Picture this: You are on a speedboat with wind gliding through your hair & sunbeams embracing your face, to the right you can see the view of the majestic Mount Kinabalu & straight ahead you can see the picturesque islands, tempting you to plunge into the crystal blue water to discover the magical Kota Kinabalu Marine Park.
TARP (also known as Kota Kinabalu Marine Park) consists of 5 beautiful islands with scenic white sandy beaches (Gaya, Sapi, Mamutik, Manukan & Sulug), just 15 minutes by speedboat from Jesselton Point jetty in Kota Kinabalu (KK) city centre.
The marine park has a mixture of shallow macro diving & sloping walls with stunning coral reefs. Dive sites range from 5m-30m, you can see some incredible marco life such as Shrimps, Crabs, Pipefish, Seahorses, Nudibranchs as well as awesome larger marine life such as Turtles, Barracuda, Tuna, Eagle Rays & Black Tip Reef Sharks, you will not be disappointed! From beginners to the most experienced of instructors, it is ideal for all types of divers. There’s a hidden gem around each corner waiting to be discovered by divers! HOWEVER it is not just popular for divers, the marine park is also an exciting experience for non divers, being able to see most of the amazing marine life just snorkelling in the shallow outer reefs. Snorkelers can often see schooling reef fish, turtles & even black tip reef sharks! And don’t worry, they are not scary at all! If you don’t fancy snorkelling then you can be dropped off on one of the islands to explore paradise!
If you are feeling adventurous on your surface interval you can do the famous zipline which connects to both Gaya & Sapi island, or you can just simply bathe in the sun & relax!
Are the mystical dark waters alluring you to dive in?
Kota Kinabalu marine park offers you a completely different diving experience allowing you to see your favourite dive sites in a whole new light! Exhilarating yet surprisingly calming at the same time. As you descend into the darkness with your beam of light let us show you the wonders of the ocean at night! How the Colourful Parrotfish sleep comfortably in their coral beds with a mucus bubble! When the sun sets, all sorts of creatures including moray eels, shrimps, cuttlefish and octopus come out to play and we will lead you along for a fascinating dive!
The islands being only 15 minutes from KK city centre makes it an ideal & convenient day trip for people that live in KK area.
Direct flights from many airport hubs make getting to & from Kota Kinabalu simple (you know, unless there’s a global pandemic hindering travel),if you are coming from both interstate or international countries. Flights operate frequently from Kuala Lumpur & other states, along with Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines & many more countries. Search for flights from your home on Google Flights or your favorite search engine!
Click here for more information about getting here!
