Pulau Layang Layang in Sabah

Pulau Layang Layang is not as famous as Sipadan Island but is a place you should also visit when you are in Sabah.....

Layang Layang , known as ‘Swallows Reef’ is an atoll situated in the South China Sea 300km north west of Kota Kinabalu. The island is man-made and was constructed for the Malaysian Navy and later developed for the only dive resort, Layang Layang Island Resort. The island location offers absolute isolation, luckily there is an airstrip with regular flights from Kota Kinabalu, which is the only mode of transport for guests visiting Layang Layang.

With a 1,665 to 1,998 metres drop, the island is an exceptional place for the more experienced diver. The waters beneath offer fascinating seascapes and marine life, including several diverse species of coral and reef fish. Layang-Layang is an isolated atoll-like ring of 13 connected reefs in a 14 sq km area. The whole island is only 7.5 km long and 2 km wide.

In 1985, the Malaysian Federal Government began reclamation works and created a 50-acre island on one part of the reef. Layang-layang resort development follow suit and in 1986, the resort was open to guests. On the island there is only one resort - Layang Layang Island Resort and a Malaysian navy base. Please take note that the navy base is restricted area. Well, don't cross the border..The diving season starts from March to September. Best time to go from our view point is from April- May.

The extreme location of Layang Layang, the pristine excellent visibility, steeps walls down to 2000m and regular sightings of pelagics has given Layang-Layang a much deserved reputation of being one of the top ten dive locations in the world. With resident schools of barracuda and big-eye trevally and frequently seen green and hawksbill turtles the reef has something to offer everyone. The corals are plentiful and healthy with sea fans more than three meters across that filter plankton from the passing currents. The 20m deep lagoon has some great macro creatures to be found including seahorses, cuttlefish and pipefish but it is the pelagics visiting the outer walls that truly excite divers. Schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks, leopard sharks and the occasional threshers and silvertip sharks can all be seen.

Stingray are also regular visitors including manta rays, pygmy devil rays, marbled rays and eagle rays. Rare sightings such as whale sharks, orcas and melon headed whales have all been seen over the last few years. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins frequently follow the dive boats to each location and divers are sometimes rewarded with snorkeling and diving with these amazing creatures. With its pristine reef, diverse fish life and visiting pelagics, Layang Layang has rightly gained world wide recognition.



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