MY · Sabah · 4.11°N 118.63°E

sipadan

Famous wall dives with turtles everywhere and swirling schools of barracuda.

Best time
Diving is good all year. Seas tend to be calmer and visibility better from about April to October.
How long
3–4 days, based on a nearby island
Getting there
Fly from KL to Tawau (about 2 hours 45 minutes), drive just over an hour to Semporna, then about an hour by boat. From Mabul or Kapalai the ride is much shorter.
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MY · Sabahsipadan4.11°N 118.63°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Famous wall dives with turtles everywhere and swirling schools of barracuda.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingSipadanMY, Sabah
KLsipadan
≈ 1,883 km from KL, as the crow flies
Pulau Sipadan, Sabah, MALAYSIA

Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Malaysia's only oceanic island: a coral-capped volcanic cone that rises 600 metres from the seabed in the Celebes Sea. Walls drop away just off the beach, and green and hawksbill turtles, barracuda and reef sharks are normal sightings. Nobody stays on the island; divers visit on day trips from Mabul, Kapalai or Semporna.

Things to do

  1. Barracuda PointKnown for swirling schools of barracuda and jacks in the current.Map ↗
  2. The Drop-OffA wall that plunges straight down just off the jetty, with turtles everywhere.Map ↗
  3. Turtle CavernA cave system under the island with turtle skeletons inside. Only for experienced divers with a guide.Map ↗
  4. South PointDeeper, current-swept dives where sharks and the occasional hammerhead turn up.Map ↗
  5. Hanging GardensA wall draped in soft corals and sea fans.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Only a limited number of Sipadan permits are issued each day. Book through a dive operator well ahead, and expect maybe one Sipadan day per stay.
  • Most operators want Advanced Open Water or a good number of logged dives, as currents can be strong.
  • Sipadan is in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone, and some governments' travel advisories cover these islands. Check current advice before you book.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.