Lankayan Island Dive Resort

Lankayan Island is a tiny island in the Sulu Sea roughly a 1.5-hour boat ride north of Sandakan and is part of a large Marine Protected Area. Unpopulated and covered by thick tropical island vegetation, this peaceful, untouched little bit of paradise is ringed by a white sand beach. Situated within the Sea Turtle Corridor, Lankayan Island is also a nesting place and foraging ground for sea turtles, most commonly the Green and Hawksbill Turtles. There will be a chance to see turtles nesting as well as new turtle hatchlings, especially between June and September.

The Island offers rustic accommodation in 24 wooden, roomy and well-appointed seafront chalets. Each wooden chalet is en-suite and offers air-conditioning, small refrigerators and balconies with views out to the turquoise waters of the Sulu Sea. The impressive stilted restaurant building located out in the Sea is where all your buffet meals are taken. There is internet access in the restaurant and a TV room above it. The small bar offers a fairly good range of drinks and there is also a small gift shop selling essentials such as batteries and postcards.

Water sports gear and dive equipment are available for rental in the dedicated dive school and the Reef Guardian building has an informative display describing the work they are doing to protect the marine environment, with particular reference to the local turtle population.