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A small white motorboat moored in clear turquoise shallows over pale coral heads, with a shoal of tiny silver fish below — Mantanani Islands

Mantanani Islands · Malaysia · Artificial reef · Reef

Tukun

Village-laid cement blocks turned into a coral reef patrolled by jacks

Area photo: Aliyahakriah · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tukun is an artificial reef off the Mantanani Islands, grown over the cement blocks that island villagers have dropped onto the seabed since long ago. The cube-shaped structures are now covered in coral and draw schooling jacks, rays and lobsters, but currents and waves make it a site for advanced divers.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Tukun: typical dive to 25 m (to 82 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit25 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

6.7039° N, 116.3615° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The descent goes down to 19 m, where cube-sized artificial reef blocks sit on the bottom. Each structure stands about 2 to 3 m high and is now covered with corals and other marine life.

Schools of jackfish are always over the blocks, and the site drops to 25 m at its deepest. Rays and lobsters live on the deeper part of the reef. Currents and waves run across the site, which keeps it to experienced divers.

Marine life and season

  • Trevally & jacks
Month-by-month season rating for Tukun
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodPrimePrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodFairFairFair

Season follows Mantanani Islands: February to July is the best season; rough seas from October to December can cancel the crossing.

Know before you go

  • Currents and waves sweep the site, making it a challenging dive.

Questions divers ask

What experience does Tukun need?+

Tukun suits advanced divers only: currents and waves run over the site, and the coral-covered blocks lie at 19 m with the bottom reaching 25 m.

Sources

  1. Tukun, ScubaGo — ScubaGo
  2. Jom go diving paradise — New Straits Times

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