Explore Pom Pom
Lying just 30 kilometres north east off of the coast of the town Semporna in the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo, Malaysia, is the tiny coral reef island named Pom Pom Island, in the Celebes Sea. This island is a hidden gem when it comes to diving and also when it comes to its true tropical island elements which will provide divers and visitors with a truly special experience. There is one resort located here which also has its own dive centre. There are multiple dive sites around the island with highlights being the coral wall sloping down past 150 metres, a high abundance of macro marine life and many Sea Turtles which reside here. All this combined with ideal diving conditions and warm weather, this is a great choice for a relaxing diving holiday.
Top Pom Pom Dive Sites
1. Mandarin Heaven
Mandarin Heaven is an enchanting dive site made predominantly of rubble, fostering vibrant soft corals and providing a habitat for macro marine species. Divers often spot adorable nudibranchs and the elusive Mandarin Fish. This site is easy, suitable for scuba diving, and offers a unique dive experience with its colorful biodiversity.
2. Magic Rocks
Magic Rocks offers a diverse underwater landscape, including sandy bottoms, gorgonians, and coral-covered rubble. Suitable for both easy and advanced scuba diving, it is ideal for observing a variety of marine life. The site's unique rock formations add an adventurous element to the dive experience.
3. Pit Rock
Pit Rock is renowned for its vibrant marine life and moderate adventure level, perfect for scuba diving enthusiasts. The site's underwater formations create natural hideouts for diverse species, making it a favorite spot for observing underwater biodiversity.
4. Cliffhanger
Cliffhanger provides an exhilarating dive experience with its stunning drop-offs and diverse marine life. This site is better suited for advanced divers, with opportunities for both scuba diving and freediving. The dramatic underwater cliffs are a highlight, offering surreal views.
5. Northern Valley
Northern Valley is known for its rich marine life and colorful coral gardens, making it ideal for easy to moderate scuba diving. The site offers expansive areas of ecological importance, with a serene diving experience perfect for observing vibrant flora and fauna.
The best Months to Dive in Pom Pom
Considering Pom Pom Island has a reputation for being a tropical island, this is luckily applicable throughout the year. The air temperatures here range between 27°C and 31°C year round, which also results in warm water temperatures between 28°C and 30°C. The months with the absolute best conditions are between March and October, but divers can dive here year round, it may just sometimes rain in the other months. The visibility ranges between 15 and 30 metres and only rarely are there currents to deal with. The highlight species are around all year for divers to enjoy.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Pom Pom
This area is mainly known for its abundance of macro marine life, the ‘critters of the coral reefs’. One of the most adorable species here are the Pygmy Seahorses which hide within the stunning Gorgonian Fans. Aside from them there are also many colourful Nudibranchs, Ghost Pipefish, Lionfish, Scorpion Fish, Stonefish, Banded Sea Snakes, the elusive Mandarin Fish, Mantis Shrimp, Frog Fish, Octopus, Blue Spotted Stingray, and the graceful Green and Hawksbill Sea Turtles. Some of the schooling fish include Sweetlips, Batfish, Parrotfish, Trevally and Fusiliers. The coral reef also has a high density of different types of corals including Hard Corals, Soft Corals, Sea Fans, Anemones, Sea Whips and Sea Sponges.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
229 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
92 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
76 Sightings
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Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle
33 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
31 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
28 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
10 Sightings
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iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle
6 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
180 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish
149 Sightings
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