My bucket list has grown since the day I obtained my PADI scuba diving certification. Sipadan has been ranked among the top ten diving spots in the world so I was eager to visit it.
Here are some things to remember when you plan a Sipadan scuba dive trip.
SIPADAN
Sipadan is home to one of the best marine ecosystems on the planet, boasting over 100 species corals and more than 300 species of fish. Pulau Sipadan (Malaysian Borneo) is an isolated oceanic island in the Celebes marine just off the east coast. It was formed thousands years ago by living corals that grew on top an extinct volcano. Here you will see turtles, mantarays (eagle rays), manta rays (barracudas), hammerhead Sharks, whale sharks. reef sharks. jackfish.
Unfortunately, for me, the weather was bad. Even though I had come for the whale sharks or hammerheads, I only saw barracudas, turtles, and a few parrotfish.
SIPADAN: HOW DO YOU GET TO SIPADAN?
The government has moved Sipadan’s resorts to other islands, such as Mabul and Mataking. This is to preserve the stunning marine ecosystem and to increase its popularity. These islands are the only ones that allow you to travel by boat from Sipadan.
These are the options available to reach Sipadan’s nearest islands
Visit https://asiadivingvacation.com for more details.
BY AIR
You can fly to Tawau from either Kaula Lumpur (or the mainland), or Kota Kinabalu which is the capital of Sabah. The flight time from Kuala Lumpur is approximately 2 hours 45min, while the flight from Kota Kinabalu takes about 50 minutes.
Malaysia Airlines was my airline of choice from Kuala Lumpur. Traveloka offered me the best price. Tawau to Semporna is about one hour and a tenth of an hour by taxi. If you plan to visit Mabul, Mataking and other islands, you will need to take a boat to Semporna. The landing time may be longer. Check with your accommodation for information about boat timings.
BY ROAD
There are frequent buses that run between Kota Kinabalu, Semporna and Semporna. You should not choose this option if your budget is very limited as it takes more than 12 hours. This option is not practical unless Sandakan can be broken down.
SCUBA DIVE IN SIPADAN IS THE BEST TIME
Sipadan is a year round destination for scuba diving, with an average temperature of 30 to 32 degrees. The best time to go is between April-December, with peak season July and August. It rained 3 of 4 days of my visit to the area in August, despite that.
Sipadan permit system limits divers to 120 in order to protect the island. Sipadan Island is closed to divers from 6 AM to 4 PM. Sipadan permits for one day are MYR 1300 (USD 30). Sipadan resorts may offer a minimum of two-day Sipadan package. This makes it difficult to find a quality dive center.
Scuba Tiger provided a package which allowed me to spend 1 day in Sipadan, and 3 days on the other islands. These islands are beautiful as well. Scuba Tiger put me on Uncle Chang’s Sipadan diving team, which was absolutely awful and ended up being the worst day of my life. Their equipment was old, worn-out, and leaky, and, to make matters worse the dive master could barely speak English. Not only were they negligent, but I was forced to abort my first dive. Despite poor visibility, the dive instructor failed to see me and left me behind. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced.
HOW MANY DAILIES ARE ENOUGH FOR SCUBA DIVES IN SIPADAN
I believe that a Sipadan dive permit would last you for at most 1 or max 2 days (depending on weather conditions). Unfortunately, this was not the case for me. I now realize that staying longer would have been disastrous for me. Not to mention the risk of losing $600. You should pray to the weather God before you go. You can spend two days (6 dives) on other islands if you don’t mind spending a little bit but still want to have the whole experience. For transit time, I would recommend leaving a night between dives. For Sipadan and all the islands nearby, 5 nights is sufficient.
WHERE DO YOU STAY WHEN SCUBA DIVING in SIPADAN
Divers can often get a package deal that includes both the accommodation and the dive fee. The equipment fee is typically extra. There are resorts that offer luxury chalets and dorm rooms. Make sure you pick the one that suits your needs. You should plan your trip at the least four to five months ahead, especially if it is high season. I was short of funds for my trip so I settled with the person who guaranteed me a Sipadan one-day permit.
BUDGET TO SCUBA DIVE IN SIPADAN
Sipadan’s dive permit is the most expensive, at MYR 1300 (USD300) per day. Many resorts have luxury chalets and dorms rooms for solo or budget travellers. The chalets are approximately MYR450 (USD 110) per night, while the dorms rooms cost about MYR150 (USD 35). Non-Sipadan diving is MYR 350, which is USD 85 for three dives per day. I would recommend a budget of USD750 for five days.
OTHER TRAVEL TIPS – SCUBA DIVING in SIPADAN
To ensure you have the best possible selection of dive operators, plan this trip at least 6 month in advance.
Vegetarians may have a difficult time finding food. You can bring snacks and cooked meals to your home.
Semporna only had two currency exchanges and both were closed when I arrived. You should always have some local change.
ATMs are not available on all islands. It’s a good idea having cash.
Make sure you have enough bug spray. Use biodegradable sunscreen lotion to protect the reefs.
I hope that this blog provides enough information and tips to help you plan your Sipadan dive trip. I also hope that you have a better experience than my. Send me an email if you have additional questions while planning your Sipadan dive trip.