Sipadan, one of the best dive sites in the world.
- Departure: June 28th, 2019 (Fri)
- Return: July 5th, 2019 (Fri)
Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising 600m (2,000 feet) from the seabed. It was formed over thousands years by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcano. This tropical island off the southeast coast of Sabah is well known for its stunning underwater scenery and large numbers of marine species.
Sipadan, one of the best dive sites in the world. Scuba diving here is year-round with the best time being between April and December. You’ll enjoy amazing diving scenes such as schools of barracudas and big-eye trevally in a tornado-like formation, mating hawksbill and greenback turtles, and sometimes you’ll also see pelagic fish such as manta rays, eagle rays, reef sharks, hammerhead sharks and whale sharks.
Dive Sites
* Click dive flag for site information.
North Point
The wall here has a few overhangs where fish can be found hiding, it is often dived as a drift around to The Drop Off. Beautiful in the afternoon when the sunlight bounces off the brightly coloured pink, red and yellow soft corals. Also several sponges, anemones and sea squirts can be seen here. Marine life includes the usual Sipadan residents, especially those turtles!
The Drop Off
The drop off is probably one of Sipadan's most famous dive sites, it is also rated in the top five beach dives of the world! Just ten meters from the beach the abyss drops down to over 600 meters deep. The wall is covered in many varieties of coral and some big pelagics often visit the area, keep a lookout for grey reef sharks in the deep blues. There will undoubtedly be huge schools of jacks circling above you, a truly magical sight on this fantastic wall of marine life. This spot is also popular for night dives where huge bumphead parrotfish can be seen sleeping on the wall.
Turtle Cavern
Sipadan is famous for its populations of green and hawksbill turtles. This cavern lying in around 20 meters of water was rumored once to be a catacomb where the local turtles came to find their final resting place. It was later discovered that the turtles simply got lost in the cavern system at night and drowned. Inside the labyrinth of interconnecting caverns are the shells and bones of those less fortunate turtles that failed to find an exit. Divers are advised to take extreme caution in the caves as visibility can easily and quickly be reduced to zero if silt is disturbed.
Barracuda Point
Currents can be strong here so dont go too deep or you may be swept downwards and out away from the islands. These food laden currents are what attract thousands of fish to the area including huge swirling schools of chevron barracuda. Topography starts off with a wall which merges into a ledge at around 22 meters where resting white tip sharks can be seen, also keep an eye out for grey reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles and bumphead parrotfish. The sheer numbers of fish are astounding here and drift diving is the best way to go at this absolutely awesome dive site!
Coral Gardens
Another wall dive with a multitude of coral species here. Turtles are everywhere on this site, feeding on the coral, resting or even posing for photos, they seem used to divers and will hang around for a little. Triggerfish and giant wrasse are plentiful and there is always the possibility of that huge school of jacks or barracuda.
Whitetip Avenue
With a name like this you pretty much know what to expect. There is no shortage of gentle whitetip sharks along the wall and plateaus here. Coral is abundant and Gorgonians are common, as with most other Sipadan dive sites you'll see turtles, jacks, bigeye trevally and barracuda.
Mid Reef
Continuing along the wall to Mid reef where there is an explosion of life. The slopes around 20 to 30 meters offer some of the best coral formations around Sipadan. With gorgonians, black coral and plate, table and staghorn coral on shallower parts. Fish life includes puffers, bozfish, leaf fish and lionfish and always the chance of something bigger.
Turtle Patch
A typical Sipadan dive with an abundance of turtles, its not unusual to see over 20 of them in one dive. Topography is slightly different here with a slope down to 15 meters then slightly steeper down to 40 or so before the drop off. Turtles aside there are often huge schools of circling jacks here where divers can be engulfed in a living sphere of fish. As with most Sipadan dives this one is best done as a drift.
South Point
South Point is one of the few dive sites in the area where there is a chance of spotting something more exciting. Deep waters and strong currents have been known to bring in Hammerhead and Thresher sharks to this spot though they are usually around the 40 meter mark. Although they are rare it is still worth finning off the wall and into the open water a little way for the hope of a glimpse, watch the currents though. The rest of the dive can be spent drifting along the wall spotting turtles.
Staghorn Crest
A gradual diagonal descent down the wall reveals a Staghorn coral garden in the shallows and a plateau at 15 meters. Good light conditions in the afternoon make this site a favourite for photographers. Huge coral heads can be found here and the crevices in the walls offer a home to shrimps, morays, nudibranchs and gobies. As with most Sipadan dive sites there is alway the possibility of a manta ray or shark sighting.
Lobster Lair
A better site for shallower diving where time can be taken to explore the cracks and crevices that house all manner of marine creatures. Lobsters are not as common as the name of the site suggests but they can still be found. Other sights here include pipefish, scorpionfish, and lionfish. There may be the odd leopard shark lying around too.
Hanging Gardens
The topography here consists of a 2 meter deep reef sloping down to a terrace around the 70 meter mark which then drops off into the abyss. As its name implies this site is great for viewing soft corals with dendronephthya alcyonarians in various pastel colours covering the slope. Check out the cracks and crevaces for macro life and always keep an eye out for bigger visitors.
West Ridge
This is another shallower site where soft corals and macro life is prolific. It is best dived in the afternoon where the dappled sunlight can be magical. Black coral bushes can be seen here along with the resident turtles that often stop to have a crunch on the coral. Other marine life includes sweetlips, groupers, napoleon wrasse and anemonefish.
Itinerary
- Day 1 (June 28th) - Meet at the airport
Meet together and check in at Pudong airport around 23:00 in the late evening.
- Day 2 (June 29th) - Departure
Fly to Tawau from Shanghai and transfer to Semporna by car, check in and stay over night in local hotel in Semporna.
- Day 3 (June 30th) - Arrive and check dives
Boat transfer to Mabul and check in Borneo Divers Mabul Resort in the morning,
2 check dive in the afternoon,
Stay over night in Borneo Diver Mabul Resort.
- Day 4 (July 1st) - Day 7 (July 4th) - Diving
3 boat dives a day at Mabul, Kapalai and Sipadan Island,
Unlimited Jetty House Reef Dive in Mabul Island,
Stay over night in Borneo Diver Mabul Resort.
- Day 8 (July 5th) - Back to Shanghai
Check out and leave for the airport about 6am in the morning, take the flight back to Shanghai. Get in Shanghai in the evening.
Daily Schedule
- 06:00 - Breakfast
- 07:30 - Meet at Dive Center
- 08:00 - Departure for Diving
- 08:30 - First Dive
- 09:30 - Tea Break
- 11:00 - Second Dive
- 12:00 - Back to Hotel for Lunch
- 15:00 - Third Dive
- 16:00 - Tea Break
- 17:00 - Fourth Dive ( Sunset Dive )
- 19:00 - Dinner at hotel and stay overnight
* Daily schedule might be changed due to different situation
** Sipadan dives subject to quota and weather permitting. Diving at Sipadan may be anytime of the day.
*** AOW students will finish the course in the trip.
Borneo Divers Mabul Resort
Mabul is located at the South Eastern coast of Sabah and about 20 minutes from Sipadan, 30-40 minutes (weather permitting) from Semporna, perched on the edge of the Continental Shelf lies the island of Mabul – rated as the 'Mecca of Muck Diving'. The underwater at Mabul houses the most incredible marine habitats that even divers today continue to discover new stuff.
Borneo Divers Mabul Resort occupies a beautiful stretch of white sandy beach. Easy access to the water provides for effortless shore and boat diving. Accommodations are provided in attractive and comfortable chalets, all with a view of the beach and the Borneo Mainland in the distance.
The chalets are constructed of beautiful hardwoods in a local style. Ceiling fans and balmy tropical breezes provide ample cooling, but each chalet is also fully air conditioned for your comfort. All units have either twin or double size beds. Private ensuite bathrooms provide modern hot showers and toilet facilities. Deluxe rooms are available with coffee/ tea making facilities and hair dryer.
Cost
Diver: 8,980 CNY Per Person
Non-diver: 6,980 CNY Per Person
Cost Included
- Travel insurance
- Round transfer from Tawau Airport to Mabul Island by van / boat
- One night twin-shared accommodation in Semporna
- Semi-Detached chalet at Mabul Island
- 3 meals a day plus light snacks and beverages while at the Dive Resort(Except alcoholic and/ or carbonated soft drinks)
- 3 boat dives a day between Mabul, Kapalai, Sipadan, Si Amil or Mantabuan Island with the divemaster
- Sipadan Entry Permit
- Unlimited Jetty House Reef Dive (Conditions Applied)
- Boat, tanks, weight and weighbelt
Cost Excluded
- Flight tickets
- Dive Equipment
- Nitrox Fills
- Soft drink and beer
- Tips
- Anything not listed in the costs included
Other Cost
- Wetsuit: 20 Ringgit
- Fins: 5 Ringgit
- Boots: 5 Ringgit
- Regulator: 25 Ringgit
- BCD: 25 Ringgit
- Mask: 10 Ringgit
- Snorkel: 5 Ringgit
- Nitrox Fills: 30 Ringgit
- Underwater Light: 25 Ringgit
- Full Set Equipment (all above): 95 Ringgit
Requirements
- Be a non-diver or
- Bring your proof of certification
Seat Limitation
We have 20 seats for this trip, sign up today!
Notes
- LIST OF COUNTRIES ALLOWED VISA-FREE ENTRY
- The passport must be valid for more than 6 months.
- You'll need your Passport and Dive certification
- The water temperature is around 28c, 3mm shorty or full wet suit, thin Wetsuit or rash vest is suggested.
- NO SPEAR FISHING.
- You will be responsible to follow Safe Diving Practices and diving within your limits.
- Indicate that you should wait a minimum of 18 hours and sometimes up to 24 hours after diving before you fly.
- Ringgit, USD and RMB is acceptable in Malaysia,
- the exchange rate of CNY is 1 Ringgit for 1.7 CNY,
- the rate for USD is 1 USD for 4 Ringgit.
- The power supply in Malaysia is 240volt, the power adapter is Rectangular blade plug
Reservation and Cancellation
Please email or call before May 29th , 2019 to check availability.
50% nonrefundable deposit is necessary to secure your seat, the remaining balance must be paid 30 days before departure.
For cancellations less than 30 days before the trip we are not able to give refunds.
If you need a reservation or have any question, please contact us by sending email to info@big-blue.cn or cal +86(21)6291-2110.
Big Blue is looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you very much.
