Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park — five granite-and-coral islands scattered across forty-nine square kilometres — was gazetted in 1974 as Sabah's first marine protected area.
Gaya, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik, and Sulug lie between two and eight kilometres offshore, their fringing reefs sheltering hawksbill turtles, clownfish, and parrotfish in water so clear visibility often exceeds fifteen metres. The park's conservation-fee system, introduced in 1990, channels revenue into coral restoration and anti-poaching patrols; by 2026, ranger teams monitor nesting beaches and no-take zones across the archipelago.
Private boat charters departed from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal have become the preferred access method for families and small groups seeking flexible itineraries. Unlike scheduled ferries that anchor at fixed jetties on Sapi and Manukan, chartered catamarans can reach lesser-visited coves on Gaya's eastern shore or Mamutik's southern bay, where hard-coral gardens slope into fifty-metre drop-offs. Operators licensed by Sabah Parks maintain snorkelling gear, safety buoys, and cooler storage onboard; most voyages depart between eight and ten in the morning to capitalise on calm intra-island crossings and high-tide reef access.
The marine park's ecological significance extends beyond recreation. Sabah's Department of Fisheries documented coral-bleaching events in 2016 and 2020; subsequent restoration programmes planted staghorn and table corals in degraded zones, particularly around Manukan's southern reef. By 2025, recovery surveys showed seventy-three per cent live-coral cover in replanted sites. Park rules prohibit fish feeding, anchor damage, and single-use plastics; charter captains enforce these protocols as part of their licensing conditions. The park's proximity to Kota Kinabalu — a fifteen-minute crossing from Jesselton Point to Gaya's eastern headland — means peak-season weekends see more than two thousand day visitors, making early-morning private departures a strategic choice for photographers and snorkelers prioritising empty bays.
Jesselton Point itself was rebuilt in 2012 to accommodate higher ferry throughput and centralised ticketing. The terminal now houses eight licensed charter operators, a Sabah Parks counter, and departure pontoons numbered one through six. Conservation fees — twenty-five ringgit per foreign adult in 2026 — are collected at the park counter before boarding; receipts double as wristbands valid for multiple-island landings within a single day. Charter pricing varies by vessel type, passenger count, and itinerary length, with catamarans commanding premium rates for their stability and deck space.
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