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Lankayan Island Dive Resort



Lankayan Island Dive Resort
From USD 186 per day
Shore dives
Max 46
PADI
Wi-Fi
LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE
At a glance...
  • Environmentally conscious resort
  • The only property on the island
  • Land and water based activities
  • Turtle sanctuary
  • Offers full board and diving packages
Customer reviews
Very good!421

Click on an image to enlarge


With brilliant, powdery white sandy beaches, the small Sabah island of Lankayan is reminiscent of the Maldives. The beach resort is environmentally conscious, being instrumental in having the surrounding waters protected and declared a national marine park. It's also the only resort on the island, meaning you can unwind and feel at one with nature. Walking along the beach, you can complete a circuit of the island in around 30 minutes. From the moment you step onto the jetty, you will feel the worries of the world drain away.

The island has been steadily growing in reputation and is beginning to emerge from the huge shadow of Sipadan. The highlight of Lankayan diving is from March to May each year, when you have the not-to-be-missed chance to dive with whale sharks. There's also a great jetty dive in very clear water with thousands of glassfish, lionfish and a wreck. At the end of the jetty are some sun loungers where you can go to sit and watch the sun set over this picturesque island.

The shallow reefs are really fantastic for snorkelling. When the tide is up you can watch blacktip sharks swimming around in the shallows along the beach. Unlimited beach diving means you can get to know the marine life around the island very well.

Many describe their time here as like being in a nature documentary, where at night dancing fireflies, swooping fruitbats and turtle hatchlings scurrying to the sea all delight the guests. Add to this the amazing scuba diving and snorkelling sights such as numerous baby black tip sharks, and you can see why you might leave sounding like David Attenborough.

Lankayan is favoured by couples seeking a romantic getaway, and those who want to dive in its unheralded waters away from the hordes. Many guests find it to be a little slice of paradise, awaking each day in their chalet to sights of the islands forested interior or a beautiful expanse of blue ocean. Book this Lankayan dive resort package and you also have a great opportunity to visit the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, close by on the mainland in Sandakan - Sabah.

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters cakap Bahasa Malay  Hokkien spoken by divemasters Inquire Now

Accommodation and Diving Package Prices...

 Prices valid until 31 December 2024

 Click 'Request' to send an inquiry for your preferred dive package:

All Year Round 24 - 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024
Days Nights Price per diver Price per non-diver Single supplement
(see note below)
USDUSDUSD
431,062826318
541,3661,030410
651,6701,234501
761,9741,438592
872,2791,642684
982,5831,846775
All Year Round 23/24 - 1 March 2023 to 30 June 2024
Days Nights Price per diver Price per non-diver Single supplement
(see note below)
USDUSDUSD
43965751290
541,242937373
651,5181,122456
761,7951,307538
872,0711,493622
982,3481,678704

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters cakap Bahasa Malay  Hokkien spoken by divemasters Inquire Now

More Package Details....
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, soft drinks, hot drinks, snacks.
Diving excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own):  Scuba equipment (US$ 38 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, soft drinks, hot drinks, snacks, 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 (US$ 14), Malaysian tourism accommodation tax (US$ 2 per room per night). For bookings of less than 4 guests on a 2 nights package - round trip boat surcharge (from Sandakan jetty to Lankayan Island) of MYR 800 + 8% SST. Single supplement on single travelers only, payable in advance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).
Single Supplement:  This is a compulsory additional charge on single travellers for the sole occupancy of double/twin accommodation.
Optional extras:  Alcoholic drinks, internet access, boat snorkel tours (US$ 11 - min. 2 pax), snorkelling equipment (US$ 8 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 and taken to the jetty at for registration before being transferred to the island. The boat transfer is daily and takes between 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours. To get the 10 am transfer on the same day, you need to take one of the earlier flights, arriving Sandakan before 9 am. Otherwise you can stay overnight in Sandakan and get a transfer the next morning. The once-daily boat transfer from Lankayan departs at 7 am. Guests are recommended not to book flights departing before 11 am.
- If you are arriving from Kota Kinabalu then there are daily 50 minute flights from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 departing to Sandakan on MH2042 07:05-07:45 with Malaysia Airlines, and AK6492 06:35-07:25 with Air Asia (returning on AK6491 11:10-12:00, AK6497 12:50-13:40, AK6495 16:15-17:05).
- There are also daily direct flights from Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines but in all cases you would need to overnight in Sandakan. Return flights are available with Air Asia on AK5189 17:00-19:45 and AK5195 20:15-23:05, and Malaysia Airlines on MH2711 14:10-17:10.
- 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.
Flight information changes frequently. You are responsible for booking the correct flights.
Note: There is a possible round trip boat surcharge (from Sandakan jetty to Lankayan Island) of MYR 800 + 8% SST for booking less than 4 guests on a 2 nights package. This transfer fee is payable on arrival.

Dive clubs and group discounts:  Groups of 9 guests or more - 1 extra person can join free of charge.

Add-on package:  Due to the dangers of flying after diving, guests often incorporate a visit to the orangutan sanctuary in Sepilok, which is conveniently located near Sandakan and close to Pulau Lankayan. If this is your only planned visit to Malaysian Borneo then we strongly recommend that you consider a 2 night add-on package at the Sepilok Nature Resort, a jungle lodge next to the sanctuary, to allow you to witness these not-to-be-missed jungle adventures with orang-utans.

Here you can see rehabilitated orangutans coming in from the open jungle to feed on bananas distributed by their human former carers. More orangutans, proboscis monkeys, macaques, elephants, crocodiles and more await you deeper in the jungle, and a few hours river cruise can take you there. With such a list of possible sightings, it is a little like scuba diving but without getting wet!

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters cakap Bahasa Malay  Hokkien spoken by divemasters Inquire Now

Rooms, Beds, Bathrooms, Views...
Sitting snugly in this dream location is this delightful beach resort constructed mostly of wood and consisting of 23 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
  • Private balcony
  • Private bathroom with hot water shower and bath
  • Toiletries and towels
  • Bedside lamps and mirror
  • Mosquito netting
  • 220V power points
  • Seating area

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters cakap Bahasa Malay  Hokkien spoken by divemasters Inquire Now

Diving Details...
All Lankayan dive packages include 3 boat dives per day and unlimited beach dives. Night dives are free of charge with your own buddy. There are over 32 dive sites, and all the reefs and wrecks can be reached in just a few minutes by boat from the jetty.

Dive boats feature:
  • Monohull speed boats
  • Maximum 15 persons
  • Steel entry and exit ladders
  • Shaded area
Dive guides are provided on all day trips as well as refreshments.

'Open Water Diver' and 'Advanced Open Water Diver' PADI courses are available, and, if you've never tried scuba before - Discover Scuba Diving.

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters cakap Bahasa Malay  Hokkien spoken by divemasters Inquire Now

Facilities, Location, Recreation...
Covered by thick tropical island vegetation on its topside, this peaceful, untouched little piece of paradise is ringed by an endless pure white sandy beach and nearby coral reefs that are ideal for diving. 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.

Lankayan is a small island, fully covered with tropical vegetation, featuring tall casuarina trees and pandan screwpine. There is little in the way of organised fun, but that is Lankayan's charm. The pace of life can be a slow here 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.

Guests staying at Lankayan have the choice of swapping 1 day - 1 night of their diving package with a visit to Sepilok Nature Resort and a tour of a Sabah rehabilitation centre for orang-utans plus a guided night walk through the Kabili Sepilok Forest to listen to the jungle 'orchestra' and spot animals (OR a guided bird watching walk).

Then there's a complimentary Sandakan City Tour (town, water village and Chinese temple).

Resort facilities: Restaurant & bar - satellite TV room - rental ocean kayaks - snorkelling - table tennis - beach volleyball - pool table - dart board - board games - international telephone & fax service - internet access incl. for personal laptops - babysitting - gift shop

Being part of a fully protected conservation area and not having suffered human occupation for long, the island and beaches are pristine and the waters clean and clear.

Location: Lankayan Island, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters cakap Bahasa Malay  Hokkien spoken by divemasters Inquire Now

Menu, Cuisine Type, Specialities...
Meals are served at the restaurant, which has excellent sea views.

Meals available:
  • Chinese and Western cuisine
  • Buffet style dining
  • A la carte available on request
  • Seafood
  • BBQ on customer request
  • Salads
  • Please send advance notice for veggie food
Complimentary breakfast is tea / coffee, toast, fruit juice, eggs and sausage, fruit, cakes and pastries, rice and noodles.

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters cakap Bahasa Malay  Hokkien spoken by divemasters Inquire Now

Dive Safety, Resort Security...
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 strongly urge you to take out appropriate scuba insurance, and bring policy details with you.

The resort provides 1 divemaster for every 10 divers. 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.

For your own personal valuables the resort provides safety deposit boxes, free of charge, in the resort's reception.

As a counter-terrorism measure, there are 12 armed Malaysian military personnel stationed on the island.

 English spoken by divemasters  Divemasters cakap Bahasa Malay  Hokkien spoken by divemasters Inquire Now

Customer reviews:

Customer rating - Excellent
"Everything was perfect, good equipment, very good staff." - , Germany, 2 July 2023 ...

Customer rating - Very good
"The diving was very good. The Lankayan Island Dive Resort did not have enough guests they said to have buffet style meals. The food was good and served timely for breakfast and dinner. But lunch was late , late, late. Which meant very little time between eating an the afternoon dive. I had to stop eating a full lunch because of this." - , USA, 15 July 2022 ...

Customer rating - Excellent
"The staff were absolutely wonderful, I had the difficult task of changing flights while I was there and they were endlessly patient and helpful every step of the way. The dive shop staff were incredible, they have unbelievable eyes for macro and I saw the most amazing macro things I have ever seen thanks to them as well as some great big stuff like the leopard shark and giant groupers. They were kind and lovely and helped us do the sunset dive every evening and took unbelievable care of me when I put my elbow on a scorpionfish! I was in tears when I left the island. What a paradise." - , South Africa, 16 August 2014 ...

Customer rating - Excellent
"Staff and facilities were very good. We read reports about slapdash dive operations at Lankayan but as experienced divers we couldn't really see too many problems. Gear a bit old and battered about, but that is always to be expected. Lankayan was indeed a paradise." - , New Zealand, 24 June 2014 ...

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SIPADAN ISLAND AREA Resorts

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Resorts Elsewhere in Malaysia

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