Dinawan island with Snorkelling Daytrip - Private island in Kota Kinabalu

A private and beautiful island. I was satisfied with the delicious lunch and the guide was friendly. More than anything, I was satisfied with the beautiful scenery. I was satisfied with the hotel pick-up and transfer service, and the driver was very kind and comfortable. However, I wanted to use the paddleboard a lot, but there was only one paddleboard, and even that kept losing air, so I had to keep inflating it, and two members of our group took turns using it, and other members had to take turns using it discreetly. We didn't snorkel, but other members enjoyed snorkeling. There were plenty of kayaks, but we were disappointed because we mainly wanted to use the paddleboard. All other facilities were satisfactory. The restrooms were very clean and the showers were relatively 괜찮다.

With its clear water and fine sand, it's perfect for those who love a tranquil island experience. On the day we went, there were no other tourists on the island, so our two families, a total of five people, had the whole island to ourselves. The outdoor shower facilities and restrooms were in good working order, and we could freely refill our tea and coffee. For activities, we only used the canoes, which were available for our free use. There is only one snorkeling spot, and the current isn't too strong. Some areas are quite deep, and you have to explore to find the coral reefs. There are a decent variety of fish, but not the large schools you find at Sapi Island. There are a few anemones. Lunch was hot, plentiful, and the taste is a matter of personal preference. Overall, considering the short car and boat ride, Dinawa Island is a very ideal island getaway.

that was totally a underrated experience!!! absolutely amazing!!! we attended island hopping on 9/1 weather was not ideal. Rainy and the wave of the sea was not so calm during we boarding to the private island. The captain was super professionally avoid all the massive wave, and so thoughtful with all details. Lunch on the island was shocking good. Hot, great presentation of locals food. Please go for this instead of the major ( manukan island and etc… we went that one day before can compete!!!!) experience:great hospitality!!!

Our guides Kelvin, Nick and Edward took great care of us and put in a lot of effort to look for the proboscis monkeys. We had a great time at Bongawan thanks to them! I must also give a shout out to the boat crew who brought us close to the monkeys and fireflies!

It was a hassle-free experience, from the hotel pickup to the journey to the Island. Alas, it was not as pleasant for us as it rained heavily the day before, so the waters are a bit murkier than usual. This is not Ara Dinawan's fault, though; it's weather risks. The Island operators were still kind enough to attempt to bring us out further to the sea to let us try snorkelling for better views. The kayaks and other equipment were in good condition. The operator was helpful as they called me to confirm my booking and transportation. If you're not keen on sharing used snorkelling equipment and you have your own, I suggest you bring it. Food served was okay, there was also a tea-time included, served with banana fritters and the locally made Malaysian-style powdered sugar doughnuts. If you go there on sunnier and less rainy season, I am sure the waters are crystal clear. Also - their claims of being not crowded like the other public Islands is true, our group had less than 20 people all-in

Our family of 6 visited Dinawan island. I must say we really enjoyed. water was crystal clear for swimming, there were activities like kayaking and paddle board. However the staff could not find any volleyball or football. We were vegetarians and food was ok. overall recommended trip.

We spent over 900 RMB for the two of us just to lie around on the island and sleep in hammocks. Because my period came early, I couldn't go in the water, so we didn't go snorkeling or do any water activities like paddleboarding. We had already spent five or six days in Semporna before coming to Kota Kinabalu, so we weren't that impressed with the island's beauty. There were also a lot of shells, rocks, and branches along the shore that weren't cleaned up. The area to move around in was actually quite small. Fortunately, the weather was pretty cool, and we just lazily lay in the shade playing on our phones and enjoying the natural breeze. Lunch was delicious. It would have been even better if they sold coconuts on the island. It was a very relaxing day, and the staff even prepared snacks for us as afternoon tea 😊. Overall, for the price, it would have been better to just stay on the island for a day. It wasn't very cost-effective, but we just wanted to relax and unwind to end our trip.

We were the only guests on our day trip. It was wonderfully peaceful and relaxing. Enjoyed the snorkeling within the shore and at another location further out from the island. Lunch & hi-tea were freshly prepared. Safety precautions were highlighted and there was always someone on the watchout when we were in the sea. Good location for family getaway and day trip to enjoy the beach, snorkeling and kayaking.

Dinawan was a very good experience, clean quiet beach with lots of things to do and beach chairs to relax on.

Very satisfied 👍🏻The private island is much more beautiful and cleaner than expected, lunch and afternoon tea are delicious 😋On the way back, I saw a wild crocodile 🐊