Borneo Beneath the Surface: Shipwrecks, Artificial Reefs and an Extraordinary Underwater World

From Brunei’s Museum of the Deep to Sarawak’s wartime wrecks and Sabah’s celebrated marine ecosystems, Borneo offers an underwater heritage that remains surprisingly little explored by international travellers.

Borneo is renowned for its ancient rainforests, extraordinary wildlife and rich cultural traditions. Yet some of its most fascinating stories lie beneath the surrounding seas, where historic shipwrecks, thriving coral reefs and former offshore installations reveal a very different side of the island.

Across Brunei, Sarawak and Sabah, diving offers more than encounters with marine life. It provides opportunities to explore maritime history, observe how artificial structures become marine habitats and discover the complex relationship between human activity and the underwater environment.

Brunei: A Museum Beneath the Sea

Brunei has developed an intriguing identity for its diving attractions through its Museum of the Deep, presenting an underwater collection of shipwrecks, reefs and marine environments.

More than 30 documented wrecks are associated with Brunei’s waters, ranging from wartime vessels to commercial ships and offshore structures. Some are accessible to recreational divers, while deeper sites offer opportunities for experienced technical divers.

Particularly interesting is Brunei’s history of converting offshore infrastructure into artificial reefs. Its Rigs to Reef programme, initiated in 1994, demonstrates how former industrial structures can be repurposed to support marine habitats.

For travellers interested in maritime history, underwater photography and specialist exploration, Brunei offers an experience that extends well beyond conventional tropical diving.

Sarawak: Wartime History and Living Reefs

Off the coast of Kuching, a collection of shipwrecks preserves traces of the Second World War. Japanese vessels including the Katori Maru and Hiyoshi Maru have become underwater landmarks, their structures gradually transformed into habitats for fish and other marine organisms.

Further north, the waters around Miri offer a different perspective. The Miri–Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park encompasses numerous dive sites, with coral formations, marine biodiversity and wreck attractions.

The Kenyalang Wreck, developed as an artificial reef through cooperation involving Shell and Petronas, provides another connection between Borneo’s offshore energy history and its marine environment.

Together, these sites suggest considerable potential for specialist tourism combining diving, maritime heritage, environmental education and marine conservation.

Sabah: Biodiversity, Conservation and Exploration

Sabah is already internationally recognised for its remarkable diving, particularly around Sipadan, where dramatic underwater topography and abundant marine life attract divers from around the world.

Yet Sabah’s underwater appeal extends beyond its most famous destination.

Around Sepanggar Island, wreck-diving experiences provide opportunities to explore submerged vessels, while other coastal and island environments offer coral reefs, macro marine life and distinctive underwater landscapes.

Sabah also illustrates the importance of managing tourism in environmentally sensitive locations. Sipadan’s permit system reflects the challenge of maintaining exceptional visitor experiences while protecting fragile marine ecosystems.

A Different Way to Discover Borneo

What makes Borneo’s underwater world especially compelling is its diversity.

Within one island region, travellers can encounter wartime maritime history, explore artificial reefs created from industrial infrastructure, experience globally significant marine biodiversity and discover lesser-known diving destinations.

There are also opportunities for the tourism industry to develop carefully managed specialist experiences that encourage longer stays and bring benefits to local operators and communities.

As Brunei prepares for Visit Brunei Year 2027, and Sarawak and Sabah continue developing their distinctive tourism offerings, the underwater world provides an opportunity to showcase another dimension of Borneo.

Beyond the rainforests and familiar landmarks lies a remarkable maritime landscape — one where history, engineering and nature have created experiences found in few other places.