Mabul Island
Explore SipadanMabul, a captivating dive destination off the east coast of Borneo, offers an unparal
Explore Sipadan
Mabul, a captivating dive destination off the east coast of Borneo, offers an unparalleled underwater adventure. Located in the Celebes Sea, just a short journey from the renowned Sipadan Island, Mabul is celebrated for its rich marine biodiversity and vibrant coral reefs. This small island is a haven for muck diving enthusiasts, presenting unique opportunities to explore bizarre and fascinating marine life. Nudibranchs, frogfish, and pygmy seahorses are just a few of the delightful creatures that divers can expect to encounter here. The dive environments around Mabul are diverse, ranging from gentle sloping reefs to dramatic wall dives adorned with colorful corals. The island's proximity to Sipadan's famous dive sites allows for a mix of shore and boat diving experiences, catering to both novice and seasoned divers. Mabul's dive resorts and centers offer easy access to these underwater spectacles, often complemented by liveaboard options for those keen to explore further afield. Seasonal currents bring nutrient-rich waters, attracting a variety of species, including turtles and schools of barracuda, making every dive an unforgettable experience. An interesting aspect of diving in Mabul is its commitment to sustainability and conservation. Efforts to maintain the pristine beauty of this marine paradise are evident, with initiatives in place to protect its delicate ecosystems. Visitors are encouraged to partake in conservation activities, adding an enriching dimension to their diving holiday. Whether you are drawn to the intriguing critters in the muck or the awe-inspiring pelagics, Mabul promises a dive adventure like no other in this enchanting corner of Malaysia.
Places to explore
Dive Activity
Diving in Sipadan
The main attraction here is the large coral wall, which makes up this unique oceanic island, which drops down 600 metres to a sandy bottom. The area also holds the largest barrier reef in south east Asia meaning an ideal location for underwater photographers to slowly float around and capture the macro life inhabiting this area. In the north there is a dive site which features multiple overhangs and caverns to add a touch of thrill to an already exciting dive. There is also a famous cave here which was discovered by the famous Jacques Cousteau himself, however, there is a sad story around it which also gave it its name ‘Turtle Tomb’; this area has many tunnels and caverns, and this cave is where many turtles pass away after getting lost in the maze of tunnels and not being able to reach the surface in time. Despite the sad story, it is a beautiful dive site to visit. The type of diving which divers will be doing on every dive is the type where divers will spot multiple exciting species and have the opportunity to revel over these.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Sipadan
The marine life around this island are the absolute highlight and it is nearly impossible for divers to ever be disappointed after surfacing from a dive here. One marine animal which is in high abundance here, also because the island is their breeding ground, is the Sea Turtle, the Green and Hawksbill Sea Turtles to be exact. Pelagics are also in large numbers here including Barracuda, Jacks, Tuna and Snappers. There are also many Shark species, to the delight of many divers, including White Tip Reef Sharks, Whalesharks, Grey Reef Sharks and on the luckiest days, Hammerhead Sharks, Leopard Sharks and the adorable Thresher Sharks. There are also multiple species of Rays which gracefully fly through the waters here including Manta Rays, Eagle Rays and Devil Rays. The waters here are filled with clouds of tropical fish of every colour of the rainbow, making for a colourful dive, every time. They surround the thriving coral reef here which is made up of a selection of Hard Corals, Soft Corals, Anemones, Sea Fans, Sea Sponges.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
1.3k Sightings
J
71
F
61
M
84
A
82
M
110
J
147
J
142
A
217
S
149
O
120
N
44
D
78
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
679 Sightings
J
47
F
40
M
41
A
59
M
22
J
70
J
77
A
120
S
68
O
63
N
21
D
51
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
678 Sightings
J
33
F
26
M
23
A
46
M
58
J
57
J
86
A
143
S
78
O
62
N
22
D
44
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins
Hawksbill Turtle
336 Sightings
J
28
F
13
M
7
A
0
M
35
J
63
J
42
A
60
S
40
O
25
N
0
D
23
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
113 Sightings
J
11
F
8
M
0
A
9
M
13
J
15
J
11
A
30
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
16
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
656 Sightings
J
50
F
30
M
40
A
52
M
30
J
69
J
60
A
131
S
75
O
64
N
18
D
37
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
528 Sightings
J
29
F
28
M
24
A
45
M
14
J
51
J
57
A
116
S
42
O
54
N
22
D
46
iStock-June Jacobsen
Whitetip Reef Shark
479 Sightings
J
26
F
24
M
20
A
31
M
24
J
45
J
54
A
97
S
53
O
45
N
19
D
41
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3000
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch
462 Sightings
J
33
F
17
M
47
A
31
M
36
J
33
J
44
A
70
S
50
O
41
N
15
D
45
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 12
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
433 Sightings
J
21
F
27
M
19
A
21
M
29
J
43
J
55
A
101
S
44
O
20
N
19
D
34
The best Months to dive in Sipadan
Luckily for all divers, diving can be done year-round here, with air temperatures only varying between 26 and 34 degrees Celsius, so warm throughout the year, and warm water temperatures. The dry season in this part of Malaysia runs from March to October and this is definitely the best time to dive at Sipadan because the ocean is extremely calm during this time and the visibility can reach above 50 metres, which is extraordinary. On average throughout the year the visibility is around 20 metres, so still good. Between April and September, Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles nest on the island meaning there is also a higher abundance of them in the ocean to admire. Luckily, the large majority of the species which resort in the waters around this island are there year round, as opposed to seasonally.
