SEMPORNA, July 17 -- On the sparkling waters off Sabah's east coast, tourism is thriving as nearly 2,000 mostly Chinese tourists and divers flock to the picturesque islands around Semporna every day for the insta-worthy white sand beaches, water bungalows over turquoise seas and teeming marine life.

But for the resident Bajau Laut, Semporna's famed sea nomads, the reality beneath the glittering tourism ads is far less idyllic.

Despite being cultural icons of the Sulu and Sulawesi seas, they are shunned and stateless, living in fragile stilt homes or boats anchored off the islands, tolerated more than accepted.

Their unique underwater skills and traditions are a potential tourism boon, and opportunities are all around them, but without ...