Explore Mabul
Mabul is a tiny island which lies south east off the coast off the island of Borneo in Malaysia, to be exact, off the coast of the town Saporna in the province of Sabah. This island was initially just a tiny fishing community of around 2000 inhabitants, but due to the popularity of diving around Sipadan Island increasing, Mabul has become more well known over time as well and now has numerous dive centres and dive resorts. The main highlights to see here are the many species of smaller marine critters. This is definitely a mecca for underwater photographers who enjoy spotting the tiny creatures who are hiding with the sandy bottom of the coral gardens here. The abundance of small critters such as Nudibranchs, Ghost Pipefish, Crabs and Seahorses, just to name a few, are accompanied by schools of fish, including Barracuda and Jacks, large Groupers, and other larger species including Eels and Blue Spotted Stingrays. This is not the type of dive location where one should hope to spot the larger gentle giants, but one for those who can appreciate the beauty of the smaller species. The dive sites here can be visited either from the island itself or from a liveaboard.
Top Dive Sites Map
Diving in Mabul
The main type of diving which is done here, and for this diving destination is so well known for, is diving to admire the tiny critters which live in and around the sandy bottom and the coral gardens. This also goes hand in hand with the possibility to do muck diving here due to the silty bottom.
The abundance of small marine life makes this the dream location for underwater photographers who like to focus on the smaller beauties of the ocean.
Another benefit of having such an array of small critters is that it results in fantastic night dives, where the night critters come out to excite divers.
There are also multiple different human made structures to explore here including a small wreck, an artificial reef and an old oil rig, which have all created their own ecosystems in the meantime with a variety of species of corals and fish surrounding them.
The best Months to Dive in Mabul
Malaysia is a tropical area so the air temperatures are warm throughout the year; between 26°C and 34°C and this allows for year-round diving, with the only slight obstacle being the rainy season which can result in slightly rougher seas and less visibility, the main months for this is between December and February, however, there are still many opportunities to dive during this period. The dry season and the best months to dive here are between March and October and during this time there can be days where the visibility will reach its maximum of over 20 metres. The water temperatures remain pleasant and warm throughout the year as well between 26°C and 30°C.
Statistics
Historical data and trends