Gayana Dive Centre

Gayana Dive Centre is situated on Gaya Island, part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park near Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Operating as part of the ECHO Resorts group since 2007, the centre is embedded within the Gayana Marine Resort, a tropical setting of villas built on stilts over the water.

The location is defined by its commitment to the local environment. The presence of the Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC) on-site means the diving experience is directly linked to active reef restoration and the propagation of giant clams, allowing guests to participate in coral replanting initiatives.

As a PADI-certified centre, the operation focuses on combining recreational diving with ecological awareness. The centre's identity is tied to its Travelife Gold and Beyond Green certifications, reflecting a structured approach to sustainable tourism and marine protection.

While the specific number of instructors is not listed, the centre's integration with the MERC research facility provides a unique educational layer to the diving experience, bridging the gap between standard recreational exploration and marine science.

The reefs around Gaya Island support a diverse range of marine life, from large pelagics to small reef inhabitants. You can regularly encounter sea turtles, clownfish, and various species of reef fish. Bamboo sharks are also known to frequent these waters.

For those with an eye for macro life, the area is highly productive. Keep a lookout for seahorses (Hippocampus kuda), ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae), and various species of frogfish, including giant, painted, and clown varieties. The reef also hosts a variety of gobies, such as spike-fin, black sail-fin, and metallic shrimp gobies, alongside scorpionfish and various species of pipefish.

Invertebrate life is abundant, with sightings of nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), harlequin shrimps, boxer crabs, and mantis shrimp. You may also find octopus (Octopus vulgaris), mimic octopus, blue-ringed octopus, and bobtail squids tucked into the reef structure.

Whale sharks are a seasonal possibility in these waters, though their presence depends on specific migratory patterns.