are recommended not to book flights departing before 11 am.
There are daily direct flights to Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu and from Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines, and with Air Asia. If you plan to arrive from Sipadan then there are direct flights to/from Tawau with Malaysia Airlines but you would need to overnight in either direction.
For more information on how to get there (including airlines) see our Malaysia resorts travel section.
Dive clubs and group discounts:
5% off the package rate for 3 adults sharing in a chalet.
Groups of 9 guests or more - 1 extra person can join free of charge.
Add-on package:
Since flying immediately after diving isn’t safe, many guests at Lankayan Island Dive Resort extend their trip with a visit to the world-famous Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, located near Sandakan, just a short transfer from Pulau Lankayan. If this is your only trip to Malaysian Borneo, we highly recommend adding a stay at Sepilok Nature Lodge, a tranquil jungle lodge right next to the sanctuary. This unforgettable add-on lets you witness Borneo’s incredible wildlife up close.
At Sepilok, you’ll observe rehabilitated orangutans swinging in from the rainforest to snack on bananas during feeding sessions - a truly magical experience. But the adventure doesn’t stop there! Venture deeper into the jungle to encounter proboscis monkeys, macaques, pygmy elephants, crocodiles, and more. A river cruise through lush waterways offers even more wildlife sightings. Think of it like scuba diving, but without getting wet!
Don’t miss this chance to combine Lankayan’s underwater wonders with Borneo’s legendary jungle encounters. A perfect finale to your island escape!
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