Sama Dilaut / Sea Nomads / Sabah
The enduring spirit of Sama
The Sama Bajau are the original sea nomads -- born on boats, diving without tanks, living on the waters of the Sulu and Celebes Seas for centuries.
Bajau divers reach depths of 60+ metres on a single breath. Genetic adaptations give them enlarged spleens for extended underwater endurance.
Entire villages rise on wooden stilts above turquoise waters. Semporna's stilt communities are architectural marvels of maritime adaptation.
The lepa-lepa boat is crafted without blueprints, each hull a masterwork of inherited knowledge. The annual Regatta Lepa celebrates this art.
Bajau harvest sea cucumbers (trepang) from coral reefs -- a trade linking Sabah to Chinese markets for over 1,000 years.
The Igal dance mimics the movement of waves and sea birds. Performed on festival days, it captures the Bajau soul -- always swaying with the ocean.
Sacred moments marking the Western Bajau journey through time
~500 BCE
~1400 CE
September 16, 1963
April 2023 (Annual)
People: Sama Bajau (Sea Nomads)|Region: Sabah, Malaysian Borneo|Genetic trait: Enlarged spleens for diving|Boat: Lepa-lepa handcrafted vessels|Trade: Sea cucumber for 1,000+ years|Festival: Regatta Lepa (annual boat festival)
The strength of Sama in figures
Two nations connected through history and partnership
Korean marine biologists study Bajau genetic adaptations for deep-sea diving. Their enlarged spleens and underwater vision fascinate scientists in Seoul and Busan.
Korean tourists flock to Semporna and Sipadan for world-class diving. Korean-language dive shops now dot the Bajau stilt villages of eastern Sabah.
Find hotels across Malaysia and beyond
Sabah's gateway capital
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Twin Towers & city life
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Maritime trade hub
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Brunei's stilt village capital
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Bajau diaspora connections
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Indonesian archipelago hub
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Southeast Asian crossroads
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Gulf luxury destination
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Sacred Hajj pilgrimage
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Trade & shopping gateway
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Places of deep spiritual significance
World's top dive site -- sea turtle sanctuary
Marine Protected
Living Bajau stilt community over the sea
Cultural Heritage
4,095m -- highest peak in Borneo
UNESCO Heritage
130-million-year-old primary rainforest
Protected Reserve
Interactive experiences across WIA Trip
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