Time to boost diving at Sabah’s Mantanani

As the country moves towards an endemic phase, tourism players are hoping to lure more domestic tourists to the idyllic Mantanani island.

Located about 40 minutes from the mainland, the island is often said to possess the picturesque view of the Maldives.

“Although Mantanani is well known among the diving community, very few locals are familiar with the island.

“People are generally more familiar with Sipadan in Semporna,” said Divercity dive centre operations manager Bonny Wong.

According to the 2021 Reef Check Malaysia annual survey report, the island also boasts some of the better coral reef health, with nearly 40 per cent of the island being dominated by mostly hard corals.

To date, the island has 19 dive sites, including three nearby dive wrecks dating from World War II.

Suitable for divers of all experience levels, its dive sites have recorded sightings of blacktip sharks, juvenile sea turtles, and even macro sea creatures such as seahorses, imperial shrimps, blue-ringed octopus and nudibranchs.

Wong, who set up the centre with his partner Dean Lee early this year, said before the Covid-19 pandemic the island was mostly visited by tourists from China and South Korea.

The island used to have almost 20 operators but now have five, including Sutera@Mantanani Island Resort & Spa, from where Wong and Lee are operating.

Wong added that the setting up of the dive centre was also to build a reputation before more foreigners return to Sabah.

Lee, who is also a diving instructor, said tourism could attract the locals in the island to take up jobs as dive masters.

Mantanani, home to a small Bajau Ubian fishermen community population, used to face major fish bombing threats.

“Fish bombing is usually done out of ignorance and lack of awareness of the importance of preserving our coral reef.

“Once you get to know the ocean better and it becomes your source of livelihood, you will take great pride in preserving it.

“Hopefully, this awareness will catch on within the fishing community, slowly but surely.”

PIC COURTESY OF DIVERCITY TRAVEL BOX A diver spots a sea turtle, when scuba diving at the Bukutan dive site off Mantanani island in Kota Belud, Sabah.