Lankayan
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Why dive in Lankayan Island?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 9
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Variable Frequent sightingsBlacktip Reef Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus
A small, agile requiem shark recognized by the distinctive black tips on its dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins. Commonly found patrolling shallow coral reefs and lagoons, it is one of the most frequently encountered reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreat Barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
The Great Barracuda is a large predatory fish known for its fearsome appearance and speed. It has an elongated body, pointed head, and large teeth, making it a proficient hunter in coastal and open waters.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Frequent sightingsOrnate Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus paradoxus
The Ornate Ghost Pipefish is a master of camouflage, with a highly variable body coloration and intricate, leaf-like appendages that allow it to blend seamlessly with crinoids, corals, or algae in its tropical Indo-Pacific reef habitats. This ambush predator typically hovers head-down, feeding on small crustaceans like mysid shrimps and benthic shrimp, which it sucks into its elongated snout. Females are larger than males and carry eggs in a specialized brood pouch formed by their modified pelvic fins.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsPainted Frogfish
Antennarius pictus
The Painted Frogfish (Antennarius pictus) is a marine ray-finned fish found in the Indo-Pacific. It possesses a globulous, extensible body with soft, warty skin, and exhibits highly variable coloration for camouflage. This ambush predator uses a modified first dorsal spine (illicium) with a lure (esca) to attract its prey, which mainly consists of small fish and crustaceans.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsSpotted Seahorse
Hippocampus kuda
The Spotted Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda) is a distinctive marine fish known for its horse-like head, prehensile tail, and often mottled or spotted coloration, ranging from yellow to black. It inhabits shallow coastal waters, including seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs, across the Indo-Pacific region. Primarily diurnal, this species is a carnivorous ambush predator, feeding on small crustaceans and zooplankton, and is notable for the male carrying the eggs in a brood pouch until hatching.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 59
Barred MorayEchidna polyzona
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Blue-Ringed OctopusHapalochlaena spp.
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluering AngelfishPomacanthus annularis
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluespotted Ribbontail RayTaeniura lymma
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Blunt-head ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinos
Brownbanded Bamboo SharkChiloscyllium punctatum
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkii
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Dogtooth TunaGymnosarda unicolor
Dusky BatfishPlatax pinnatus
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis
Giant clamTridacna gigas
Golden SpadefishPlatax boersii
Guineafowl PufferArothron meleagris
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Longtail Butterfly RayGymnura poecilura
Mimic OctopusThaumoctopus mimicus
Ocellaris ClownfishAmphiprion ocellaris
Ocellated Eagle RayAetobatus ocellatus
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Orbicular BatfishPlatax orbicularis
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Ornate Eagle RayAetomylaeus vespertilio
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Peacock Mantis ShrimpOdontodactylus scyllarus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Redtooth TriggerfishOdonus niger
Reef Manta RayMobula alfredi
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Snowflake MorayEchidna nebulosa
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
StonefishSynanceia verrucosa
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Teira BatfishPlatax teira
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Tiger Tail SeahorseHippocampus comes
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Tomato ClownfishAmphiprion frenatus
Warty FrogfishAntennarius maculatus
Weedy ScorpionfishRhinopias frondosa
White-spotted PufferfishArothron hispidus
Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesus
Yellow BoxfishOstracion cubicus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Zebra SharkStegostoma tigrinum
Where is Lankayan
Sulu Sea · Malaysia
Frequently asked questions about Lankayan
When is the best time to dive in Lankayan?
The best time to dive in Lankayan is from March to October. In those months the water is between 27°C and 29°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Lankayan?
Divers can encounter 68 species in Lankayan. Highlights include Blacktip Reef Shark, Great Barracuda, Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Humphead Wrasse, and Ornate Ghost Pipefish.
When can you see the Ornate Ghost Pipefish in Lankayan?
The Ornate Ghost Pipefish is most often seen in Lankayan from April to October.
When can you see the Painted Frogfish in Lankayan?
The Painted Frogfish is most often seen in Lankayan from May to October.
When can you see the Spotted Seahorse in Lankayan?
The Spotted Seahorse is most often seen in Lankayan from May to October.
What is the water temperature in Lankayan?
Water temperature in Lankayan ranges from 27°C in January to 29°C in January.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Lankayan?
Most divers wear a 3 mm wetsuit in January, when the water drops to 27°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in January, when it reaches 29°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Lankayan?
Visibility in Lankayan ranges from 10 m to 35 m. The water is clearest from July to August.
What are the currents like in Lankayan?
Divers in Lankayan can expect moderate, strong, or light currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Lankayan?
After dark, Lankayan reveals nocturnal species such as Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray, Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, Fimbriated Moray, Giant Moray, Leaf Scorpionfish, and Lionfish.
Where is Lankayan located?
Lankayan is a dive destination in Malaysia, in the Sulu Sea.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Lankayan. Spotted something that looks off?
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