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About Sipadan

Sipadan is undoubtedly the destination that gained Malaysian diving its world-class reputation. It has the world's best beach diving, with a deep drop-off only a few swimming strokes away from the beach, and ranked as one of the five top diving destinations in the world.

  • Sipadan

    Sipadan

    Situated 35km (45 minutes by speedboat) south of Semporna, off the southeast coast of Sabah, Pulau Sipadan lies just north of the equator in the Celebes (Sulawesi) Sea. It is 10km south of the continental shelf and is the peak of a volcanic base that rises steeply from depths of 600m. Only 12ha in area and never more than a few metres above sea-level, the island is covered in rainforest and ringed with a narrow, sandy beach.

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    Pulau Sipadan's coral, fish and turtle life are prolific: more than 200 species of fish and over 70 genera of corals have been recorded, matching Australia's Great Barrier Reef in terms of species diversity.

    The shallow water regions are mostly covered with corals in excellent condition, with broad expenses of staghorn and table corals, encrusting corals, bubble corals, boulder and brain corals, plate and lettuce corals, and solitary mushroom corals. Among the stony corals are large leathery Sarcophyton and Sinularia corals, colourful Dendronephthya soft tree corals and constantly pulsating Xenia corals.

    Although the drop-off walls are not as luxuriant, they are filled with gardens of colourful Tubastrea and Dendrophyllia species under overhangs, together with sponges, gorgonian sea fans and Dendronephthya Soft Tree Corals.

    Besides the corals, Pulau Sipadan has just about everything the Indo-Pacific has to offer. Shoals of fusiliers, batfish, sweetlips, jacks, goatfish and huge shoals of Bumphead Parrotfish are common scenes for divers. Timid Whitetip Reef Sharks are also common but the other sharks less so (Hammerhead, Grey Reef Sharks and Variegated Sharks are seen occasionally, as are Manta Rays and Eagle Rays).

    The most stand out marine life in Pulau Sipadan are the turtles. Massive Green Turtles and smaller Hawksbill Turtles are everywhere. Often, divers can see 20-30 turtles in a single dive.

    Pulau Sipadan can be dived all year round. The best conditions for diving will be between April and October, especially July and August. The rainy season tends to be between January and March resulting in a decrease in visibility. Having said that, the timing of the rainy season has been less than certain in recent years.

    *In view of the increasing ecological damage to the reefs and its aqua-life, the Malaysian government decided in 2005 to prohibit accommodation on the Sipadan Island itself and allowing up to 120 divers per day to dive around Pulau Sipadan. All resorts on Pulau Sipadan had been closed and rebuilt on islands (Kapalai, Mabul etc.) near it. Therefore divers are advised to make their reservations early with recognized dive operators to ensure that dive permits are secured during their trips.

  • History

    Ever since diving celebrity Jacques Cousteau raved about Sipadan’s diversity of marine life – "I have seen other places like Sipadan, 45 years ago, but now no more. Now we have found an untouched piece of art." – this place has been indisputably the most famous scuba destination in Malaysia.

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    Although the popularity of the place has brought in waves of new visitors/divers pushing the economic growth of the place, the marine environment has also been damaged at the same time to accommodate the rapid expansion of dive operators and accommodation owners. This has made the Malaysian government imposed the rule to move all accommodation from Sipadan and all dive trips at Sipadan will have to made by live-aboard boats or small boats from resorts located in nearby islands. On top of that, the government has also limited the number of divers to 120 per day at Sipadan.

  • Getting to Sipadan & Around

    There are various ways to get to Pulau Sipadan. There is no direct flight to the place nor the islands near it. The common point of entry through flight is Tawau Airport. Currently, the flights that link directly to Tawau Airport are from Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur.

    After reaching Tawau Airport, visitors have to take the minibus (also known as “bemo” by the locals) from the market place to Semporna. The duration of the trip from Tawau Airport to Semporna is about 1 hour 30 minutes.

    From Semporna, there will be speedboats bringing visitors to island resorts (Pulau Kapalai, Pulau Mabul or a dive rig – Seaventures) nearby Pulau Sipadan. The duration of the trip from Semporna to the respective resorts varies from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Do note that boat transfers stop after 5pm due to the condition of the sea thus for visitors arriving later than 5pm will have to stay one night in Tawau or Semporna before moving into Sipadan the next day.

    View Transfer Rates

    Air Transfers

    The following table lists down the flights arrival at Tawau. For the air transfers' rates between Tawau and the country of origin, you may visit http://www.wego.com/ and check out the list of flights available and their respective rates.

    Tawau arrival flights
    Malaysia Airlines, MH2121, 07.00-07.45 hrs from Kota Kinabalu
    Air Asia, AK5152, 07.20-10.05 hrs from Kuala Lumpur
    Malaysia Airlines, MH 3093, 10:15-10:55 hrs from Sandakan
    Malaysia Airlines, MH 2660, 08:20-11:10 hrs from Kuala Lumpur
    Air Asia, AK 6122, 12.20-13.10 hrs from Kota Kinabalu
    Malaysia Airlines, MH2137, 13.15-14.00 hrs from Kota Kinabalu
    Air Asia, AK 6153, 12.00-14.30 hrs from Singapore
    *NOTE: You will have to wait at Tawau Airport for the transfer if your flight arrives to Tawau less than 1 hour before the next flight. Boat departures from Semporna to Resort are at 09:30, 13:00 and 16:30 hrs. Diving on arrival day is only possible if you arrive to the resort on 09:30 hrs boat schedule. Please be ready at Seafest hotel's lobby at least 30 minutes before the scheduled boat departure if you transfer to Semporna overland from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan or Lahad Datu.
    Tawau departure flights
    Air Asia,AK5153, 10.30-13.15 hrs to Kuala Lumpur
    Malaysia Airlines, MH3092, 11.15-11.55 hrs to Sandakan
    Malaysia Airlines, MH2661, 11.50-14.30 hrs to Kuala Lumpur
    Air Asia, AK 6123, 13.35-14.25 hrs to Kota Kinabalu
    Malaysia Airlines, MH2134, 14.40-15.25 hrs to Kota Kinabalu
    Air Asia, AK6127, 16.40-17.30 hrs to Kota kinabalu
    Air Asia, AK2665, 17.50-20.30 hrs to Kuala Lumpur
    Air Asia, AK5155, 18.00-21.00 hrs to Kuala Lumpur
    Air Asia, AK5157, 21.10-23.55 hrs to Kuala Lumpur
    Air Asia, AK6116, 21.35-22.25 hrs to Kota Kinabalu
    Malaysia Airlines, MH2148, 21.40-22.25 hrs to Kota Kinabalu

    Land Transfers

    Inclusive in all diver and non-diver package with any of the Sipadan Resorts.

    Sea Transfers

    Inclusive in all diver and non-diver package with any of the Sipadan Resorts.

    Transit Accommodation

    For guests arriving at Tawau after 14:00hrs, they will have to stay for one night at Tawau or Semporna before transferring into Mabul Island early next morning. There are several accommodations to choose from in Tawau and Semporna. The most commonly used accommodation would be Heritage Hotel, Promenade Hotel and Marco Polo Hotel at Tawau and Seafest Hotel at Semporna.

    For divers departing from Sipadan, 24hrs surface interval is strongly recommended. The surface interval period can be spend either in Tawau or Semporna to keep the accommodation cost low and reduce the traveling time to the airport during the departure day.

  • Useful Information

  • Climate

    Pulau Sipadan and its nearby islands enjoy an equatorial climate. The temperature generally varies from 28 to 34 degrees Celsius during the day and drops to about 22 degrees Celsius during the warm evenings. The place is generally unaffected by the monsoon seasons although sporadic heavy rains are expected around December and January periods.

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    The islands experience relatively high level of humitiy around 85% to 95%. However, cooling sea breezes often make the humidity environment pleasant and unnoticeable.

  • Currency

    The currency used locally is Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).

    Credit cards are widely accepted but be careful of possible scamming. Do not let the card out of your sight. Alternatively, visitors can also top up their cash using ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) that are located at the major bank branches, most shopping malls, airports, bus terminals, etc.

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    Foreign visitors are allowed to bring in MYR not exceeding MYR1,000 each, and any amount in foreign currency and cheques not exceeding USD10,000 in total. If the amount is exceeded, they must be declared in the IMM26 form during in-processing at the customs.

    Foreign visitors are allowed to bring out MYR not exceeding MYR1,000 each, and foreign currency and cheques not exceeding the amount they brought in during the point of entry.

    If you are sure that you want to bring in/out cash exceeding the stated limits, prior written permission can be obtained from Exchange Control Department, www.customs.gov.my/index.php.

  • Electricity

    The electricity is supplied at 220V, 50Hz. The power point used is of the British Standard BS 1363 which requires use of a three-wire grounded and fused plug for all connections to the power mains. The suitable plug will be one with three rectangular prongs that form a triangular pattern.

  • Time Zone

    The time zone for Sipadan, (East) Malaysia is GMT+8.

  • Telecommunications

    In Malaysia, there are three notable cellular phone operators: Maxis, Celcom, and DiGi

    Do check with your cellular operator back home if they have roaming capacity in Malaysia. 60 is the International Country code for Malaysia. Maxis and Celcom are on GSM900 frequency while DiGi is on GSM1800 frequency. Maxis and Celcom supports 3G connection too.

  • Immigration

    Citizens of the following countries are required to have a visa to visit Malaysia : People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Vietnam and North Korea. Nationals other than those stated will receive a visa upon arrival or are allowed to enter Malaysia without a visa for a visit not exceeding one month.

    However, it is recommended that visitors contact the nearest Malaysian embassy or Malaysian consulate before visiting as regulations are subject to changes. Visitors can also check http://www.imi.gov.my/ for updated information.

  • Useful Contacts

    Dive Asia NOW!

    +65 6536 6532

    Emergency Service Numbers:

    999 – Ambulance, Civil Defence, Fire or Police

    Tawau General Hospital

    Tel: +60 89-763533

    Semporna District Hospital

    Tel: +60 89-781522

  • Sipadan Frequently Asked Questions

    You've come to the right place! Here you will find a list of Sipadan's most frequently asked questions.

    Just ask if you can't find what you are looking for. We will be most glad to answer your questions! No bookings with us is required.

  • When is the best diving season in Sipadan?

    You can dive in Sipadan all year round. Overall, the best conditions at Sipadan Island 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.

    What is the quota for diving at Sipadan Island?

    Since the conservation of Sipadan Island in 2005, only 120 people (divers and snorklers) are allowed to visit Sipadan Island every day.

    How can I get a guaranteed entry for diving at Sipadan Island?

    Sipadan Borneo Divers Mabul Resort is able to guarantee at least 1 day of diving at Sipadan Island if one stays at the resort for a minimum of 5D4N. This is because the 120 quota are distributed evenly among all the resorts and as Sipadan Borneo Divers Mabul Resort is relatively small, they are able to guarantee their customers entry into Sipadan Island.

    Other than Sipadan Island, where else can I dive at?

    Nearby Mabul Island, Kapalai Island have many popular dive sites that are attracting many divers and fast catching up on Sipadan Island in terms of popularity.

    Why do I need to transit overnight at Tawau or Semporna?

    As a sea transfer is required to reach the resorts and the last scheduled transfer is usually early afternoon, if one is unable to make it for the sea transfer, a transit night is to be spent at Tawau or Semporna.

Sipadan Dive Packages
Sipadan Dive Resources
Check before you go
Sipadan Dive Reservations

Check before you go

  • Passport expiry date (most countries require at least six months prior to the expiry date)
  • Visa requirements
  • Travel Insurance (make sure coverage for Scuba Diving is included)
  • Medical status (Visit your doctor if you are unsure)
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Sipadan Date and Time

RSS Sipadan Weather NOW!

  • Conditions for Sipadan Island, MY at 5:00 pm MYT
    Current Conditions: Mostly Cloudy, 30 C Forecast: Sun - Thunderstorms Early. High: 31 Low: 23 Mon - Mostly Cloudy. High: 33 Low: 24 Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather (provided by The Weather Channel) […]

Popular Time to Dive Sipadan

Dive Season vs Traffic
Estimated Jan to Dec 2010*

You can dive in Sipadan all year round. Overall, the best conditions at Sipadan Island exist from April to December, especially July and August. January to March can see some unsettled weather and a decrease in visibility. November and December are popular periods due to the holiday season.