The Mantanani Islands are a grouping of three islands in northern Borneo that are located across from the town of Kota Belud on the northwest coast of the Malaysian state of Sabah. Mantanani Besar is the largest island; Mantanani Kecil and Lungisan are the other two. It is well-known for its dugongs and is a favourite spot for leisure diving. The Ubian words “manta” and “Nani” are combined to form the island’s name.

The three islands of Mantanani Besar, Mantanani Kecil dan Lunggissan can found many marine animal species such as Sea horses, imperial shrimp, blue-ringed octopuses, pink-eyed gobbles and others. Mantanani Island has several dive sites that offer a diverse range of marine life and underwater scenery. One of the island’s most famous dive sites is the House Reef, which features a stunning coral garden and a variety of tropical fish including parrot fish, butterfly fish and surgeonfish. Besides that,  larger pelagics such as barracudas, groupers and even reef sharks can be found on the reef. Another popular dive site is the South Reef, known for its deep drop-offs, large schools of fish and occasional sightings of mantas and whale sharks.

The best time to visit Mantanani island is from April to September. The best time to visit Mantanani island is from April to September. Towards the end of the year is the start of the monsoon season and the sea can be rough.