The Semporna reef complex is located within the Coral Triangle region, where the highest numbers of marine species are found. Semporna has the largest concentration of reefs within Malaysia. Semporna is unusual because of its rich mix of reef types, representing 5 major geomorphological  reef  types,  which  include  a  proto-atoll,  an  offshore  seamount,  fringing reefs,  patch  reefs,  and  a  barrier  reef  formation.  Such  areas  usually  have  high  levels  of biodiversity because of the mix of habitat types and ecosystems.