Labuan Marine Park: Island Hopping and Snorkelling

Labuan Marine Park protects the waters around three small islands off the southern tip of Labuan, the duty-free federal territory in Brunei Bay. Snorkellers come for white beaches and shallow reefs, but divers come for the wrecks: four sunken ships that make Labuan one of the best wreck-diving spots in Malaysia. It is quieter and far less developed than the island parks of Sabah, which is a large part of its appeal.

The islands of Labuan Marine Park

Pulau Kuraman is the largest island, with two main beaches, a long sand spit, forest trails and an old British lighthouse on its highest point, built between 1897 and 1913. It has a jetty and is the usual stop for picnics and swimming.

Pulau Rusukan Besar sits next to Kuraman. It is small, densely forested and good for swimming and snorkelling off the beach. Pulau Rusukan Kecil is smaller still and undeveloped. Fishing, anchoring on reefs and collecting coral are prohibited throughout the park.

Wreck diving in Labuan Marine Park

The four wrecks lie in around 30 to 35 metres of water, with their highest points at 8 to 12 metres, so most suit advanced divers.

• The American Wreck: USS Salute, a US Navy minesweeper lost in the Second World War.
• The Australian Wreck: SS De Klerk, a Dutch vessel from the Second World War.
• The Blue Water Wreck: MV Mabini Padre, a Philippine trawler sunk in the 1980s.
• The Cement Wreck: Tung Hwang, a Japanese freighter sunk in the 1980s.

All diving in the park must be done with a licensed operator. Most dive boats leave Labuan town around 8am and return in the early afternoon after two dives. The marine park fee is usually included in dive and snorkelling packages, but confirm when you book.

How to get there

Boats depart from Victoria, Labuan’s main town. The ride to the islands takes around 15 to 30 minutes, and the wrecks are 30 minutes to 1.5 hours away depending on the site. Most visitors join a snorkelling tour or dive trip, or charter a boat. Labuan itself is about 20 minutes by air from Kota Kinabalu, with ferries also running from Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.

Best time to visit

February to October offers the calmest seas and best visibility. The northeast monsoon from roughly November to January can bring rougher water and cancelled trips. Weekdays are quietest.

How it fits your trip

Labuan makes an unusual two or three-day add-on from Kota Kinabalu, especially for divers. If you only want a beach and snorkelling day near KK, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is easier to reach. Our guide to the best islands in Malaysia compares the options.