The island nation of Indonesia straddles the equator between the Indian and Pacific Oceans and lies at the heart of the ‘Coral Triangle’ - the epicentre of the world’s marine biodiversity. Nowhere on ...
Separated by the South China Sea, Malaysia is divided into Peninsula Malaysia on the Asian mainland, and East Malaysia in Borneo. Both parts of this fascinating country offer a wealth of different des...
There is nowhere on earth quite like the Maldives. With its pristine white sandy beaches, over-water bungalows and extensive healthy reefs, the Maldives provide front row access to a spectacular abund...
The Philippines is defined by its breathtaking landscapes, diverse marine life, lush rice terraces and mountain slopes, graffiti-splashed jeepneys, and the smiling, friendly people of this island nati...
Thailand has long been a firm favourite of divers who come in search of some of Asia’s most accessible diving and beautiful sites, famed for their colourful coral reefs, abundant marine life, and stun...
The Pacific is a vast blue wilderness punctuated by isolated arcs of green - chains of islands that rise from the oceanic depths as towering pinnacles of rock, coral and lush forests. Visitors can div...
The Red Sea stretches over two thousand kilometres from the Sinai Peninsula to the Strait of Bab el Mandeb. Navigated for thousands of years by Egyptian, Persian and Muslim sailors, the Red Sea was a ...
Layang Layang Island Resort offers the perfect mix of comfortable accommodation, fantastic service and exhilarating dive experiences. With regular sightings of schooling hammerhead sharks and plunging reefs to explore, LLIR is the perfect choice for divers looking to explore this remote marine haven.
Lying 300 kilometres off the coast of Sabah and part of the remote Spratly Islands, Layang Layang Island Resort is built on an artificial island on the edge of the atoll’s huge central lagoon. Originally created as a base for the Royal Malaysian Navy, the island now has an airstrip, the resort itself and a busy colony of seabirds - all surrounded by hundreds of kilometres of blue ocean. The resort offers the only accommodation and diving on the atoll, and does so in style - it’s distinct accommodation built in a traditional long house-style and enormous swimming pool offer a relaxing break between dives, while the resort and dive centre staff make sure guest’s needs are well taken care of.
Perfect for anyone looking for an escape from civilization, Layang Layang Island Resort’s real attraction is the unmatched dive sites around the atoll. This unique underwater ecosystem has reefs dropping to depths of up to 2,000 metres, and nutrient-rich currents that invite schooling scalloped hammerhead sharks, and even the occasional Orca. Even above the water, the island is home to colonies of migratory birds that raise their young in the safety of isolated sandbanks around the atoll.
Authentically styled after a traditional Sabahan longhouse, Layang Layang Island Resort’s 54 guest rooms are all air-conditioned and feature a private veranda, writing desk, fit with coffee and tea making facilities in the room. En-suite bathrooms are large and clean, complete with a rain-style shower and complimentary toiletries. The friendly housekeeping and guest services staff accommodate anything you could need. Wi-Fi is sparse and infrequent given the resort’s truly remote location. Triple the size of Standard rooms, the resort’s deluxe options are fitted with a king sized bed, feather pillows, and private Jacuzzi in addition to all the standard guest amenities.
Authentically styled after a traditional Sabahan longhouse, Layang Layang Island Resort’s 54 guest rooms are all air-conditioned and feature a private veranda, writing desk, fit with coffee and tea making facilities in the room. En-suite bathrooms are large and clean, complete with a rain-style shower and complimentary toiletries. The friendly housekeeping and guest services staff accommodate anything you could need. Wi-Fi is sparse and infrequent given the resort’s truly remote location. Triple the size of Standard rooms, the resort’s deluxe options are fitted with a king sized bed, feather pillows, and private Jacuzzi in addition to all the standard guest amenities.
Set along the edge of the central lagoon, the three-star accommodation is well-appointed with all the creature comforts needed for a comfortable escape in a remote paradise. While not designed for a luxurious holiday, staff are considerate and attentive, going out of their way to ensure guests feel right at home. In-room amenities are refreshed as often as you’d like, complete with unexpected touches like fresh flowers and towels arranged in oragami-styled hammerhead sharks and turtles!
The resort’s sunset restaurant serves up international food to accommodate a range of preferences - and to keep energy levels up ahead of the next dive. Buffet-style meals are served five times a day, and once a week, the entire staff hosts a beautiful Malay-inspired family meal in place of the standard buffet dinner. There’s also the cheerful Hammerhead Bar with well-priced drinks - the only bar in hundreds of kilometres of ocean - a palm-fringed swimming pool, and full-service spa.
The dive centre is well-equipped with quality dive gear, five dive boats, and a passionate dive team. Guides are conscientious and prioritize safety on these exciting dives. Briefings review everything from the underwater itinerary, the reefs and walls, current and depth expectations, and of course, full safety protocols. With challenging conditions and group sizes that can become quite large during high season, the sites are best suited for slightly more experienced, self-reliant divers. To ensure safe, well-planned dives, the resort requests that divers are certified to at least an Advanced level with 50 logged dives, and dive insurance is required. Certification courses are available through the centre including specialties like Deep Diving to 40 metres - a must to maximize chances of encountering the deep water Hammerhead schools.
Layang Layang rises sharply from the surrounding 2,000m deep ocean and more than a dozen connected coral reefs with sheer, vertical walls define the edge of the atoll. The location, currents, and dramatic underwater seascape make for an ecosystem packed with adrenaline-pumping pelagic life. While on the hunt for the “big fish” like hammerhead sharks and manta rays, divers can find themselves alongside huge schools of Jacks, countless reef fish, and curious turtles and triggerfish. The atoll is visited by passing cetaceans and pods of dolphins often accompany the dive boats traveling between dive sites, and even Orca are encountered every season.
The atoll and adjacent reefs of the Spratly Islands are some of the most remote reef ecosystems in Asia, and the resort works in concert with local authorities to ensure sustainable operations that do nothing to disrupt the delicate ecological balance. Conservation-driven policies are strictly adhered to, including respecting a no-gloves rule on dives to limit improper interactions with the reef. The resort staff conduct shore cleans around the island on a regular basis - the island doesn’t produce much of its own waste but diligently collects rubbish washed ashore from faraway mainland sources. Its dive centre also maintains an artificial reef and wreck just off its pier in the Layang Layang Island lagoon.
No. of Rooms: 54
Dive Center Affiliation: PADI
Official Dive Center Rating: 5 Star
Languages: English, Malay
Courses Offered: Open Water, AOW, Rescue, Dive Master, IDC, MSDT, specialities including Reef Check
