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for certified beginner to experienced divers. The park combines the

delights of crystal clear waters, stunning tropical islands and mainland

coastal bays with extraordinarily diverse mainland beauty.

“Borneo cruising – all the fantastic cruising experiences of Asia with

great facilities and none of the hassles,” says Captain Raymond Heer

of MY Andiamo about his recent journey. Other visiting superyachts –

some undergoing successful refit work in Southeast Asia – have been:

MY Lady Kenara, SY Naos, SY Vivid, SY Queen of Andaman, MY Sinbad,

SY Obsession, MY Karima and MY CV-9.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity while in Borneo is a private visit

(arranged by your yacht agent) to the Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation

Centre & Sanctuary’s infant nursery and rehabilitation facility along the

Kinabatangan River. Viewing orphan primates is a fascinating experience

and the scenery along the river is rich in wildlife.

Famed Pygmy Elephants are a wonderful sight and the Kinabatangan

River is the only place to view the playful Proboscis Monkeys. Near the

sanctuary, guests can visit a traditional English teahouse for a tea break

at the top of a hill overlooking Sandakan Town and the waterfront – a

relic in itself of bygone colonial days.

Among the outstanding yachting locations to cruise is Lankayan, a

tiny jewel-shaped island located on the northeast coast of Sabah and

part of the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area. Surrounded by

blue-green waters and coral reefs, it is one of Sabah’s top diving spots

(others include Sipadan and Layang-Yang). The jungle interior and

interesting diving attracts divers and non-divers, with 14 dive sites

offering magnificent displays of marine life.

Enormous whale sharks are regularly sighted between March and May

and the island is a nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles. If timed

right, you can experience the spectacle of baby turtles being released

back into the sea. Lankayan is a privately owned resort island with group

PHOTOS: ASIA PACIFIC SUPERYACHTS