Navigation : Main > The Depths > [A Trip to Mataking Island]
Additional Links
A very basic guide to underwater photography with your Canon digital camera
One of the better non-alligned informational sites available on Redang Island by Alex and Joyce Kang.
Information about attractions in Sabah, and on the islands of Mabul, Kapalai, Sipadan and Mataking.
Very complete informational site about Tioman Island and its attractions.
Photo View
© Chin Yi Tan. All photos used in this article are courtesy of the author.
Approaching Mataking Island.
by Chin Yi Tan (in blue above)
A Trip to Mataking Island, Borneo

Northeast of the famed Sipadan Island , off the coast of Sabah ’s northern point lies another of nature’s best kept secrets. Until now that is.

Relatively uninhabited as early as 2002, Mataking Island offers a diving experience as divine as its serenity. An hour’s boat ride from the mainland Semporna will leave you at the shores of the Mataking Reef Dive Resort. The island’s, one and only resort that opened in April 2003.

As our boat approached the island, the clearest waters I’ve ever seen around Malaysia greeted us. As clear as 15 feet right down to the sandy bottom. Like kid reaching for a candy, I was jumping for joy, waiting impatiently for the boat to dock at the jetty.

Armed with Eric’s camera, my 5-day stay wasn’t picture perfect. It was far better than that. This was macro life paradise.

If our first shore dive was anything to go by, we were in for a whale of a time. Mind the pun. Scores of reef fishes swim right up to shore with even schools of jacks seeking cover under the jetty. As we finned further away from the shore, we had yellow box fishes, cuttlefish, an octopus, titan triggers, a hermit crab, napoleon wrasse and groupers for company.

As a Nudibranch fanatic, Mataking simply blew me away. There wasn’t a dive we didn’t see countless species. The Divemasters banging their tanks every other minute as they spot another colorful Nudibranch became a familiar sight. The magnificent sight of the Chromodoris, Polyceridae or Phyllidiidae always left me gasping for air. Again, mind the pun.

Another common resident of the island was the frogfish. “Oh no, not another one,” was probably a common thought in everyone’s minds. They were simply everywhere.

Moving on, our search for macro life also led us to the Orang Hutan crab, pink squat lobster, cleaner shrimp, anemone shrimp, pygmy sea horse and mandarin fish, to name a few.

The second day saw us diving at the world famous Sipadan. 60 seconds into our first dive, and we had a lone ham merhead to ourselves, albeit for 10 seconds. Talk about needing a reason to buy 4D. Here it was in front of us, all 6 feet of it. We certainly had better luck with its leopard cousin. It even posed for pictures for 10 whole minutes. Of course, no Sipadan trip is complete without the customary dance with the thousand or so barracudas and jacks.

Day 3 and 4 was equally as eye-opening. Groups of bottlenose dolphins escorting our boats to and from our dives, jumping in and out of the water, as you’d expect of their playful nature. Word has it a whale shark was seen circling off the island’s coast seemingly to congratulate the resort’s opening day. When you’re not in wetsuit, you’ll find that the resort will keep you equally busy with plenty of activities. From snorkeling to coconut bowling, batik painting to the more conventional volleyball. A spa treatment is also available. At night, the resort’s staff graciously put together an ensemble of traditional song and dance. After dinner entertainment also included a nature walk in search of coconut crabs (yes, they climb up coconut trees and eat coconuts!) and sea turtles that come to lay their eggs on the island’s sandy beaches.

If I had to describe my trip to Mataking in one sentence, I would say it’s like walking through a marine encyclopedia. There was never dull moment in this serene paradise. The staff at the resort was absolutely wonderful. They made all the difference to my stay.

Mataking also marked my 100th logged dive that followed with the staff celebrating with tamarinds and drums. They even presented me with a certificate and batik t-shirt!

I could go on and on about this seemingly faultless paradise. But seriously, don’t take my word for it. Experience it yourself. You won’t regret it. Not wanting to leave is the worse you could do.

The writer can be contacted at tcywishbone@yahoo.com
Side view of Mataking Reef Dive Resort.
Directions to your rooms, named after sea life.
Front views of the chalets.
Warmly furnished rooms.
Clean and well lit bathrooms.
Photo Album
For more photos from this trip at the photo album, Click this link here.