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Kota Belud · Malaysia · Reef · Muck & macro

Preston Shoal

Hairy frogfish hiding on the sand of a shallow shoal

Preston Shoal is a shallow reef only 5 to 10 minutes by boat from Big Fin Divers, used for beginner dives in spite of moderate currents. Hard and soft corals carry schools of reef fish, and the reef holds a wide mix of animals, from turtles and giant grouper to clownfish.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Preston Shoal: typical dive 5–18 m (15–60 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit5 m18 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

6.3636° N, 116.2995° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The shoal stays between 5 and 18 m, over hard and soft corals with schools of colourful reef fish. Lionfish, scorpionfish, stingrays, turtles, lobsters, cuttlefish, squid, giant grouper, moray eels and clownfish all live on the reef. The sand bottom is the place to search for hairy frogfish, which are well camouflaged.

Marine life and season

  • Sea turtles
  • Stingrays
  • Groupers
  • Octopus & cuttlefish
  • Squid
  • Frogfish
  • Macro critters
Month-by-month season rating for Preston Shoal
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodPrimePrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodFairFairFair

Season follows Kota Belud: Boats run all year when the weather allows; February to July is the best stretch, and from October to December rough seas can cancel trips.

Sources

  1. Diving Kota Belud & Mantanani Island (Wayback) — Bigfin Divers
  2. Preston Shoal dive site — Scubago

More dive sites in Kota Belud

Reef

Ella's Garden

Schooling barracuda in a sandy channel, cuttlefish in the boulders

8–26 mintermediate

Reef

Fish Bowl

Schools of young fish sheltering in black coral trees

5–25 mintermediate

Pinnacle

Leopard Reef

Bamboo and cat sharks asleep in the crevices of a pinnacle

14–25 mintermediate

Reef

Mayne Rock

Leopard sharks and marble rays resting in the sand between giant boulders

7–30 mintermediate

Drift

North Hill

A gentle drift north over table, brain and staghorn corals

7–25 mintermediate

Reef

Pulau Pandan

Bobtail and pygmy squid on night dives around a tiny island

3–16 mbeginner

Reef

Purple Reef

Pinkish purple soft coral with dorado and wahoo passing

18–40 madvanced

Wreck

Salvage Point

Giant groupers living under the scrap of three salvaged WW2 ships

26–40 madvanced

Similar dives elsewhere

Reef

Chocolate Island

Malapascua · Philippines

Blue-ringed octopus and frogfish among coral boulders

to 16 mintermediate

Reef

Giant Clams / The Hill

Puerto Galera · Philippines

Mandarinfish leave the fire coral here at dusk

5–18 mintermediate

Reef

Lapus Lapus West

Donsol & Ticao Pass · Philippines

Squid and cuttlefish eggs wedged between the rocks

to 16 mbeginner

Reef

Magic Rocks

Semporna Islands · Malaysia

Sea-fan plateau at 30 m above rubble shallows with frogfish and mandarinfish

to 30 mintermediate