Situated on a private, man-made tropical reef built by the sinking of 2 used
steel barges. Situated on the east coast off Sabah on outer most reefs from
Tawau, it is about 25 mins by speed boat from Balung River, Tawau and less
then 50 mins away from Sipadan Island
The reef chalets are built in traditional Malay house architecture. Basic but
comfortable, facilities of the resort include chalets with ceiling fan, sea
view balcony, private bathroom and toiletries with hot shower.
Dive & Marine Life
There are 10 dive sites at Roach Reef Resort including 2 wrecks at 18m and 26m
respectively - turtles, schooling barracudas & travel leys, and with the
exception of Sipadan it is the only reef throughout the area with resident
white tip reef sharks and nurse sharks that can be found hiding under table
corals. Manta rays and whale sharks are often seen in the vicinity and there a
plenty of small critters like Spanish dancer, ghost pipe fish, crab eye goby,
mantis shrimp, etc.
DIVE SITES
Twin Peaks (Kashimura / James Point)
� depth ranges from 15 � 20m with sandy
slope and coral patches. Twin Peaks consist of 2 big rock boulders which is a
very active cleaning station for marine life. You can see schools of snappers,
groupers and fusiliers. Besides harlequin ghost pipefish, frogfish and nudibranch are a plenty in this famous side of Roach reefs.
Mid Coral � depth ranges 15 � 25m of coral reef slope. Healthy soft coral
growth with plenty of colorful reef fishes. Normally with mild current and a
relaxing drift dive. Nudibranch, harlequin ghost pipefish, frogfish and leaf
fish are common sightings at this site.
Mid Rock � very similar to Mid Coral but this site consist more of hard coral
as compare to Mid Coral. Jawfish, nudibranch of chromodoris sp., gobies and
pipefish are the regulars here.
Corner � as the name goes it is at the one corner end of the reef whereby
regular sightings of whale shark, whale and dolphin. Mostly in the month of
Apr-May and Nov-Dec! Depth ranges 15 � 20m, coral patch and slope.
Cardinal Patch � as the name goes, it�s the site where cardinals are the main
attraction. 15 � 20m depth, coral patch, lot�s of whip coral.
Garden Eel � sandy slope with small coral patches all over. Plenty of garden
eel at sandy bottom as well as a goby and blennies heaven.
 Viking � the mention of Viking � the thought of ship comes into mind, however
this is only the local fishing boat which is of 12m in length. Fairly new
wreck but have attracted schools of snappers, fusiliers as well as groupers as
resident. Rock cods, barracuda of smaller size and group are regulars. Sitting
at the bottom of 18m, this fishing boat also attracts others beauty of the
depth such as the nudibranch, lionfish and stonefish.
Barracuda Sanctuary � swirling school of chevron barracuda is the highlight of
this site. 10 � 15m diving depth it�s provide huge and healthy table corals,
soft corals as well as another active cleaning station.
Bus stop � is a deep dive site with max depth of 30m. 5 units of 44 seater
express bus are being sunken to create another wreck site.
Scow � diving depth is between 18 � 25m depth of sand bottom. Schools of
snappers and fusiliers can be seen most the time swimming in the blue.
Crocodile fish, stonefish and scorpion fish are also residence.
Lobster Point � diving depth between 15 � 25m this site is most often with
mild current and makes an ideal place for drift dive. Coral reef slope with
lot�s of colorful coral fishes.
Super market � 12m in max depth, this is another artificial reef made of tyre
stack up in slope and is house to the beautiful mandarin fish! Lionfish,
stonefish and crocodile fish can also be seen here.
Long jetty (house reef, self dive) 6 am � 6pm
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