Pulau Labuan is located on the west coast of Sabah, about 8 kilometers from the nearest point of Sabah and about 123 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu which is the Capital of Sabah. The waters of 2 nautical miles from the coast that surrounds the 3 small islands, was declared as Labuan Marine Park after 1994. The three islands are Pulau Kuraman, Pulau Rusukan Kecil and Pulau Rusukan Besar, located southwest of Labuan Island.
Pulau Kuraman is located about 14 kilometers from Victoria Harbor, Labuan and measures approximately 5.2 square kilometers. It has two white and beautiful beaches, perfect for picnics and sunbathing.
The island is surrounded by hard corals; The most common species is Acropora tubinaria. Reefs can be found at a depth of 8 – 13 meters. Pulau Rusukan Kecil is located near Pulau Kuraman and covers an area of only 8 ha. The coral reefs around the Little Rusukan Island are mostly Acropora and Platygyra species. Pulau Rusukan Besar is approximately 14 ha in size and is located next to Pulau Kuraman , and about 15 Km from Victoria Harbor.
Apart of these 3 islands, visitors to Labuan can also visit several shipwrecks to dive where corals, especially soft corals and marine life can be found in abundance. The shipwreck is known as “Cement Wreck”, “American Wreck”, “Australian Wreck” and “Blue Water Wreck”. Divers who can dive in the shipwreck range from new divers to experienced divers who can dive right into the hull.
There are many hotels and chalets that provide accommodation to Pulau Labuan visitors. You can book according to the package provided for those who wish to spend the night here. While you are here, you are welcomed to visit the Pulau Rusukan Besar Marine Park Center to get more information on the activities carried out in the Marine Park.
The waters around the island are ideal for snorkeling and swimming. There are also places for camping and picnics. There are coral reefs in the western, eastern and southern waters of Pulau Kuraman. The waters to the east and south of the island are ideal for snorkeling and watching from glass-bottom boats, as well as scuba diving.
By Air
Labuan can be reached via flights from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. Flight times are 2½ hours and 20 minutes respectively.
By Sea Route
The boat ride from Victoria Harbor to the 3 islands takes about 30 minutes. The journey from the Port to the shipwreck takes 30 minutes to 1½ hours.
List of Scuba Diver Operators at Labuan Marine Park
| No. | Name of Operator | Telephone No. | Fax No. | Mobile | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Borneo Star Dive Sdn Bhd | S06 & SS07 Labuan International Sea Sports Complex | 07-222 8642 | 012-824 5177 | stardivers2005@yahoo.com |
