The Shallows

The Shallows lives up to its straightforward name as one of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park's most accessible dive sites, where minimal depth and calm conditions create a perfect environment for beginning divers, snorkelers transitioning to scuba, and anyone who appreciates the simple pleasure of extended time in warm, clear, life-rich waters. Located near the eastern islands of the park off Kota Kinabalu, this site proves that shallow water can deliver diving experiences every bit as rewarding as their deeper counterparts. The entire dive takes place over a gently sloping reef and sand landscape where the shallow depth ensures maximum light penetration. Sunlight floods the reef with tropical intensity, illuminating every coral and creature in vivid natural color that artificial light cannot match. This constant illumination drives vigorous coral growth, and the hard coral coverage at The Shallows is remarkably healthy, with dense fields of branching, plate, and massive corals creating a complex habitat just meters below the surface. The shallow profile fundamentally changes the diving experience in ways that deeper sites cannot replicate. Air consumption is minimal at these modest depths, allowing dive times that stretch well beyond an hour for conservative breathers. This extended bottom time transforms observation from hurried glimpses into patient study, and the marine life responds accordingly. Fish become less wary as they grow accustomed to a diver who simply hovers and watches rather than swimming through at speed. Reef fish populations at The Shallows are abundant and varied. The site's prolific coral growth supports thriving communities of damselfish, wrasses, butterflyfish, and angelfish. Juvenile fish of many species use the shallow coral formations as nursery habitat, and careful observation reveals tiny, almost translucent fish sheltering among coral branches, their colors and patterns still developing toward their spectacular adult forms. Larger visitors include hawksbill and green turtles that cruise through the shallows, sometimes ascending to the surface to breathe before gliding back down to resume feeding. The sandy patches interspersed among the coral formations hold their own treasures. Peacock mantis shrimp occasionally emerge from their burrows, their remarkable eyes swiveling independently as they assess passing divers with an intelligence that seems disproportionate to their crustacean status. Sea cucumbers process sand in their methodical way, and hermit crabs trundle across the bottom in their borrowed shells, occasionally pausing to inspect a potential upgrade. The Shallows is particularly magnificent for snorkeling, with the reef's proximity to the surface meaning that much of the marine life is visible without even submerging your head. For scuba divers, the site offers a no-stress environment where the fundamentals of buoyancy control, breathing technique, and marine life observation can be practiced and refined. It represents the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park at its most welcoming, inviting everyone to experience Borneo's underwater world regardless of experience level.