Pulau Sipadan (meaning ‘Border Island’ in Malay) is an island of immense natural beauty. Located in the state of Sabah on the Malaysian side of Borneo, it’s home to thousands of turtles, 3000+ species of fish and coral, several varieties of sharks, including whale sharks and hammerheads, swirling barracuda schools, manta rays and astonishing walls dropping more than 600m (1950+ ft) down to the dark seafloor.
Diving Sipadan in Borneo is something you’ll cherish for a lifetime! It’s often voted the world’s best diving destination and you can find some of the highest marine biodiversity on the planet here.
It’s considered the crown jewel inside of Sabah’s famed Golden Triangle which consists of Sipadan, Kapalai, and Mabul islands. Any scuba trip to this region of the Celebes Sea is an unforgettable experience!
I have seen other places like Sipadan 45 years ago. Now we have found again an untouched piece of art. -Jacques Cousteau
Lush rainforest and pristine white sand beaches cover most of Sipadan island. Since 2005, all of the resorts that were once on the island were relocated by the order of the Malaysian government to help protect the ecosystem.
Now daily boats bring in visitors from resorts located on nearby islands, thus ensuring that future generations will be able to enjoy this magnificent place. There are around 100 dive spots, with 14 notable sites. When you purchase a permit to Sipadan it includes 3 dives.
Read next: 5 Incredible Dive Sites in Borneo
SOUTH POINT
Certification required: Advanced Open Water (AOW)
Min Depth: 20 m (65 ft) Max Depth: 40 m (131 ft)
Visibility: 30 m (100 ft)
Location: The southernmost point of Sipadan
Site Type: Reef, wall
This was our first dive at Sipadan and it didn’t disappoint! To begin with, the most startling aspect of the dive is the 600m+ (1968 ft) drop off into utter darkness below. You can really sense the immensity of the ocean on this dive.
We saw several whitetip reef sharks on our descent and if you’re lucky you might spot a hammerhead or other large pelagics. The likelihood of spotting and swimming with turtles is almost guaranteed here.
You can also see titan triggerfish, big bumphead parrotfish gnawing on coral, and giant trevallies. The vibrant reef filled with tabletop coral and sponges makes for an excellent safety stop on the way out. Seriously, it feels like you’re in Finding Nemo!
BARRACUDA POINT
Certification required: Advanced Open Water (AOW)
Min Depth: 5 m (15 ft) Max Depth: 40 m (131 ft)
Visibility: 30 m (100 ft)
Location: North East of Sipadan Island
Site Type: Reef, Wall dive
Consistently voted one of the Top 5 dive sites on the planet, and by far the best dive we’ve ever done! Most noteworthy here is a giant school of barracuda, often in the hundreds or even thousands, swirling above your head like a fish tornado!
You are almost guaranteed to swim up on a green or hawksbill turtle at the cleaning station. You may even see several of them. If swirling barracuda aren’t enough, you might also see a large school of jackfish, several batfish, or the occasional whale shark.
This was our favorite site while diving Sipadan!
CORAL GARDENS
Certification required: Open Water (OW)
Min Depth: 10 m (33 ft) Max Depth: 23 m (75 ft)
Visibility: 30 m (100 ft)
Location: Northeast of Sipadan Island
Site Type: Reef, wall dive
Another great dive for spotting living corals and reef marine life. We did this for the final dive of the day. We saw napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, unicorn fish and many other colorful macro creatures.
You may see manta rays here too, although we weren’t so lucky. We can’t complain though, we spent most of this dive chillin’ with turtles. It’s an awesome dive for underwater photographers!
How to get Sipadan permits
So, you want to dive Sipadan? The park only permits 120 divers per day, and those permits are divided among several dive resorts. Getting a permit is notoriously challenging. Don’t expect to come here for 3 days and secure a permit and be on your way.
Here are our tips for increasing your chances:
- Stay at your resort for longer. If your stay is long enough, most resorts will guarantee one Sipadan permit.
- Book as early as possible and make sure to express interest in a permit.
- Avoid the peak season.
How to get there
Fly to Tawau airport (TWU) from Kuala Lumpur (KUL ). Once you arrive in Tawau catch a shared van or taxi to Semporna town.
Where to stay
Stay in Semporna if you’re on a budget. Unfortunately, there is plenty of trash in the water and nothing much to do unless you enjoy exploring local fish markets, but you’ll be spending most of your time in the water near other islands anyway.
We stayed at Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers in Semporna and had a fantastic experience with a fun group from all over the world. It was one of the best weeks we’ve ever had traveling!
We got both our open water and advanced open water certifications here, as well as our Sipadan permits. If you decide to stay here Haida at the front desk is super helpful. Be sure to ask about diving with Jefrey if you’re fortunate enough to secure a permit, he’s a friendly local veteran who’s been diving these waters for 30+ years.
If you have money for something a little nicer and away from Semporna, we suggest staying on one of the island based resorts. However, we have never done this ourselves.
The fact is that few places will ever compare to diving with the abundance of wildlife found in these idyllic crystal clear waters. That is the only downside to diving Sipadan – it SPOILS you! Other dive destinations may pale in comparison. Consider yourself warned!
Additional Resources
Have you ever tried scuba diving? Where was your favorite dive spot?
