The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/all/20050228141207/http://divetheworldmalaysia.com:80/sipadan-scuba-diving.htm
  
  
 

Sipadan Island Dive Sites



Home
Resorts
Liveaboards
Courses
Dive Sites
Enquiries

"The Best Shore Diving in the World"

Ever since diving celebrity like Jacques Cousteau raved about the diversity of its marine life here, this dive mecca has been indisputably the most famous scuba destination in Malaysia. The island 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.

Bumphead parrotfish - Sipadan Island is famous for one of SE Asia's last remaining stocks

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 at the top of their wish list.

Sipadan Island was at the top of Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine Gold List for 'The Top Dive Destination in the World'. In fact the island shared its top spot with two other destinations known for the amazing diversity of their marine life - the Galapagos Islands and Truk in Micronesia.

How to Dive Sipadan

For environmental reasons this tiny island has now closed its resorts. This means the best way to dive here is by staying in on one of the nearby resorts at Mabul or Kapalai.

Turtle at South Point - Dive The World Malaysia

There are no quality liveaboards currently in operation around this area so the best way to dive here is on daily boat trips from Mabul or Kapalai. The nearby resorts also boast some excellent macro-diving which is a great complement to the breathtaking big fish action of Sipadan Island.

Diving Season

You can dive here all year round. Overall, the best conditions exist from April to December, especially July and August. January to March can see some unsettled weather and a decrease in visibility but the resorts still see plenty of guests at this time as the diving can still be fine.

Liveaboard season runs from January to September.

Reef Basics

Great for: Large animals, wall diving, drift dives and advanced divers
Not so great for: Wrecks, beginner divers and non-diving activities
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be choppy
Water Temperature: 26 - 30°C
Experience Level: Intermediate - advanced
Number of dive sites: 12
Distance: 28 km (25 minutes) south from Mabul and 21 km (18 minutes) southwest from Kapalai
Access: Sipadan diving from Mabul and Kapalai diving resorts
Recommended length of stay: 5 - 14 days, including Mabul and Kapalai sites

Dive Sites

More detailed information on Sipadan scuba diving sites:

    
• Barracuda Point • Coral Garden
• The Drop Off • Hanging Gardens
• Midreef • South Point
• Staghorn Crest • Turtle Cavern
• Whitetip Avenue

Dive The World Recommendations: South Point, Turtle Cavern and Barracuda Point.

Other sites that can be visited from here:

    
• Mabul Island • Kapalai

Use our short form to grab your options for
Grab your shortlist of Sipadan diving opportunitiesMalaysia scuba diving enquiries

View Sipadan Island tourist informationSipadan tourist information

View a map of Sabah - BorneoMap of Sabah - Borneo

Back to Malaysia diving sitesBack to the Malaysia diving sites


Mabul Island

Ariel view of Mabul Island

...Dive at Sipadan from the nearby muck diving island paradise of Mabul for the very best adventures...

Dive Resorts >> 

Kapalai

Relaxation therapy at Kapalai

...Dive and stay here for the best combination scuba packages of Sipadan Island, Kapalai and Mabul...

Dive Resorts >> 

Home   Resorts   Liveaboards   Courses   Dive Sites   Enquiries  
Tourist Info   Maps   Terms   About Us   Site Map   Links  
 DIVE THE WORLD
Dive Centre Reg. No. S-6615
64D, Faber Plaza, Jalan Desa Bakti
Off Old Klang Road
Kuala Lumpur  58100 Malaysia
Sales:  210/26 Ratuthid Road, Phuket, 83150 Thailand
Tel. & Fax: +66 (0)76 344736
E-mail: Malaysia@Dive-The-World.com
Website: http://www.DiveTheWorldMalaysia.com

"...your one-stop shop for diving Sipadan..."

Other websites:  Burma  Indonesia  Thailand