| Scuba Diving Malaysia-Semporna group of islands
Some
idyllic but mostly uninhabited island, off the town of
Semporna
in southeastern Sabah, have an underwater species diversity
alleged to be on par with that of Australia's Great Barrier
Reef. Being on the continental shelf, the surrounding waters
of these islands are relatively shallow, wit a maximum depth
of a mere 25m. There are two groups if island present: the Ligitan
group and the more important Gaya group.
Semporna, a very small but lively town, renowned for its cheap and delicious seafood, is the gateway to these islands. Mostly populated by fisherfolk of Filipino and Indonesia origin, their shanty hamlets on the sea front have unfortunately been termed unsanitary quarter that need serious attention from the relevant authorities. Tustic chalets, near to the jetty, provide some modest accommodation for the visitor. The seas around here are, however, still richly blessed with an abundant marine life. Fish markets on the waterfront sell crabs, lobsters, prawns and many varieties of fish and fishery products. Semporna is also the gate-way to Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai islands. Dive sites ( East Malaysia map) Pulau Mantabuan is approximately 3 km long and 1.5 km wide. It lies about an hour by speed boat North-East of Semporna. The entire island is beautifully clean - almost no flotsam on the clean beaches. The island is totally uninhabited, and the ocean is calm and inviting for scuba diving. If you are planning a day in the area, it is advisable to bring along your own drinks and food, as there are no facilities available. Around the island are a number of reefs: Mantabuan West: The reef has two separate crests. The first is shallow water and has a reef front which drops to a depth of 5 meters. This is then followed by a wide, gently shelving slope which extends outwards for several hundred meters. Mantabuan South-West: The South-West facing reef at the closest point to the island is both shallow and narrow. The reef drops from the shallow crest to a sandy bottom at 10 meters. A low tide reef is exposed and prevents even shallow fraught boats from reaching the island. Mantuan East: The Eastern reef borders on the deep water. The reef in its shallower sections slopes quite gently but the angle of the slope gradually increases. The reef top and shallow edges are mainly coral covered with a few sandy patches.
Pulau
Sibuan
lies approximately 16 km from Semporna, which is about
a half hour speed boat trip.
There is no drinkable water on the island, other than water which is shipped in from Semporna Like Pulau Mantabuan, the island is clean with almost no flotsam on the beaches, and the water is clear and inviting. About five families of the Sea Bajau tribe (sea gypsies) live on the Northern end of the island. There are no facilities on the island, or as previously noted, on Pulau Mantabuan, both islands being part of the Bodgaya Group of islands which are under the protection of Sabah Parks. The island is generally surrounded by a reef: Sibuan Reef: The Southern end of the island falls steeply without the formation of a reef. Elsewhere around the island there are well developed reefs with the steepest slope along the Eastern and South-Eastern sides.
The
reef lies at a depth of 3 - 6 meters. The reef then drops away
steeply before ending at about 22 meters. Beyond this is a slightly
less steep sand and boulder slope with the occasional coral
outcrop. There are two separate crests. The first is shallow
water and has a reef front which drops to a depth of 5 meters.
This is then followed by a wide, gently shelving slope which
extends outwards for several hundred meters.
Other
islands include Mataking
island and Pom
Pom island.
 Next Lankayan Dive sites around Malaysia :[ Sipadan island ][ Mabul ] [ Kapalai ] [Redang Island ] [ Tioman island ] [ Lankayan ] [Semporna island] [ Pulau Dayang/Aur ] [ Tenggol island ] [ Jarak Island ] [ Pulau Langkawi ] [ Layang-Layang ] [ Pulau Kapas ] [ Lang Tengah ] For more information contact us Home | Instructors | Dive Courses | Dive sites | Go Pro | Equipment | Fish ID | News & events | Photo Gallery | Dive trips | PADI Tec-Rec | Resources |
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