The Malaysian state of Sabah is globally known as a diving paradise. It is situated in the north-east of Borneo, the third largest island in the world, and offers some of the best diving spots in Southeast Asia. It is also a place where travelers can find an almost pristine paradise of rare and endangered species, such as the orang-utans, green sea turtles, genuine tortoiseshell turtles, napoleon wrasses and giant clams.
But a visit Sabah is not only worth it for its fascinating underwater world. For years, the Malaysian state has been committed to serving as a green tourism destination for the protection of endangered species. There are orang-utan rehabilitation centers in Sepilok, which are accessible for tourists, as well as programs for the protection of the rare sea turtles. They head for the coast of Sabah in order to lay their eggs there.
The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is the most recent green tourism project of Sabah. It is solely dedicated to the sun bear, which is threatened by extinction. The center is being built in the vicinity of the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Center, where the endangered apes are being reared and prepared for their release back into the wilderness. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is a joint project of Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Forestry Department and LEAP (Land Empowerment Animals People), a Malaysian-American organization supporting environmental projects in Sabah. It is the first center of its kind in Asia and is scheduled for completion in 2009. The sun bear, the smallest species in the bear family, is only found in Southeast Asia. It is threatened by extinction due to the destruction of the rain forests and poaching.
For the year 2009, the Sabah Tourism Board anticipates more than three million tourists, as well as more than 1 billion Euros in tourism-related revenues. These figures are expected to be met through extended flight offers, amongst others, because 96% of vacationers travel to Sabah by plane.
Sabah is a paradise for divers and snorkelers, with a rich underwater eco-system of coral reefs. They house sea turtles and giant clams, for example, as well as tropical fish such as barracudas, mantas and hammerhead sharks. The most famous diving islands of Sabah include Sipadan – located in the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, one of the world’s richest oceanic biotopes – as well as its neighbors Mabul and Kapalai. The island of Mataking by Semporna offers famous diving spots, such as the eel gardens, the coral gardens, the turtle playground and „underwater mail“, for example. On Lankayan on the north-eastern coast, there are 14 diving spots, including the Lankayan wreck, and large whale sharks are spotted regularly between March and May. Mantanani in the north-west off of Kota Belud is home to many marine animals, such as the sea cow. Layang-Layang is another diving highlight, known as „The Jewel of the Borneo Banks“. The Island is situated 300 kilometers north-west of Kota Kinabalu in the South China Sea and houses 13 coral reefs. Their extreme position allows for a view of 2,000 kilometers of vertical reef walls.
An ideal starting point for divers and nature lovers, the Sutera Harbour Resort is located only 10 km from Kota Kinabalu Airport. In addition to two 5-star hotels, The Pacific Sutera and The Magellan Sutera, the resort comprises an exclusive marina and a golf course. The resort’s own yachts can be used for exploring the ocean and starting diving trips.
