LIVEABOARD DIVING IN Mataking

Mataking lies in the Alice channel, which is a 100m/330ft deep channel that connects Mataking to the world famous Sipadan Island. Mataking is different from other islands in the area due to its almost untouched landscape. Its fascinating underwater fauna and flora and great dive sites are suitable for both macro and pelagic lovers alike. Mataking has only one dive resort in the area, so the island is generally not overcrowded. Divers can enjoy schools of barracuda, trevally, and Spanish mackerel swirling around as they search the reefs for giant frogfish, mandarin fish and rare pygmy seahorses. Ribbon eels and leaf fish can also be found among the soft and hard corals covering the Mataking reefs. Lucky divers may even see the elusive orangutan crab and large green turtles are thought to be the biggest in the area. There are more than 10 sites around the island that attract both professional and amateur divers each year. The most popular dive sites are Garden Of Eden, The House Reef, The Wreck, Coral Garden and The North Point Of The Island (for experienced divers). On the north side of Mataking divers are treated to vertical wall dives with some very strong currents. Here the water is usually crystal clear and due to the strong currents many large pelagics are attracted, including grey reef sharks, hammerheads, manta rays and eagle rays. Garden of Eden on the east is covered with beautiful soft corals, anemones and featherstars. The dive drops to a depth of 25m/82ft with a mild current. Plenty of angelfish and Moorish Idols, also, frogfish and colorful ribbon eels can be seen on this interesting dive. Other dive sites include the suitably named Nudibranch Garden, Lobsters Lair and Turtle Playground - home to plenty of their namesake creatures. There is also a unique underwater post office: the Wreck, which is the first underwater post office in the world. Visibility in the area is normally above 20m/65ft and is especially good between April and June, sometimes up to 40m/131ft.