Turtle Island Marine Park lies about 40 kilometers north of Sandakan and is made up of three islands, with Selingan Island as the main focus for visitors. This park serves as a vital sanctuary for endangered green and hawksbill turtles, which come ashore almost every night to lay their eggs. Visitors have the rare chance to watch the turtles lay eggs, see the eggs collected, and witness baby turtles being released into the sea. Besides the turtles, the park offers clear waters and vibrant coral reefs perfect for snorkeling and diving, while fruiting seasons sometimes bring flying foxes to the islands. Gazetted as a marine park in 1977, staff stay on all three islands year-round to protect and manage conservation efforts.

Selingan Island, covering eight hectares, is the second largest of the three and home to Malaysia’s first turtle hatchery. Turtles land here every night throughout the year, but overnight stays are limited to just 38 visitors to protect them. The island hosts the park headquarters, hatchery, simple lodging, and a visitor center. The best time to visit is from March to July, when the seas are calm and dry. The peak nesting season runs from July to October, though visitors still come even when seas are rougher from October to February.

Both green and hawksbill turtles lay eggs mainly at night, avoiding bright lights. Females crawl above the high tide line, dig with their rear flippers, and lay around 40 to 200 eggs before covering and concealing the nest. Rangers tag and measure the turtles to collect important data, and the entire nesting process usually takes one to two hours. Eggs are moved to hatcheries for protection against predators and erosion, placed in 75-centimeter-deep pits, and marked with information plates. Sand temperature affects the sex of hatchlings, so shading is sometimes used to manage conditions. Hatchlings emerge after 50 to 60 days, mostly at night, and are released immediately. Although many hatchlings are released each year, only a few survive to adulthood.

Watching egg laying and hatchling release is the highlight of visiting Turtle Island, but this can only be experienced at night by staying overnight. Visitors also learn about the conservation efforts directly from the park staff. In addition to turtle-focused activities, the park offers scuba diving and snorkeling in designated zones, with visitors advised to check with park officers before entering the water to ensure safety and support conservation efforts.