Exploring Paradise: A Guide to Scuba Diving in Sipadan
August 23, 2024
Sipadan Island, located off the east coast of Malaysian Borneo, is a world-renowned diving destination known for its exceptional biodiversity and pristine coral reefs. This volcanic island rises 600 meters (1970 feet) from the seabed, creating a stunning underwater paradise for scuba divers. In this article, we share everything you need to know about scuba diving in Sipadan. Discover the top 9 dive sites and what to do on your non-diving days, the best time of year to visit, and how to get to this idyllic destination.
Scuba Diving in Sipadan: 9 Unmissable Dives
1. Barracuda Point
Barracuda Point is one of the most famous places to go scuba diving in Sipadan, known for its strong currents, which bring a wealth of marine life to this spectacular dive site. The site offers excellent visibility, typically ranging from 20-30 meters (65-100 feet).
An Advanced Open Water Diver certification is recommended due to the strong currents and deep sections at Barracuda Point. You can expect to see massive schools of barracudas, gray reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, bumphead parrotfish, and the occasional hammerhead shark.
Maximum Dive Depth: 40 meters (131 feet).
2. South Point
South Point features moderate to strong currents with good visibility, usually around 20-30 meters (65-100 feet). The currents make this an exciting drift dive for Advanced divers who can handle currents and depth.
If you love pelagics, this is a great place to go scuba diving in Sipadan. This dive site is known for sightings of manta rays, eagle rays, and large pelagics such as whale sharks and hammerhead sharks. Turtles and various reef fish are also abundant.
Maximum Dive Depth: 40 meters (131 feet).
3. Turtle Cavern
Turtle Cavern offers calm conditions with excellent visibility ranging from 20-30 meters (65-100 feet). The entry into the cavern is at a depth of about 18 meters (60 feet).
To make the most of this unique place to go scuba diving in Sipadan, an Advanced certification with cavern diving experience is recommended. Inside the cavern, you can see the skeletal remains of turtles that ventured in and could not find their way out. Outside the cavern, green and hawksbill turtles are commonly spotted.
Maximum Dive Depth: 30 meters (100 feet).
4. Hanging Gardens
Hanging Gardens is a vertical wall dive with mild to moderate currents and visibility of 20-30 meters (65-100 feet). Open Water Diver is sufficient for this dive site, though Advanced is beneficial for exploring the deeper sections.
This beautiful wall is covered with colorful soft corals, gorgonians, and sponges. Look for frogfish, nudibranchs, and various species of reef fish such as butterflyfish and angelfish.
Maximum Dive Depth: 40 meters (131 feet).
5. White-Tip Avenue
This site offers calm conditions with good visibility, generally around 20-30 meters (65-100 feet), and is ideal for Open Water Divers. As the name suggests, white-tip reef sharks are a common sight here. You can also encounter schools of jacks, snappers, and an array of smaller reef fish.
Maximum Dive Depth: 30 meters (100 feet).
6. Coral Garden
Coral Garden is a shallow dive with calm waters and excellent visibility, usually between 20-30 meters (65-100 feet), making it another perfect dive for Open Water Divers. This site is perfect for spotting a variety of corals, anemones, and their resident clownfish. Look for nudibranchs, parrotfish, and sea turtles grazing on the reef.
Maximum Dive Depth: 20 meters (65 feet).
7. Staghorn Crest
Staghorn Crest features mild currents and visibility typically around 20-30 meters (65-100 feet). An Open Water Diver certification is all you need to explore this coral-rich dive site.
Named after the prolific staghorn corals that dominate the landscape, this site is home to a myriad of reef fish, including damselfish, wrasses, and butterflyfish. Occasional sightings of rays and turtles add to the excitement.
Maximum Dive Depth: 25 meters (82 feet).
8. Lobster Lair
Lobster Lair offers moderate currents and visibility of 20-30 meters (65-100 feet). The site is known for its rocky outcrops and crevices. Open Water Diver is sufficient, though Advanced is beneficial for exploring deeper sections.
Here you can spot lobsters hiding in the crevices, along with moray eels, lionfish, and scorpionfish. The site is also frequented by various species of reef fish and the occasional reef shark.
Maximum Dive Depth: 30 meters (100 feet).
9. West Ridge
West Ridge features moderate currents and visibility typically ranging from 20-30 meters (65-100 feet). An Advanced Open Water Diver certification is recommended for handling the currents and depth.
If you want to spot diverse marine life, this is a great place to go scuba diving in Sipadan. This site offers encounters with gray reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, and large schools of barracudas and jacks. The wall is adorned with vibrant corals and sponges, providing a stunning backdrop to your dive.
Maximum Dive Depth: 40 meters (131 feet).
What to do in Sipadan on your non-diving days
While we are sure that diving is the main reason to visit Sipadan, there are several other activities you can enjoy in Sipadan and the surrounding islands. Snorkeling is a popular choice, offering a glimpse of vibrant marine life without the need for scuba gear. The shallow reefs around Mabul and Kapalai are perfect for exploring with a snorkel.
For those interested in marine conservation, many dive resorts and operators offer opportunities to learn about and participate in coral reef conservation projects. You can also visit the nearby Bajau Laut (Sea Gypsy) communities to experience their unique culture and way of life.
Hiking and birdwatching are other activities you can enjoy on the larger islands, with the lush tropical landscapes providing a scenic backdrop. Whether you are above or below the water, Sipadan offers a rich and varied experience for all visitors.
Best Time to Go Scuba Diving in Sipadan
The best time to go scuba diving in Sipadan is between April and December, with the peak diving season occurring from July to August. During this period, the waters are calmest, and visibility is at its best, often exceeding 30 meters (100 feet).
However, diving is possible year-round, with slightly more challenging conditions and reduced visibility during the monsoon season from January to March.
How to Get to Sipadan
To reach Sipadan, you will need to fly into Tawau Airport (TWU) in Sabah, Malaysia. From there, a 90-minute drive will take you to the coastal town of Semporna. Semporna is the gateway to Sipadan, and from here, you will need to take a boat to your resort or dive operator’s base, usually on nearby islands such as Mabul or Kapalai. Daily boat trips are then arranged to Sipadan Island for diving.
Sipadan remains one of the most extraordinary dive destinations in the world.
Discover more scuba diving in Sipadan here.