Maiga Island
Pulau Maiga is a beautiful island with sandy beaches lined with coconut trees. It is situated in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park and lies between the tear-shaped island of Sibuan and the more populated island of Selakan.
Unlike its neighbouring Selakan and Sebangkat islands, Maiga is not a limestone island. It is sandy and flat. The total area of Maiga is about 20 hectares. The reef encircling it is about 8km long.
Diving and Snorkelling
The clear water around the island allows for snorkelling and diving and there are many dive operators who organize regular day trips to Maiga.
Interacting with the Sabah Bajau
The beach encircles the island and there is a small village of Sea Gypsies (sea Bajau). They survive by fishing and cultivating seaweed. It is possible to buy the purple seaweed there.
The group is probably one of the last surviving nomadic marine communities. It is interesting to watch their fast-disappearing lifestyle.
Where to Stay?
As in the case of the other islands of Tun Sakaran Marine Park, the island of Maiga too does not offer any accommodation for tourists. Visitors can stay in resorts or hotels in the islands of Pulau Mataking, Pom Pom Island, Singmata or in the nearby town of Semporna. In addition, Selakan which is adjacent to Maiga, has some basic accommodation. There are hotels and resorts in nearby islands such as Mataking.
How to catch a Boat trip to Maiga?
- From Semporna to Maiga: 30 minutes boat ride.
- From Mataking and Pom Pom Islands: count about 25-30 minutes.
- From Mabul, you will need 90 minutes to reach Maiga.
More about Maiga Island
Pulau Maiga is the Tun Sakaran Marine Park's coconut-postcard — sandy beaches lined with palms, sitting between the tear-shaped drama of Sibuan and the more populated Selakan. Unlike its farmed and lived-on neighbours, Maiga keeps things simple: sand, palms, shallows in improbable blues, and the kind of sandbar geography that shifts with the tides and makes every visit's photos slightly different.
On the island-hopping circuit, Maiga plays the beach act. Where Sibuan carries the diving headlines and Bohey Dulang has the ridge viewpoint, Maiga is where the boat stops for the swim, the picnic and the unhurried hour — the stop non-divers often rank first. Snorkelling off the beach is pleasant and easy in the shallows; small local communities of Bajau families live seasonally around these waters, and their stilt structures and boats are part of the seascape here, deserving the usual courtesy with cameras.
Practicalities match the rest of the park: day-trip access by boat from Semporna, park fees apply, no visitor accommodation — bring water, sun protection and whatever shade you can wear, and carry everything back out.
Maiga earns its place on any two-or-three-island Tun Sakaran day. Contact us to build the combination — Sibuan for the diving, Maiga for the beach hour is the classic pairing.