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Back to Mataking

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Voykit pocket guide · Malaysia

Mataking

Two nights: one full day for diving and the walk between Mataking Besar and Kecil. Day-trip from Semporna is possible but rushed.

Mataking is a pair of small islands on the edge of the continental shelf in the Celebes Sea, about 40 acres total. It is a single-resort destination: the Reef Dive Resort runs the island, so you book accommodation, meals and diving together. The main draw is the fringing reef with hard and soft coral, and the low-tide sandbar that connects Mataking Besar and Mataking Kecil. Most travellers come from Semporna by speedboat (about 1 hour) or as a side trip from Sipadan or Mabul.

Kuala LumpurAir ItamAlor GajahAlor SetarAyer HitamAyer KerohBagan LalangBalik PulauBandar Baru BangiBatu FerringhiBatu PahatBayan LepasBeaufortBintangorMataking200 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Malaysia
Best months
Apr–Sep
Avoid
Nov–Feb (monsoon, rough seas)
Stay
2 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
MYR
Money
Malaysian ringgit (MYR, RM); cards and e-wallets are widely used in Kuala Lumpur.
Daily spend
Budget RM 300–500 (day-trip from Semporna) · Mid RM 600–900 (resort package, check) · High RM 1,000+ (resort package with diving) (estimate; check)
SIM and data
CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and Unifi sell tourist SIMs at KLIA with passport registration.
Emergency
Police / Ambulance 999 · Fire 994 · From mobile 112
Plugs
Types G · 240 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin; hotels often have universal sockets.
Tipping
Hawker stalls: Nothing.; Restaurants: Nothing if 10% service charge is added; otherwise round up.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Guides: RM20–50 a day.
Water
Treated in cities, but most people filter or boil; bottled water is cheap.
Toilets
Western and squat toilets side by side; water hose instead of paper; some public toilets cost RM0.20–1.

Get in

By air

TWU · Tawau Airport
Fly from Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia). From the airport, taxi to Semporna about RM110 (check), then speedboat to Mataking about 1 hour.

Typical fares

Tawau Airport → Semporna (taxi)
about RM110 (check)
Semporna → Mataking (speedboat)
about 1 hour, included in resort package (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

On foot: the island is small enough to walk across in 15 minutes. The sandbar between the two islands is walkable at low tide.

See and do

Known for

  • Fringing reef with hard and soft coral
  • Walkable sandbar between Mataking Besar and Mataking Kecil at low tide
  • Single-resort island (Reef Dive Resort)
  • Diving and snorkelling

Day trips

WhereHowTime
SipadanSpeedboat from Mataking (check with resort)About 1 hour
MabulSpeedboat from MatakingAbout 30 min
SempornaSpeedboat from MatakingAbout 1 hour

Sleep

Mataking (Reef Dive Resort)
The only accommodation on the island. Advance booking required. All meals included.
Semporna
Budget and mid-range hotels; day-trip to Mataking by speedboat.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Thank youTerima kasihtuh-ree-muh kah-seeh
How much?Berapa?buh-rah-pah
Yes / NoYa / Tidakyah / tee-dahk
Where is the toilet?Di mana tandas?dee mah-nah tahn-dahs

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Light handshake or hand on heart; wait for women to offer a hand; avoid: Firm grips, hugging
  • Pointing: Use the thumb with fingers folded; avoid: Index finger pointing
  • Homes: Shoes off; avoid: Walking in with shoes
  • Mosques: Covered clothes, headscarf for women; avoid: Entering during prayers
  • Public affection: Keep it low-key; avoid: Kissing in public

Scams and watch-outs

  • The resort requires advance booking; no walk-in accommodation.
  • If you arrive at Tawau at night, stay in Tawau town — the road to Semporna is dark and unlit.
  • Monsoon season (Nov–Feb) can cancel boat transfers; check weather before booking.
  • Only one restaurant on the island; food is buffet-style and may be bland.

Mataking is a small resort island with low crime. The main risks are sunburn, dehydration and strong currents during boat transfers. Always wear a life jacket on the speedboat.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Mataking yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Fringing reef with hard and soft coral
  • Walkable sandbar between Mataking Besar and Mataking Kecil at low tide
  • Single-resort island (Reef Dive Resort)
  • Diving and snorkelling

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Mataking

Ke alamat ini, tolong

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

The US, UK, Australia and most other embassies are in Kuala Lumpur. The nearest consulate is in Kota Kinabalu (check).

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/mataking). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.