Pulau Mantanani (Mantanani Island)

Mantanani Island is a group of three isolated islands northwest of Kota Belud, a one-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu. Until recently, the islands were only known to a few locals. The largest island houses the only dive resort, Mantanani Resort which is situated at the western end on the edge of a white sandy bay.

Nestled amongst the tall coconut palms are beach cabins scattered around the main plantation styled house. Three wrecks have been discovered which still hold plenty of secrets and are now home to a menagerie of marine creatures such as Lionfish, Scorpionfish, octopus, glassfish and the coral reefs surrounding the islands have plenty to offer, for both novice and experienced diver.

Many species of rays can be found, Marbled stingray, Blue spotted ray and large schools of eagle rays. For macro photographers the “muck diving” is amazing, seahorses, imperial shrimps, pink-eye gobies, jawfish, blue-ringed octopus, ribbon eels and many nudibranch you want to be able to find in books! There are now 16 dive sites identified by Mantanani Resort with many more still to be explored. The Bajaus who live on Mantanani believes that the wreck site, which they refer to as batu air (water rock) is haunted, but yields a good source for their fishing and as such, treats the site with great respect. .

Best time to go is from April to December. Don't go from December through April. Visibility can be as high as 40m.

Dive Sites At Mantanani

Eikyo Maru
One of the most memorable dive experiences in Mantanani is the Eikyo Maru wreck, formerly a 7,000 tonne Japanese supply ship which sank in October 14, 1944. Eikyo Maru was part of a fleet making its way from Labuan towards the Palawan Passage during the Battle of Leyte. It was downed by an American submarine, the USS Dace's torpedoe. The coordinates of the sunken vessel was only discovered in 1998. The wreck stretche 200m from bow to stern.  You won't see the wreck till you're at least 10m below the surface. The foredeck sits at 31m below the surface. Covered with soft corals, The entire shape of the wreck is covered with shades of red, purple, yellow and white, and clouded by shoals of cardinal fish, batfish, tuna, and yellow-tailed barracuda. You may also spot an occasional glimpse of dolphins from afar. The structure is missing part of its top deck from the torpedoe hit, revealing the rib-like internal strucutre of the vessel.

How To Get There

From Kota Belud,

Accommodation
Mantanani Dive Resort
Tel: +6088-230000
Fax: +6088221106
Email: bornsea@pop1.jaring.my