After diving at Koh Tao, I realised how lucky I am to be able to visit Sipadan, which is in Malaysian waters. Thus, it is a wee bit easier for me to travel to Sipadan. When I went through my blog, I was surprised that I had yet to write a blog post on Sipadan. Here we go!
Sipadan Island, located off the east coast of Sabah in Malaysia, is renowned for its pristine natural beauty and vibrant marine biodiversity. It is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising 600 meters from the seabed, and is often cited as one of the top diving destinations in the world. The waters around Sipadan teem with marine life, making it a diver’s paradise.
Some of the most famous dive sites are here in Sipadan. Barracuda Point is the one that immediately comes into many divers’ minds as there is a high chance of seeing a massive school of barracuda roaming around here. If you are lucky, you can find bumphead parrotfish during low tide. Another famous dive site is South Point, where you can see large pelagic species like sharks, rays, and a massive school of jackfish.
Fortunately, the Malaysian government has recognised their precious gem in Sipadan and has implemented stringent regulations to protect its fragile ecosystem. No resort is allowed on the island, and only a limited number of permits, approximately 176 per day, are issued. Moreover, diving in Sipadan is an unusually safe experience, thanks to the vigilant presence of Malaysian Navy personnel around the island and Semporna. Despite its past challenges, the government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the island and its surrounding resorts is evident.
I had been there twice, both times in 2021. I stayed with Sipadan-Kapalai Resort the first time, and the second time, I stayed with Seaventure Dive Rig. Due to the pandemic, both places offered discounts, which motivated me to check out Sipadan. Sipadan-Kapalai Resort is more tailored toward families and couples, while Seaventure caters to hardcore scuba divers.
In the following few blog posts, I will discuss the two places I stayed at. If I had to choose, I would go with Seaventure as they offer unlimited reef diving, and surprisingly, their food was way yummier than that of Sipadan-Kapalai resort, the most expensive resort in that region.