Pulau Bodgaya is the largest island of the Tun Sakaran Marine Park. It is 8 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide and covers an area of 796 hectares. The three islands of Bodgaya, Bohey Dulang and Tetagan form a semicircle that was originally part of a big volcanic crater but is now a beautiful turquoise lagoon fringed with coral reefs.
The islands are hilly with three peaks. The highest of the three (455m) is called Mt. Bodgaya. Bodgaya has forest and the coastal areas are fringed with mangroves.
What to do in Bodgaya?
Visitors seldom make a trip exclusively to Bodgaya. They generally club it up with visits to other islands of Tun Sakaran Marine Park, especially to Boheydulang.
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling in Bodgaya
The dive operators in Semporna and the nearby islands run regular diving and snorkelling trips to Bodgaya island.
Are there Bajau Laut?
The Sea Gypsies, also called the Bajau Laut, inhabit the islands of Bohey Dulang and Bodgaya are a cultural attraction to visitors. They are stateless, nomadic people, who traditionally lived all their life on water, cooking, sleeping, trading, and entertaining themselves inside their special type of boat called Lepa or within water-homes built on stilts. But their way of life is nowadays threatened in this changing world and many of them try to find work on the mainland.
Where to Stay?
There are no lodges on Bodgaya but there are hotels and resorts in nearby islands such as Mataking
and Pom
Pom Island. There are also hotels in Semporna. Note that there
are no tourist accommodation on Pulau Bodgaya.
How to Travel by boat to Bodgaya?
- From Semporna to Bodgaya: count about 35 minutes by speedboat.
- From Mataking and Pom Pom Islands: count about 20 minutes.
- From Mabul, you will need 1 hour and half to reach Bodgaya.
Contact us for more information about Bodgaya.