| A small atoll off the coast of Borneo in
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| | March. The water temperature ranges from
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| Malaysia, Layang Layang is definitely an
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| | 26C to 30C year round!There is just one
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| unbelievable dive destination for all
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| | resort on this atoll which is now owned
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| levels of scuba diving fans. Described as
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| | by the Avillion Hotel Group. Staying at
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| "a little gem, a sparkle within the deep
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| | this resort is the best way you can dive
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| blue sea. Like a mariner's dream, it
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| | this atoll. The resort is closed from
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| stands all alone, a striking haven in the
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| | September through to February each year
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| wide ocean awaiting a visitor." Layang
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| | which is the worst part of the rainy
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| Layang is also known as 'The Jewel of the
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| | season.
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| Borneo Banks', it has created for itself
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| | As a side point, the inhabitants of the
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| a calm lagoon which teems with wildlife.
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| | deep blue sea are not the only treasure
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| As many as 13 coral reefs have formed
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| | on Layang Layang. Situated on the other
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| here, creating a magnetic underwater
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| | end of the island is a bird sanctuary
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| scenery.
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| | where migratory swallow, egret, brown
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| Layang Layang is situated 180 miles from
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| | foot bobbi, crested terns and other
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| Kota Kinabalu in the South China Sea and
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| | feathered creatures find a resting place
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| is typically reached by sea plane. It is
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| | on a predator free breeding ground after
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| an atoll 14 square kilometres in diameter
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| | a long journey.
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| jutting 2000 meters from the Ocean
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| | Another great dive site is Shark's Cave.
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| depths. Underwater visibility is up to
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| | For some reason, this Layang Layang
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| 50m and the extraordinary coral gardens
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| | diving site has an abundance of sharks of
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| of these virgin atoll reefs surrounding
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| | various varieties. At a depth of about 30
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| Layang Layang Island has never been
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| | metres, on a sandy ledge, you are most
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| fished or experienced any kind of
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| | likely to encounter leopard sharks and
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| man-made pollution.
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| | whitetip reef sharks.
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| One of the best dive sites in Layang
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| | Moving on, you'll glide past coral
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| Layang (although admittedly you'll be
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| | formations - gorgonians, black corals and
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| hard pressed to top most of the dive
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| | barrel sponges - till you find yourself
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| sites here) is Dog Tooth Lair. This
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| | at the mouth of a cave. The cave can be
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| Layang Layang dive site is named after
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| | penetrated to a length of about five or
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| the schools of large dog-tooth tunas
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| | six metres.
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| frequently found cruising here especially
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| | Within the cave, you'll find leopard
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| along the drop-off.
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| | sharks, whitetip reef sharks and nurse
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| The reef itself has a variety of coral
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| | sharks asleep on the floor. Watch out
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| gardens, complete with overhangs and
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| | that you don't block their exit out of
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| ledges, just before the site plunges into
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| | the cave though - you may be the object
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| the 2,000 metres abyss of the open South
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| | of an attack from these otherwise docile
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| China Sea. At the shallow end of the
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| | creatures.
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| reef, you'll find schools of barracuda,
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| | Heading back out again into the open sea,
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| big-eyed jacks, fusiliers and surgeonfish
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| | you may encounter sightings of hammerhead
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| on the move.
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| | sharks, grey reef sharks, manta rays and
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| Another great dive site is Shark's Cave
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| | eagle rays, all gliding past you in the
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| April and May is the best time to see
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| | open waters. Layang Layang diving is
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| schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks,
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| | mostly about big fish action and this
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| which gather to perform mating rituals.
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| | site is a good bet for plenty of big
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| April through October is the best time to
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| | fish.
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| visit. The rainy season is November to
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