Local Destinations Malaysia
		Kapalai Kota Kinabalu Labuan Lankayan Island Layang-Layang Island Mabul Island Mataking Sepilok Sipadan Island
	Malaysia Map
	Scuba Diving in Sipadan
	Local Travel Tips

Off the North Eastern coast of Borneo lies a tiny jewel of an island, Pulau Sipadan, with a marine ecosystem so perfect and unique, that it is world renowned as one of the best dive spots in the world. Sipadan is a small, rainforest-covered tropical island which rises from a 700 meter abyss in the Celebes Sea and a destination the committed diver cannot miss.

Above the water, it's just a tiny 40 acre spot of jungle with a white sandy beach. But below the water, Sipadan's vertical topography and abundant marine life make it one of the world's most desired destinations.

Sipadan Island has been officially declared a part of an immense Marine Protected Area. From 1 January 2005, no overnight accommodation is available on the Island and it will only be accessible during the day to divers and day trippers.

The name of Sipadan is simply legendary in diving circles, conjuring images of twirling tornados of barracudas and jacks, patrolling hammerhead sharks, millions of technicoloured reef fish and, above all, dozens of sea turtles swimming peacefully everywhere.

Diving at Sipadan is rated as the best in the world not without good reason. The waters are calm and warm, visibility is generally good, and the quantity and variety of marine life is astounding.

On an average day of diving at Sipadan, you would expect to see at least 50 Green Turtles, a dozen sharks, large schools of Barracudas, Jacks, Fusiliers and Batfish. Sipadan is famous for its wall diving.

A mere 50 ft. (15M) from the beach, there is a vertical wall, starting at a depth of 10 ft. (3M) and plunging straight down 2000 ft. (600M). Walls surround 90% of the island, and most are sheer drops that extend out of sight into the blue depths.

Many of the walls have ledges that the turtles use as resting places. Some of the walls are so steep that they are actually undercut and slope inward toward the island creating overhangs encrusted with soft corals.

While most divers are most impressed with the quantity of large marine life at Sipadan, it is a haven for tiny creatures as well. If you take the time to look away from the larger inhabitants and concentrate on the close up view of the reefs and walls, you will find a myriad of rare creatures to entertain you.

If you're a photographer, you will wish that you had two cameras with you, one for wide angle and one for macro because virtually every site at Sipadan is good for both large and small subjects.