A diver's dream - Sipadan, Malaysia
Already legendary as one of the world's best dive sites - always featuring within the top ten of any list - is the tiny island of Sipadan, this dive mecca has been indisputably the most famous scuba destination in Malaysia.
It is located off the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia's eastern most state, and lies on the north-eastern corner of Borneo, the world's third largest island.
The Sipadan diving legend has passed through the world's dive community to the extent that all divers with an interest in visiting the best sites in the world, have this small island near the top of their wish list.
Dive Site Introduction
Sipadan
Sipadan Island has 11 Marked Dive Sites. All dives are Wall Dives. The following are brief descriptions of some of the sites and marine life you can expect to see.
DROP OFF
Just 20 feet from the shore, the wall plunges a staggering 2,000 feet down and is rated as one of the top 5 Beach Dives in the world. The wall is encrusted with different varieties of coral, turtles abound and a multitude of lionfish & smaller reef dwelling fish live on this wall. The entrance to TURTLE CAVERN is also found about 70ft down along this wall.
STAGHORN CREST / SOUTH POINT
There is usually a very strong current present at this site. Dives here can take you through up to three marked sites. Very large shoals of pelagic feed here (Barracuda, Jacks, Sharks and Turtles). On the upper reef, a multitude of smaller reef fish abound. Coral is bursting with color, many huge Anemone and Clown Fish at this site.
HANGING GARDEN
This wall is covered in a multitude of soft coral. Hawksbill & Green Turtles live on the ledges at this site and the current is usually quite calm. A great spot for photography as colorful corals hang from the interesting cracks and crevices along the wall.
TURTLE PATCH
This site is home to a huge number of Hawksbill & Green Turtles. Many reef sharks also frequent this site. It is rather barren in comparison to some of the other sites, but triggerfish and other reef fish dwell on the upper coral reef, making it a well-rounded site.
BARRACUDA POINT
As the name suggests, Barracuda Point is where a large concentration of Pelagic's converge. Except to see large shoals of Barracuda, Jacks, Grey and White Tip Reef Sharks. The schools number in the high hundreds. Current is strong. It is a fast moving, high voltage dive site.
WHITE TIP AVENUE
As with all the sites on Sipadan Island, the name says it all. Expect to see huge Black & White Tip Reef Sharks, Grey Sharks, massive Green & Hawksbill Turtles as well as large shoals of Jack & Barracuda.
MABUL ISLAND
Situated only about 15 minutes by speedboat from Sipadan, and 30 minutes from mainland Semporna, Mabul is recognized as one of the world's best "muck-diving" sites, has a shallow reef profile with sandy bottom and patches of sea grass and also one of the richest single destinations for exotic small marine life in the world.
The coral reefs at first glance do not look very picturesque and inviting, however it is the diversity of macro animals inhabiting the coral rubble and sea grass sites that put Mabul on the diving map. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, mimic octopus, gobies and frogfishes are everywhere, as are moray, snake eels and practically the whole scorpion fish family. There's no doubt about it, Mabul is a magical macro site!
The beauty of Mabul will also appeal greatly to non divers as well.
Eel Garden
Located towards the southern end of Pulau Mabul. Eel Garden is one of the deeper dives around the area. Divers descend to a sandy flat between 20 to 25 metres sloping towards the open sea.Fining carefully and avoiding stirring up the silty bottom, divers can observe gobies seeking refuge in the tiny crevices and moray eels occupying larger holes. Looking towards the sandy patch, you will see what appear to be blades of long grass swaying with the current. These are the elusive garden eels (Heteroconger Hassi) living in colonies that quickly dart back into their burrows on approaching shadows or excessive movement in the water.
Ray Point
Also located on the southern tip of Pulau Mabul, this site slopes to about 30 metres at the sandy bottom. Currents sweeping through this point bring clear water and good visibility. Sea fans and soft corals that thrive in current areas are home to gobies, blennies, moray eels, butterfly fish, damselfish, parrotfish and stonefish (Synanceia Verrucosa).
Crocodile Avenue
Flat sandy area from 5m to 20m. It is a sandy area, so there are empty stretches of sand with oases of life. Our dive guide found some seahorses there every time. The absolute record was 8 seahorses. Then there are sand eels, double-ended pipefish, crocodile fish, special tube anemones, ghost pipefish (Harlequin- and Sea grass-), cowfish etc. I even saw some turtles, humpback parrotfish, barracudas, mackerels and a small eagle ray there. Night dives are also very good here. We found lots of sepias, cuttlefish and special nudibranchs (for example the Spanish Dancer, Asteronotus c.) and lots of crabs. One of the highlights was a small boxer crab, found on some rubble.
Seaventure Platform
Mabul, Seaventures Platform: Flat sandy area on about 17m. This is an old oil platform that has been converted into a hotel owned by Seaventures Dive Resort. It stands on huge pillars. You dive underneath in 17m of water. An amazing dive site! There are several piles of metal rods, look close, and there are always several frogfish (yellow to red, black and gray) sitting on them. Inside the largest pile there is a huge moray eel. His head must have a diameter of about 15cm! Then we also found: ghost pipefish (Harlequin and sea grass), wasp fish, nudibranchs (Halgerda, Cromodoris etc.), stonefish, flying gurnard and close to the pillars always lots of batfish and flute fish.
Lobster Wall
Wall, some small caverns. There are many nudibranchs, anemones, shrimps and in a small cave I even found a baby cowfish. Great night dives.
KAPALAI ISLAND
* Mandarin Valley
Slope to about 20m. Hard corals, then sand. Small underwater mound. This dive site has its name from a dragonet that can be found there and that has a beautiful color like the clothes of the Chinese mandarins. It lives during the day under the spines of sea urchins. Go out to the small underwater mound - there were several leaf fish there last time. Leaf fish can shed their skin and in such a way adjust to the surrounding reef. I saw one, where some yellow ascidians were growing on his skin right over the eye. There is also a mushroom coral (Heliofungia a.) on the sand with some white anemone pipefish (Siokunichthys n.) living inside.
* Ray Channel
This is a sandy channel with the reef on one side. The special fish, you find here and nowhere else in Mabul is the dragon fish (Pegasus). This small animal lives in pairs on sand and feeds on invertebrates. There are some leaf fish; a spiny devilfish lives close by, and there is a small baby-angelfish.
Dive Plan and Cost
Cost ( Valid from January 1st – December 31st 2008)
- Diver (Twin Share): 705 RM
- Diver (Single): 1,060 RM
- Non-Diver (Twin Share): 565 RM
- Diver (Triple Share): 640 RM
- Non-Diver (Triple Share): 510 RM
- Children Non-Diver (above 12 yrs, Twin Share): 565 RM
- Children Non-Diver (12 yrs below, Triple Share): 285 RM
- Children aged 4 and below (Triple Share): FOC
* All bookings require a minumum stay of 3 nights
* Rates bases on Per Night / Per Pax
* Big Blue Point: 5%
Cost Included
- Airport - Hotel - Airport transfer within Kota Kinabalu on arrival and departure day
- Ground transfers within Tawau - Semporna - Mabul Island and return by van/ coach and boat
- Twin-share semi-detached chalet accommodation at Mabul Island
- 3 meals a day PLUS light snacks serve all day and beverages while at the Dive Resort (Excluding alcoholic and/ or carbonated soft drinks)
- 3 boat dives a day with our Professional Divemaster. (Sipadan, Mabul or Kapalai)
Quota and Weather permitting for Sipadan dive. (Diving at Sipadan may be anytime ofthe day) - Bonus sunset buddy boat dive at Mabul House reef
- Boat, tanks, weight and weightbelt
Cost Excluded
- Night Dive (50RM per pax / per boat dive with minimum 3 paxs)
- Anything not listed in the costs included
Equipment Rental
Regulator $7 / BC $7 / Shortie suit $6 / Booties $2 / Fins $2 / Mask $3 / Snorkel $2
Full set of equipment can be rented in the island at $25.00 - $35.00 per day/ per person.
* All equipments can be rented based on per day / per person
Sample of Itinerary Based on 5 DAYS/ 4 NIGHTS
DAY 1: Arrival
Plan 1: Meet at Tawau Airport at 7:45am in the morning, transfer to resort, 2 boat dives in the afternoon (one of the boat dives will be an orientation dive).
Plan 2: Meet at Tawau Airport in the afternoon, transfer to resort, will not be able to do any diving on the arrival day.
DAY 2, 3, 4
3 boat dives a day, which the dives will be at Sipadan, Mabul or Kapalai. One Sunset Bonus Boat Dive without Divemaster at Mabul HOUSE REEF
Day 5, Depart
Free at leisure in the morning. Checkout.
* NO DIVING at Sipadan on the arrival day and departure day.
Cost: 2820 RM / per pax
Remarks & General Information
- Ringgit, USD and RMB is acceptable in Malaysia,
- the exchange rate of RMB is 1 Ringgit for 2.2 RMB,
- the rate for USD is 1 USD for 3.36 Ringgit. - Language: Malay, English and Chinese.
- The power supply in Malaysia is 240volt, the power adapter is Rectangular blade plug.
- Passport, Malaysian Visa and Dive certification.
- The passport must be valid for more than 6 months.
- The water temperature is around 28 - 30c. 3mm shorty, thin Wetsuit or rash vest is suggested.
- Due to quota and weather permitting for Sipadan dive, diving at Sipadan may be anytime of the day.
- 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.
