The Seribuat archipalego houses some of the most intact coral reefs in the country. These reefs support a host of marine life that includes Critically Endangered hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), green turtles (Chelonia Mydas) as well as dolphins and porpoises.

Verdant seagrass meadows grow just beyond the coral reefs, off the sheltered waters off the southwestern parts of Pulau Tinggi and Pulu Sibu. These meadows support what is perhaps the most important dugong (Dugong dugon) population in the country. Known also as sea cows, the dugongs are rarely seen, but often leave feeding trails across the meadows.

New marine and terrestrial species are discovered on and around the islands from time to time. For example, a skink species new to science, the Sibu island forest skink (Tytthoscincus sibuensis) was discovered in the lowland forest of Pulau Sibu in 2006. In the waters, a Melitoid amhipod, Victoriopisa tinggiensis was found in the seagrass beds off Pulau Tinggi in 2010, while another amphipod, Urothoe sibuensis was discovered off Pulai Sibu during the same period.

Also look out for colonies of island flying foxes Pteropus hypomelanus that roost in the trees of the islands. Although often considered a pest, these remarkable creatures play an important ecological function by pollinating a number of forest and cultivated trees. This includes the durian and petai – two hallmarks of Malaysian cuisine.