There's plenty to see and do, but the highlight of her short stay at Mantanani Islands has to be the underwater excursion, writes Olivia Miwil
LIVING in Sabah means I'm usually about an hour away from the sea, either by road or by air.
But getting the chance to go to the Mantanani Islands, which is a two-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu and another 45 minutes on a boat from Rampayan Jetty, is, for me, like going to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
The Mantanani Islands is made up of three islands off the northwest coast of Sabah. The largest is Mantanani Besar and the other two are Mantanani Kecil and Lungisan.
It is said that the dugong (sea cows) used to graze on seagrass at the shallow reefs around the islands.
Due to the sightings of the rare marine species, Mantanani is also known as "mermaid island".
The charm of Mantanani waters begins when boat passengers are en route to their resort or homestay from the jetty in Kota Belud.
The sight of clear turquoise waters meeting the blue skyline at the horizon often prompts visitors to take out their cameras or smartphones to capture the view.
That is just a teaser to the island's idyllic beauty of white sandy beaches, sunset views and tranquillity.
Despite this, Mantanani is less known by locals compared with islands in the east coast of Sabah, such as Sipadan and Mabul.
However, it was popular among Korean and Chinese tourists before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
HAPPY CAMPER
Marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols said in his book, Blue Mind, that being near, in, on or under water can make one happier, healthier and more productive.
In an article published on cleveland.com, the author explains that water provides semi-structured white noise that psychologists describe as "soft fascination".
Because one is not dealing with gravity, he said, being in the water can be comforting.
Getting into the water is almost inevitable when you're on an island as beautiful as Mantanani. It's even harder to resist if you're a licensed diver.
When I checked in for a short stay at Sutera@Mantanani Island Resort and Spa, I did just that with Divercity, one of six tour operators left on the island. Before the pandemic, there were 16 operators.
Owned by Travel Box, the well-equipped dive centre is manned by professional and experienced divers. It offers 16 dive sites, all of which are suitable for all levels of diving skills.
Divercity takes me to three diving sites — Tukun, Bukutan and Sandy Bar.
For the first dive at Tukun, we go down 19m to look at cube-sized artificial reef blocks that were planted years ago. These structures, which are about 2m to 3m high, are now covered with corals and other marine life.
Before we head to our second site, we are taken for a sightseeing tour at the nearby villages. The highlight of this land tour is a brief stopover at a cave.
Next on our log is Bukutan, which means "at the back" in Bajau Ubian dialect. The site is suitable for beginners and first-timers. Underwater visibility is up to 14m and the water is calm, making it an easy and enjoyable diving experience.
Those with an advanced licence in scuba diving should go for a night dive to see nocturnal marine species.
My last dive is at Sandy Bar, just after sunset. We spotted only a turtle swimming past us in one of our three dives, but the dive master says that there are sightings of big marine species at other times.
In fact, he stumbled upon a big manta ray at the same dive site just a couple of days ago.
In 2018, some lucky visitors saw a pod of dolphins swimming in sync in Mantanani waters.
Perhaps on my next visit, I may encounter passing giants during the whale shark season.
Mantanani is an attractive diving destination as it boasts some of the better coral reefs, according to the 2021 Reef Check Malaysia annual survey report.
Nearly 40 per cent of the island is dominated by hard corals.
Fish bombing used to be rampant here, but with intervention of the Sabah government and non-governmental organisations, the local community is actively involved in conservation programmes, which leads to a healthier coral ecosystem.
BEACH LIFE
Mantanani is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. Here, you practically have the island to yourself. There is not much of a crowd here, unlike other tourist destinations.
Despite being isolated, one can still access the Internet from here.
Staying at Sutera@Mantanani is a comfortable and luxurious experience. The resort offers 70 rooms. Guests can pick from the deluxe, chalet sea view, premium chalet and two-bedroom villa categories.
The spacious rooms have wide bay windows that not only give sweeping views of the beach and sea, but also cooling ventilation.
Each room has a private balcony. What I like most about my room is that the beach is just 10 steps away from my door.
The room comes with full board meals that are served at its beachfront restaurant.
The resort's new Jetty Bar, which has an undisturbed view of Gunung Kinabalu and the sea, is perfect for any occasion, whether it is for a relaxing hangout or just to have a drink.
Apart from water sports, the resort offers a host of things to do, such as its signature Sutera sunset cruise.
The cruise, which costs RM15 per person, departs from the jetty at 5.30pm and takes guests to Lungisan island for photo shots before stopping in the middle of the sea to enjoy the spectacular view of the sky transforming into stunning shades of orange, red and yellow.
The ride is limited to 16 guests and it is based on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you miss the boat, why not grab a fishing rod and enjoy a peaceful afternoon of fishing at the beach while waiting for the sun to set.
For those who wish to stay dry, the beach offers many activities. Try the adrenaline-inducing ATV ride that is surprisingly easy to manoeuvre around the sand.
There are trampolines and giant slides to keep the kids entertained. If you want to have a game of volleyball, beach soccer or fly a kite, you can request for assistance from the staff. There are also indoor games like mahjong and chess.
At night, there are two things to look out for. First is the Milky Way that is splattered across the sky. Second is one of the world's most spellbinding natural phenomena: the bioluminescent blue plankton by the beach.
For some pampering, the Bali-Bali Spa is the perfect escape. It offers a variety of treatments, including relaxing full body massages, traditional Balinese wellness body treatments and other spa therapies that marry traditional methods with scientific research.
If you have been under the sun for too long, there is a sunburn treatment you can opt for.
The centre also sells massage oils, swimwear, locally made handicraft and jewellery, as well as other personal necessities.
FAST FACTS
Sutera@Mantanani Island Resort and Spa
Pulau Mantanani Besar Kampong Mantanani Kota Belud 89150, Sabah
TEL 088-318 888 ext 3661
EMAIL rsvn_mantanani@suteraharbour.com.my
WEBSITE www.suteraatmantanani.com
STAY There are 70 rooms. Guests can choose from the deluxe, chalet sea view, premium chalet and two-bedroom villa categories. Each air-conditioned room has a private bathroom, flat screen television, tea and coffee-making facilities and outdoor furniture.
EAT The two F&B outlets are the beachfront restaurant and the new Jetty Bar.
DO There are a host of activities to do on water and on land.
GO Kampung Mantanani is within walking distance. Mantanani islanders are ethnically Bajau Ubian and traditionally fishermen. Some in the community sell virgin coconut oil.
HIGHS Surrounded by the beautiful sea, no crowds, luxurious stay and friendly staff.
LOWS In the event of bad weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances, there may be a cancellation of the last boat transfer into the island for safety reasons. However, food and lodging costs for the overnight stay will be arranged by Sutera@Mantanani.
PROMOTIONS The resort is offering two packages for Malaysians and residents.
The Relax and Refresh package starts from RM370 nett per night for two persons. It includes a night's stay in a deluxe room, full board meals and activities. Guests can add another RM460 nett to include a diving excursion for two persons. The diving package is applicable for the Discover Scuba Diving or Leisure Dive day trips.
Priced at RM860 nett per night, the Waves of Romance package is designed with honeymooners in mind. It includes a night's stay in a premium chalet with a sea view and a romantic setting. Couples will receive a bottle of sparkling juice, a four-course Western dinner set for two, breakfast in bed, as well as a spa treatment for two at the Bali-Bali Spa.
Both packages end on Sept 30 and are on a prepayment basis that is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Land transfer from the lobby of The Magellan Resort in Kota Kinabalu to Rampayan Jetty costs RM75 per person for a round-trip. The pick-up time is 6.30am.
Book island stays at lower rates with Booking.com Voucher.