GAYA ISLAND RESORT MARINE CENTRE
Guardians of our living seas
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Nestled within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park—a protected archipelago of five islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu—the Gaya Island Resort Marine Centre is a beacon of active conservation. Accessible by a brief boat journey from the resort’s jetty or a scenic 45-minute Tavajun Trek, the centre stands as a dedicated guardian of the region’s marine heritage.
Since its inauguration in 2013, the centre has provided critical care to numerous endangered Green Sea turtles and critically endangered Hawksbill turtles. To date, countless turtles have successfully been rescued—including our famous Covid through years of rehabilitation and care—have been returned to the wild. The centre further advances marine stewardship through its coral reef display tanks and a specialised coral nursery, where fragments are cultivated for reef restoration. A 14,000-litre recovery tank offers a sanctuary for injured turtles and serves as an auxiliary coral nursery, reinforcing the centre’s dual commitment to rescue and regeneration.
Guided by three core pillars—Turtle Rescue, Coral Reef Restoration, and Conservation through Education—the centre is a testament to purposeful, community-led conservation. All programmes are thoughtfully designed and implemented under the leadership of the resort’s Resident Marine Biologist, Scott Mayback.
MEET OUR MARINE BIOLOGIST
SCOTT MAYBACK
As the first Resident Marine Biologist appointed within YTL Hotels, Scott Mayback brings lifelong passion and expertise to Gaya Island. Originally from New York, his formative years exploring Long Island’s shores instilled a deep connection to the marine world.
His conservation journey led him to Sabah, where he spent three pivotal years establishing a marine conservation centre and public aquarium, immersing himself in coral restoration, sea turtle rehabilitation, and field surveys across Sabah’s coastal waters.
A University of Oregon graduate, Scott honed his skills at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, complemented by experience in the University’s Neuroscience Laboratory and local aquariums.
To this day, he oversees both the Water Sports Centre and Gaya Island Resort Marine Centre, sharing his dedication through education and outreach programmes co-developed with Reef Check Malaysia to foster awareness and active stewardship., he oversees both the Water Sports Centre and Gaya Island Resort Marine Centre, sharing his dedication through education and outreach programmes co-developed with Reef Check Malaysia to foster awareness and active stewardship.
FEATURED PARTNERSHIP
MOBULA
In June 2025, Gaya Island Resort and the Marine Research Foundation came together to sign the MoU that would bring the Mobula to life on our shores. What followed was not just the launch of a vessel, but the beginning of a healing process for the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park—and that process is still unfolding. Every day, the Mobula is out there, skimming the surface and reclaiming the waters from the waste that humans leave behind. The numbers tell one story: tonnes of plastic removed, square kilometres of ocean cleaned. But the sights tell another: juvenile fish returning to nursery grounds, birds once again diving into clear water. The Mobula’s mission is expanding. It is becoming a floating classroom—hosting researchers, engaging visitors, and opening eyes to the fragility of the reef. With every piece of plastic it catches, it teaches a lesson. With every pass it makes, it proves that conservation is not a moment in time. It is a living, daily commitment—born here, on these shores, and reaching far beyond them.
OUR RESCUES
FEATURED RESCUE
COVID, THE TURTLE THAT BEAT THE ODDS
In May 2020, a staff member of Gaya Island Resort spotted something adrift in the waters off Tavajun Bay. It was a Green Sea Turtle, floating helplessly with a large crack across its shell from a boat strike, a bulging neck tumour, and paralysed rear flippers. They named it Covid.
At the Marine Centre, the team set to work guided by their conservation philosophy: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release. The shell crack was left to heal naturally while the tumour was surgically removed. Acupuncturists were called in and made an astonishing discovery—the flippers responded to stimulation—so acupuncture was incorporated alongside weight therapy to retrain the turtle’s buoyancy.
Over the following years, the team tended to Covid with unwavering patience. The shell healed completely, the tumour did not return, and the flippers grew stronger. In a larger enclosure, Covid reacquainted itself with the rhythm of the ocean.
In 2024, after a journey spanning nearly four years, Covid was carried to the water’s edge with a GPS tracker affixed to its shell. With a final push of the tide, it disappeared beneath the waves—a living testament to patience, guardianship, and the unbreakable will to survive.
SEA TURTLE
RAYA
Found entangled in discarded fishing nets, Raya was brought in with deep lacerations across her flippers and signs of extreme exhaustion. The team carefully removed the netting, treated her wounds, and provided a quiet recovery environment to reduce stress. After weeks of healing and strength-building, she was released back into the marine park, swimming free once more.
SEA TURTLE
BOBBY
Rescued with a deep boat strike wound across his shell, Bobby was fighting infection and unable to dive for food. The team cleaned and treated the wound daily, monitoring his recovery over several months. Now healed, he was released back into the marine park—a second chance earned with patience and care.
GREEN SEA TURTLE
DATO
Found suffering from gut stasis, severe dehydration, and a deformed carapace, Dato was in critical condition and unable to survive on his own. The team provided intensive round-the-clock care, addressing each ailment with patience and precision. After months of rehabilitation, he made a full recovery and was released back into the waters of the marine park.
GREEN SEA TURTLE
KUTU
Rescued with eyes infected by parasitic sea lice and showing early signs of emaciation, Kutu arrived weak and struggling. The team treated her infections and carefully restored her strength through a tailored feeding plan. Once fully healed, she was returned to the wild—another life given a second chance.
SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PROJECT
TURTLE RESCUE PROGRAMME
At the heart of the Marine Centre lies its Turtle Project—a dedicated initiative to protect and rehabilitate sea turtles across Sabah’s waters. Recognising that sick and injured turtles often go unnoticed, the project established a vital lifeline: the Turtle Hotline (+60 13 899 9509). A single call mobilises the team to respond swiftly, rescuing turtles in distress and bringing them to the centre’s protected care.
Once under the Centre’s watch, each turtle’s journey begins. Expert veterinary care addresses everything from infections and injuries to malnutrition and dehydration. The path to recovery is slow but steady, guided by a singular goal: release back into the wild.
This work is made possible through close collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department and the Marine Research Foundation, led by Dr. Nicholas Pilcher—a pivotal figure in the centre’s establishment. Together, they ensure that every rescued turtle receives not just medical treatment, but the best possible chance at returning home.
SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PROJECT
CORAL REEF RESTORATION EFFORTS
In collaboration with Reef Check Malaysia, the centre operates an on-site coral nursery that invites guests to take part in reef conservation. The process begins with collecting damaged coral fragments, which are then secured to artificial reef structures and nurtured in controlled conditions until they are strong enough to survive. Once ready, the corals are transplanted back into the marine park, helping to revive degraded reef areas. It’s a hands-on experience that turns guests into active participants in restoring the underwater ecosystem.
SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PROJECT
CONSERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION
Education lies at the heart of the centre’s mission. The resort leads by example by removing endangered species from menus, prioritising sustainable products, and offering regular conservation talks and hands-on engagement opportunities for guests and staff. Outreach extends to local fishing communities, promoting less harmful fishing techniques and facilitating recycling initiatives to reduce ocean debris.
In partnership with Reef Check Malaysia and YTL Hotels, the centre also runs an immersive school outreach programme. Through interactive workshops, creative activities, and thoughtful hospitality, local children are inspired to become future stewards of their natural environment.
SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PROJECT
TURTLE RESCUE
Through a dedicated Turtle Hotline (+60 13 899 9509), the centre responds to reports of sick or injured sea turtles, offering immediate rescue and a protected environment for recovery. In partnership with the Sabah Wildlife Department and the Marine Research Foundation, spearheaded by Dr. Nicholas Pilcher, a pivotal figure in the centre’s establishment where each turtle receives expert veterinary care and rehabilitation, with the ultimate goal of release back into their natural habitat.
SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PROJEXT
CORAL REEF RESTORATION
In collaboration with Reef Check Malaysia, the centre operates an on-site coral nursery that actively involves guests in reef conservation. The process includes collecting damaged coral fragments, securing them to artificial reef structures, and nurturing them in controlled conditions before transplanting them back into the marine park to revive degraded reef areas.
SIGNATURE CONSERVATION PROJECT
CONSERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION
Education lies at the heart of the centre’s mission. The resort leads by example by removing endangered species from menus, prioritising sustainable products, and offering regular conservation talks and hands-on engagement opportunities for guests and staff. Outreach extends to local fishing communities, promoting less harmful fishing techniques and facilitating recycling initiatives to reduce ocean debris.
