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After hosting the 1998 Commonwealth Games, for which Malaysia invested over £300 million, sports facilities have been greatly improved throughout the country. The authorities` initiative to present Malaysia as an international sports venue continues with a bid for the 2008 Olympic Games and the recent construction of a new £44-million Formula One racing circuit in Sepang (located adjacent to Kuala Lumpur International Airport). However, it is Malaysia`s beaches and rainforests which endure as the main attraction for activity holidays. A comprehensive list of tour operators offering tailor-made package holidays is available from Tourism Malaysia (see address section). Adventure sports: Sabah, located in northern Borneo, is Malaysia`s premier destination for outdoor adventure sports and there is a wide range of sporting and activity events held in the region throughout the year. For further details, contact the Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation (tel: (88) 212 121; fax: (88) 212 075; e-mail: info@sabahtourism.com; website: www.sabahtourism.com). Scuba diving: The tropical waters off peninsular Malaysia and Borneo offer ideal conditions for scuba diving. Water visibility is often greater than 30m (100ft). The selection below gives a brief overview of some of Malaysia`s best dive sites:
Layang Layang: Located northwest of Kota Kinabulu, off the coast of Sabah and accessible by air, this coral atoll consists of 13 coral reefs linked together. Underwater sights include an amazing array of corals and marine life and cliffs that plunge 2000m to the ocean bed. Miri:
Located north of Kuching, off the coast of Sarawak, Borneo. Popular dive sites include `Sea Fan Garden`, `Atago Maru`, a Japanese World War II shipwreck and `Scubasa Reef`, a swallow reef which provides refuge for migrating turtles during August, each year.
Pulau Redang: Home to Malaysia`s first protected marine park, the Terengganu Marine Park, located north of Kuala Terengganu. The Pulau Redang archipelago contains nine islands. Popular sites include the `Mini Mount` (good for both day and night dives), the `Picture Wall` (dotted with sea fans and corals) and `Cathedral Arches` (canyon network with huge arches). `Turtle Bay`, known for its sea turtles, is at the northern end of the island. Pulau Sipadan:
Located off the north eastern coast of Borneo, Pulau Sipadan is Malaysia`s only oceanic island. It is renowned for its wide range of rare marine species.
Pulau Tioman: Located within the Pahang Marine Parks, consisting of eight islands. One of the best dive sites is Tiger Reef, which has a particularly high number of sea fans; divers should note that currents can be very strong.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park: Close to Kota Kinabulu (15 minutes by boat). One of the most popular sites in this area is Mamutik. Pulau Tenggol:
Popular weekend getaway for Malaysians, located south of Terengganu, accessible by air. The waters are protected by marine park status.
Pulau Paya Marine Park: Located on peninsular Malaysia, in the south of Langkawi Island (a busy tourist resort) in the north of the Malacca Straits. Pulau Perhentian:
Eastern Malaysia`s northernmost island group consisting of Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil, located in t
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