Dive-site story
Situated off the fringing reef system of Mataking Island in Sabah, Sweetlips Rock features a gently sloping coral garden that gives way to sandy patches and scattered coral bommies. Schools of sweetlips hover under table corals and overhangs, while the surrounding shallows support a dense mix of hard and soft coral colonies. The site offers relaxed reef exploration with minimal surge on typical days.
Congregations of oriental and ribboned sweetlips sheltering beneath coral overhangs
Frequent green and hawksbill turtle sightings grazing among soft corals
Macro subjects including frogfish, ribbon eels, and diverse nudibranch species on coral heads
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
The dry season between March and October yields the calmest surface conditions and optimum underwater clarity.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oriental sweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Green sea turtleChelonia mydas | Common | ||||||||||||
| Ribbon eelRhinomuraena quaesita | Common | ||||||||||||
| Blue-spotted stingrayNeotrygon kuhlii | Common | ||||||||||||
| Broadclub cuttlefishSepia latimanus | Seasonal |
Marine forecast
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