An unexplored underwater haven home to vibrant and exotic marine life
Hailed as an ‘untouched piece of art’, Sipadan is a tiny rainforest covered island floating on the Celebes Sea off the East Coast of Sabah in Malaysia. This remote island was formed as a result of coral growth on the volcanic cones rising from the ocean floor and is home to a unique and diverse marine ecosystem.
Sipadan Island is one of the richest marine habitats in the world; thresher sharks, eagle rays, reef sharks and bumped parrot fish and massive tornadoes of barracudas are everyday sightings. Leopard sharks and whale sharks drop by once in a while.
In a sense Sipadan is akin to the Times Square of the ocean, you are guaranteed to glimpse some colourful characters and you are never sure who might show up.
Scuba Diving in Sipadan Islands
Sipadan Island’s unique marine life is protected by stringent environmental regulations so there are a few things to know before visiting the island.
There are no resorts on Sipadan Island. The few remaining ones were closed in 2002 to preserve the fragile biosphere. The closest resorts to Sipadan are on the islands of Kapali and Mabul.
Environmental regulations limit the maximum number of dives to 120 per day. Divers will require permit from Sabah Parks but this will be taken care of by the dive shops
The water has reduced visibility during the rainy season (January to March). The best time time to visit is from July to October.
The best way to get to Sipadan is to fly to Tawai, take a taxi to Semporna (1.5 hrs) and finally a boat to Sipadan (1 hour on speed boat)
Major Diving Sites in Sipadan
South Point
One of the best diving spots in Sipadan, South Point is a microcosm of the island and is home to 600 meter coral walls, turtles and massive schools of fish. Hammerheads and Thresher sharks make an occasional appearance in the area.
Barracuda Point
As the name implies, the area is patrolled by several massive vortex of barracuda schools. Other attractions include hordes of turtles, bannerfish, snapper and jack.
Turtle Cavern
An eerie and surreal cavern littered with the skeletons of thousands of sea turtles. The creatures probably met their demise after getting lost in the dark maze of tunnels and unable to surface for air.
For scuba diving enthusiasts, a holiday in Malaysia is an opportunity to explore hundreds of similar marine ecosystems.
