Diving from Kota Kinabalu: Mantanani Island

Two dives at Mantanani Island, lunch on the beach, return by evening

Leisure diving at Mantanani Island departs from Kota Kinabalu with hotel pickup, scuba equipment and an English-speaking guide. You dive twice in the morning, eat a buffet lunch at the island restaurant, and return to your hotel by 6:30pm. Minimum four travelers required. Surcharges apply during peak season and for pickups outside the city center.

Step-by-step itinerary

Diving and leisure at Mantanani Island

• 0700am - Pick up from hotel
• 0930am - Arrive at Kota Belud Jetty, register and washroom break
• 1000am - Depart to Mantanani Island with safety briefing
• 1040am - Arrive at Mantanani Island, change and collect gear
• 1100am - Start diving
• 1300pm - Buffet lunch at island restaurant
• 1330pm - Free and easy time
• 1500pm - Return to jetty, freshen up and pack
• Evening - Transfer back to hotel, tour concludes

The experience

The day starts with a 7am pickup from your hotel in Kota Kinabalu, then a drive to Kota Belud Jetty where you board a boat for Mantanani Island. The crossing takes about 40 minutes and includes a safety briefing. Once you arrive, you change into your gear (all scuba equipment is provided), and enter the water by 11am for your first dive. The Borneo marine life here includes species most divers never encounter. The water is clear enough to see the reef structure and the fish moving through it.

You get two dives in the morning, with time between them to rest and hydrate. An instructor trained to work with leisure divers stays with you throughout, offering guidance on what to look for and how to move safely through the site. After the second dive, you climb out around 1pm and head to the island restaurant for a buffet lunch with seafood, chicken, vegetables and fruit, plus drinks. The view across the water frames the meal.

From 1:30pm onward, the time is yours. Some divers nap, others walk the beach or sit with a drink. At 3pm you head back to the jetty, freshen up, and board the boat for the return crossing. You arrive back at your hotel between 6 and 6:30pm. The whole day runs eight to nine hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Scuba equipment and air.
• two dives at Mantanani Island.
• an English-speaking diving instructor.
• buffet lunch with seafood, chicken, vegetables and drinks.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• boat transfer from Kota Belud Jetty to the island and back.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in the city center.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Asni Tours & Travel (M) Sdn Bhd

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Kota Kinabalu means you don't arrange transport to the jetty or time a taxi around the 7am start. The van collects you and returns you at the end of the day, which matters if you're staying in the city without a rental car.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What is the Borneo marine life like at Mantanani Island?

Mantanani Island sits in waters that hold species rarely seen on other Borneo dive sites. The reef structure is intact and the fish populations are dense. The water clarity lets you see detail across the site, not just what is close to you.

Do I need diving certification to go?

No. The activity is leisure diving, and the instructor provides training before you enter the water. You do not need prior experience or a card.

What happens if there aren't enough people to run the dive?

A minimum of four travelers is required for the boat to depart. If the booking falls short, the operator will cancel and offer you a full refund or a different date.

Does the price change during holidays or peak season?

Yes. A 30 percent surcharge applies during super peak and festive season periods, and it is paid on the day of travel. Check the calendar when you book.

What if my hotel is outside the city center?

Pickups from Borneo Hotels and outskirt hotels carry an additional charge of USD 15 per person. City-area hotels are included in the base price.