Final Information to Diving Sipadan Island, Borneo Malaysia

Sipadan is residence to the greatest diving in Borneo, many say on the earth. Well-known for large colleges of fish, spiraling barracudas, monumental inexperienced turtles and education reef sharks, diving within the pumping present right here is spectacular. I used to be very lucky to remain on this magical space for 3 months doing tons of of dives. I hope this information helps or evokes you to discover what the good Jacques Cousteau stated about: “I’ve seen different locations like Sipadan, 45 years in the past, however now no extra” when he was mesmerized by this place.

For a pleasant island vacation with lovely seashores, good snorkeling and first rate diving, the Perhentian islands in Malaysia is unbelievable.

Up to date Sipadan Dive Rules 2023 – Sabah Parks tightened dive laws at Sipadan island in September 2022 – Minimal Superior Open Water certification required to dive Sipadan, one allow will solely enable two dives, as an alternative of three, per day.

What makes Sipadan so spectacular?

The island is a volcanic pinnacle lined in coral, dropping 600 meters straight right down to the ocean flooring. The quantity and variety of marine life right here is unbelievable. Many large inexperienced turtles and hawksbill turtles, herds of tons of of big bumphead parrot fish, colleges of 1000’s of jackfish and gigantic colleges of barracuda (forming a vortex or barracuda twister round you with some luck) is a typical day at Sipadan. You possibly can actually run into nearly something on this sea mount.

For one thing particular diving Sipadan island is tough to beat, Komodo island and Sipadan are my private favourite dive spots in South East Asia and I’ve dived many instances at each these unbelievable locations.

Sipadan Island Diving – How Does it Work?

Right now you cannot keep on Sipadan Island, a lot of the resorts are positioned on Mabul and Kapalai islands an hour or so away by boat. A allow is required to dive across the island and that is strictly policed by armed guards. Your choices are to remain in Semporna city the place there’s some actually low-cost lodging or to remain on the nearer Mabul or Kapalai which is extra dear and dive from there.

Should you keep on the close by islands you are able to do many dives round Mabul and Kapalai on a regular basis and go to Sipadan for one full day, 2 in case you are very fortunate. The diving round Mabul and Kapalai islands are glorious, very totally different from Sipadan, but additionally world class diving.

As much as twelve years in the past diving Sipadan should have been an expertise that no different location can match. From the principle seashore to the highest of the reef wall it’s only about 20 metres. A lot of the resorts had been positioned on Sipadan Island till 2004. You might stroll out of your room, gear up and soar into the Drop Off!

Unreal for diving however research confirmed that the reefs and marine life weren’t dealing with the stress attributable to too many divers. The Malaysian Authorities determined to guard the reefs and knowledgeable all resorts to relocate away from Sipadan Island in 2004. Since 2006 a allow is required for all divers desirous to dive across the island.

Stay Aboard Diving at Sipadan

The 29m liveaboard, M/V Celebes Explorer, is the one vessel who schedules 12 months spherical diving cruises and liveaboard diving to the most effective websites round Sipadan. Do as much as 4 dives per day from the one liveaboard boat with Sipadan permits.

Attending to Sipadan

Flight From Kuala Lumpur to Tawau

You first should get to the city Semporna on Borneo island, there’s not a lot to do right here and it’s primarily referred to as the gateway to the encompassing islands. Most individuals get right here by flying from Kuala Lumpur (IATA:KUL) or Kota Kinabalu (IATA:BKI) to the airport in Tawau  ( TWU, WBKW), Malaysia Airways and AirAsia function day by day flights. From Tawau journey overland to Semporna, there are a number of choices; public bus is the most affordable or you may go by taxi (about $40) or minibus for $25 Transport from Tawau to Semporna city. You too can get from Kota Kinabalu to Semporna by public bus.

The switch from Tawau to Semporna takes 90 minutes From Semporna, to Mabul Island by resort velocity boat takes about 45min.

Lodging heading to Mabul

Tawau – Nation Lodge at Eco Valley Retreat

Semporna – Casa Casa

get a Sipadan  diving allow

On the time of writing 176 permits are shared by 24 operators every day, bigger resorts get extra permits. Every allow permits a diver to dive for a day at Sipadan Island.

Throughout peak seasons, when the resorts are full, there could possibly be greater than 500 visitors collectively within the resorts, 120 permits usually are not sufficient on most days. Permits usually are not issued on a ‘first come, first serve’ foundation, however by a rotation system Learn Right here how the rotation system works.

The most typical tricks to get a allow are:

Keep longer on the resort (greater than 3 days, lengthy as doable)E-book as early as doable.Avoiding peak seasons.

My predominant tip Don’t be discouraged. Should you should not have a confirmed allow, inquire in any respect the resorts. I didn’t have a allow, a number of individuals instructed me I’ll by no means get a allow at such brief discover, I bought multiple supply to dive Sipadan strolling to all of the resorts.

Resorts and dive colleges with Sipadan permits.

Seaventures Dive ResortBorneo Divers Mabul ResortKapalai Pulau Sipadan ResortSipadan Water Village ResortSipadan-Mabul Resort – Mabul Water BungalowsCelebes Explorer – Sipadan Liveaboard boatMataking – The Reef Dive ResortRoach Reefs ResortBillabong Scuba (Bharman Sipadan)Borneo Jungle River Island ToursScuba Junkie (Dive Semporna)North Borneo DiveAsiatic Journey and ToursSen Alijah Journey and ToursBum Bum Borneo Journey and ToursSeahorse Sipadan ScubaArung Hayat Sea AdventureNoble Inworld Scuba Resort and ToursUncle Chang’s Sipadan Mabul Dive LodgeBorneo Velocity Dive and ToursMO Journey and ToursDreamland DiscoveryOceanic Dive Journey and ToursLuxury Megaway Excursions

Can rookies dive Sipadan?

This rule lately modified, since September 2022 a sophisticated dive qualification is a requirement to dive at Sipadan. Should you come to Mabul with none dive qualification and also you need to dive at Sipadan you’ll now want at the least one week of coaching to finish each the Open water (3 to 4 days) and Superior (2 to three days) {qualifications} whereas diving round Mabul.

For dive coaching I feel Koh Tao Island in Thailand is without doubt one of the greatest spots to go in South East Asia. See our assessment on Dive Colleges on Koh Tao.

Sipadan Diving Package deal

Because of the restricted quantity of permits out there most dive facilities require you to stick with them for a few days and dive totally different websites to get considered one of their Sipadan permits. All resorts have totally different Sipadan Diving Packages, these packages are made up of lodging, Sipadan dives and non-Sipadan dives. Often you’ll do the non Sipadan dives round Mabul and Kapalai on today and dive Sipadan in the future, relying on the provision and size of your keep. 

We point out for many resorts what the required size of keep is to qualify for a Sipadan allow. The diving on these reefs are glorious with among the most unbelievable and weird little critters within the ocean. Many frog fish, flamboyant cuttle fish, crocodile fish, ghost pipefish, mantis shrimp, sea horses and extra might be seen on these world well-known muck diving websites.

There are lots of extra wonderful locations to see when exploring Sabah Borneo! Don’t miss our Full Information to Climb Mount Kinabalu, the very best level in Malaysia.

Sipadan Snorkeling

Sipadan is a great spot for snorkeling/freediving. The shallow a part of the reef, near the island is lower than 5m deep, right here you may see many huge inexperienced turtles near the floor, spectacular coral, big clams and herds of large bumphead parrot fish swim on this shallow water. Reef sharks, 1000’s of barracudas and large eye jacks swim by near the sting of the place the reef drops in to the deep, they often come fairly shallow and you’ve got a very good probability of seeing them snorkeling.

You probably have some freediving expertise and you’ll snorkel deeper down the wall you will notice big jacks, sharks and recreation fish.

The issue with discovering a snorkeling web site is the few permits out there, divers and snorkelers use the identical allow and since diving is costlier most operators don’t take snorkelers since it’s not worthwhile sufficient. I do know Uncle Chang usually took snorkelers alongside.

Mabul and Kapalai snorkel tour from Semporna

Marine Life round Sipadan

Most skilled divers place Sipadan excessive on their bucket record. Some of the various and guarded dive websites on the earth with greater than 3,000 species of fish and tons of of coral species recognized. On a typical day you’ll see many large inexperienced and hawksbill turtles, the herds of bumphead parrot fish grazing on the reef, white tip reef sharks, gray reef sharks, the large residential colleges of jackfish and the barracudas are the usual spotlight diving at Sipadan

With the pumping currents and pelagic and large animal motion many individuals by no means even actually look down, however the coral, number of nudibrances, small reef fish and large cucumbers and sea stars, moray eels, lion fish and extra on the reef round Sipadan are really spectacular.

Hopefully you may run into absolutely anything diving right here.

Whale Sharks – swimming with these monumental creatures is a bucket record merchandise for a lot of divers. They don’t seem to be usually seen round Sipadan. Need to know extra about diving with Whale Sharks within the Philippines ?

Sipadan Island resorts

Since Pulau Sipadan is a protected space all Sipadan resorts are positioned on close by islands of Mabul, Kapalai and Mataking. The most cost effective approach to dive right here is to remain within the city of Semporna (not a really thrilling place). You possibly can nonetheless dive at Sipadan even when the resort you’re staying at doesn’t have permits. The resorts usually arrange so that you can dive with one other operator that has permits.

Instructors and dive leaders in any respect resorts come and go, learn latest opinions.

Price range Sipadan Diving Resorts

Uncle Chang Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge

6 Sipadan Diving permitsTripAdvisor 28% Wonderful out of 357 opinions

Uncle Chang’s is a funds resort and one of many least expensive locations to dive with on Mabul. This domestically owned wood lodge is constructed on stilts over the ocean. There may be a wide range of lodging, dorm rooms, double, household rooms and seaview chalets out there. I labored as an teacher right here for 3 months a few years in the past. It’s a funds lodge, learn latest TripAdvisor opinions, there have been some very competent instructors and dive masters working with me on the time. You may get a allow to dive Sipadan with out diving a minimal quantity of days as is required by many resorts.

Billabong Scuba

6 Sipadan Diving permitsTripAdvisor 24% Wonderful out of 305 opinions

Billabong Scuba is homestay chalets constructed over the ocean and is one other funds resort. Rooms differ between fundamental and extra luxurious with on-suite bogs and air-conditioning. One other resort the place you will get a allow to dive Sipadan with out having to dive Mabul and Kapelai for a few days with them.

Mid-range Mabul resorts

Seaventures Dive Rig Resort

10 Sipadan permitsFinest Rated in line with TripAdvisor opinions with 69% glorious from 619 reviews

Seaventures is a Dive Resort with a distinction, comprised of a transformed oil rig providing the right location for continuous diving. Right here every little thing is about diving with limitless diving on the glorious dive web site beneath the rig, simply take the raise down and soar in. Seaventures is a PADI 5* IDC Resort providing technical diving, cave diving is completed at Sipadan’s well-known Turtle Tomb! The resort has 28 air-con twin and double rooms and a couple of bigger VIP Household rooms. To qualify to get a Sipadan allow you need to stick with them for at the least 3 days.

Scuba Junkie/Mabul Seaside Resort

6 Sipadan permitsTripAdvisor 68% glorious from 1021 opinions

Scuba Junkie is considered one of a brief chain of dive resorts. I stayed in Scuba Junkie on Mabul for two or 3 days and paid their bar frequent visits staying on Mabul. The resort caters for backpackers with dormitory lodging, however it’s costlier than the funds resorts and are nearer to western requirements.The Mabul resort consists of 24 ensuite rooms located on the beachfront. Scuba Junkie additionally operates Scuba Junkie Backpackers primarily based in Semporna. The resort is without doubt one of the extra eco-friendly on the island with inexperienced waste programs, photo voltaic vitality and utilizing biodegradable merchandise. You need to keep a minimal of three nights to dive Sipadan with Scuba Junkie.

Borneo Divers Mabul Dive Resort

12 Sipadan permitsTripAdvisor 39% glorious from 305 opinions

Borneo Divers is a medium funds resort with 30 tropical-themed chalets every with clear, huge rooms. The resort has a pleasant backyard and exquisite white seashore and a well-liked home reef, your keep contains limitless shore dives right here from the jetty. The non-public seashore in entrance of the resort is a superb place for swimming, snorkeling or for sunbathing, with the added luxurious of a swimming pool space and a jacuzzi.To dive Sipadan with Borneo Divers you need to stick with them for 3 nights.

Luxurious Resorts for Sipadan diving

Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART)

14 Sipadan permitsTripAdvisor 32% glorious from 40 opinions

Sipadan Mabul Resort is a luxurious resort positioned on a  beautiul white sandy seashore on the south east facet of Mabul, the resort has 45 superbly designed wood air-con chalets. The resort has two distinct sections, the Water Bungalows that are lovely and costly or the Chalets that are good and cheap. Sipadan-Mabul Resort is a PADI Gold Palm Resort. The dive centre  additionally affords TDI technical diving programs. There may be limitless shore diving from the jetty and the native home reef affords some unbelievable muc diving. Different  services on the resort embrace a swimming pool, a jacuzzi whirlpool spa, therapeutic massage companies and ocean kayaking tools for hire.

Kapalai Dive Resort

12 Sipadan permitsTripAdvisor 65% glorious from 620 opinions

Kapalai Dive Resort is a luxurious water village constructed on stilts over the sandbanks of the Ligitan reefs and positioned solely a brief trip by boat from Mabul islands From this comfy, sunny water village there isn’t a land in sight, you may stroll or sunbath alone on a mile-long sandbank on the resort. The native home reef affords glorious diving, with many huge fish, Moray eels and unbelievable macro life ghost pipe fish and frog fish.

There are lots of black tip reef sharks swimming throughout the island.

Sipadan diving season

Diving at Sipadan is unbelievable all 12 months spherical.

The very best time is from April to December with glorious sea circumstances. April till early of June being the right time however that is additionally the Excessive season so make resort bookings prematurely.From January to March, there might be heavy rainfall and decrease visibility.

Sipadan Island Dive Websites

There are 11 generally dived websites round Sipadan island, all are Wall Dives. The next are transient descriptions of among the websites and marine life you may anticipate to see.

DROP OFF

Proper towards the shore, about 10m away the wall right here drops 600m straight to the ocean backside, when there have been nonetheless resorts on the island this was the most effective shore dive on the earth. An enormous number of coral, many turtles abound and a large number of lionfish & smaller reef dwelling fish dwell on this wall. The doorway to the turtle cave is at about 20m down on this web site. This unbelievable cave goes all through the island. To be explored you want cave coaching. There may be resident Large Barracuda and a few white suggestions that may typically be discovered near the doorway. There’s a  large resident college of 1000’s of Large Eye Trevally hanging round about 100m from  the mouth of The Turtle Cave.

STAGHORN CREST / SOUTH POINT

On the other finish of the island to Barracuda Level. Sturdy present usually current at this web site. Diving within the present right here can take you thru  three of the marked websites. The place to see pelagics! Very massive shoals of Barracuda, Jacks, Sharks and lots of turtles usually feed right here.

HANGING GARDEN

Good spot for images. This wall is roofed in a large number of soppy coral. Hawksbill & Inexperienced Turtles dwell on the ledges at this web site and the present is often fairly calm.

TURTLE PATCH

Well-known for being residence to an enormous variety of Hawksbill & Inexperienced Turtles. Many reef sharks additionally frequent this web site.

BARRACUDA POINT

That is essentially the most well-known web site at Sipadan and the place to see massive colleges of pelagics; Barracuda, Jacks, Gray and White Tip Reef Sharks. Present is powerful. It’s a fast paced, massive colleges of fish.

WHITE TIP AVENUE

Many Black & White Tip Reef Sharks, Gray Sharks, large Inexperienced & Hawksbill Turtles in addition to massive shoals of Jack & Barracuda.

All particulars and tips about packing for this dive journey  ↓ ↓↓ ↓ 

Happening a dive journey? – Dive Journey Packing Checklist+Suggestions

My Dive Sipidan story

Travelling round South East Asia for a 12 months or two  diving Sipadan was excessive on my To-Do-list. I arrived at Mabul island to dive Sipadan. Whereas searching for a properly priced dive operator I used to be provided  a job as a Scuba teacher on Mabul Island. Working right here, getting paid to see among the world’s most alien creatures each day and  dive these wonderful locations was an unreal expertise!

Extra on Diving round South East Asia

With among the greatest browsing and diving on the earth, the island nation Indonesia is considered one of my favourite international locations to journey on the earth. We’ve got traveled Indonesia for diving extensively, see the Finest Diving in Indonesia.

Bali might be the most well-liked vacationer island in Indonesia, it affords some good wreck dives and muck diving – Full Information to Diving in Bali. Dive with the unbelievable mola mola and mantas from Nusa Penida Island. Nusa Penida Dive Information

The massive island Sulawesi is residence to among the greatest diving Indonesia has to supply; nice muck diving at Lembeh strait, a unbelievable hidden island expertise on the Togian islands and a wide range of critters on the well-known Wakatobi and fewer well-known Bira within the South.

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The sturdy half of Stingy Nomads, a nomadic aquaman that will be blissful to spend all his life within the water diving, browsing and spearfishing however usually has to compromise with Alya and go climbing as an alternative. Campbell is answerable for all our marine adventures and following them with write-ups. He loves touring, braai (BBQ in South Africa), crimson wine and spending the day in a wetsuit.