In a recent post I shared some tips on visiting the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park off the coast of Malaysian Borneo. This group of tiny tropical islands is an amazingly accessible place to go snorkelling, with regular boat services speeding you 15 minutes to a world of white sand, blue water and green jungle.
This week I thought I would share some of the underwater photos and video (taken by Mr Wandering Kiwi) so that you can get a clear idea of what to expect when snorkelling off the coast from Kota Kinabalu in the Sabah province of Malaysia.
It was our four-year-old daughter’s first experience snorkelling in the sea and I have to say it is a perfect place for beginners to try out snorkelling. The infrastructure is all there and very affordable.
We did some research on snorkelling and diving here in Malaysian Borneo before taking Wandering Kiwi Jr and dressed her in long sleeves and leggings because we had been warned about the possibility of sea lice and she wore sandals. It all went swimmingly and she was absolutely thrilled to “Find Nemo”!
Along with this accessibility and natural beauty comes popularity and this year-round tropical destination is very busy, particularly with domestic tourists and visitors from China.
And, like so many places in south-east Asia, and indeed the world, these days you can see the heavy traffic of people and proximity to a busy city has degraded the natural environment. The coral near the shore is dead looking and fish are not numerous.
Having said that, the islands and the beaches are gorgeous and along with climbing Mt Kinabalu and visiting with the Orang-utans at Rasia Ria, playing around the islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park was a very worthwhile element of our trip to Sabah in Malaysian Borneo.
Here is some brief video footage of snorkelling Sapi Island:
And here is some video of snorkelling at Mamutik Island:
By Natasha von Geldern
Hi Natasha,
I really like your blog. The pictures are wonderful and the text is informative and entertaining (I didn’t realise that sea lice could be a potential problem!)
I’d love to know what cameras you use – both for your standard photography, and the underwater shots.
Thanks!
Thanks so much for commenting Rose! I use a Canon EOS60D camera for my general photography and my partner used a GoPro Hero3 for the underwater shots and video – we’re still getting the hang of that. The 60D is a recent upgrade for me and I’m loving it 🙂
You’re welcome – and thank you for the information 🙂