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The Ultimate Guide To Scuba Diving In Sipadan

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Since I received my PADI scuba diving certification, there has been a new place on my bucket list. Sipadan was ranked as one of the best ten dive spots around the world so I had to check it out.
This is all you need to know when planning your Sipadan scuba diving trip.

SIPADAN

Sipadan boasts one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world, with more than 100 species of coral and over three hundred species fish. Pulau Sipadan, an oceanic island off the eastern coast of Sabah (Malaysian Borneo), is located in the Celebes Sea. It formed thousands of years ago from living corals growing on top of an extinct volcano. You can expect to see turtles and hammerhead sharks as well as jackfish, manta Rays, eagle Rays, manta rays and hammerhead sharks.

Unfortunately, I was not able to make it. I arrived hoping to see whale sharks and hammerheads. Instead, I only saw barracudas and a few turtles.

SIPADAN – HOW TO GET THERE

To protect the spectacular marine ecosystem and increase popularity of Sipadan, the government banned resorts from Sipadan and moved them to nearby islands such as Mabul, Mataking and Kapalai. You can only make day trips from these islands to Sipadan by boat.

These are your options for getting to Sipadan’s closest islands

BY AIR

Flying into Tawau from either mainland Kaula Lumpur, or Kota Kinabalu (the capital of Sabah) is the best option. There’s also an international airport. Flying from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau takes approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, while flights from Kota Kinabalu can take around 50 minutes.

Malaysia Airlines flew me from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Lumpur. I found the best deal through Traveloka. It takes approximately an hour and a quarter to travel from Tawau, Sipadan’s closest port, to Semporna. You will need to board a boat from Semporna to get to Mabul, Mataking, or other islands. This might make your trip more difficult. You can check the timings of your boat at your accommodation’s assistance desk.

BY ROAD

Regular buses run from Kota Kinabalu and Semporna. This option is not recommended if you have a very tight budget. The journey can take over 12 hours. This is not a viable option unless Sandakan is used to break down the journey.

SCUBA DIVE IN SIPADAN: BEST TIME

Sipadan, with its average temperature of 30-32 degrees, is a great place to scuba dive all year. Sipadan is best between April and December, with July and August being the peak seasons. However, it rained three out of the four days I was there during the first week in August.

Sipadan permits are required to limit the number of divers allowed to the island. Sipadan is only open to divers between 6 AM and 4 pm. Sipadan permits are available for a staggering MYR 1300 (USD $300) per day. Sipadan diving packages can vary from one resort to two days. It is not easy to find a good center.

Scuba Tiger offered me a package that included Sipadan for 1 and three days on the other islands. It was really great. Scuba Tiger placed me on Uncle Chang, an operator who was absolutely horrible for my Sipadan dives. Their equipment was old and leaking, and the dive master didn’t speak any English. They were also so careless that I had to cancel my first dive of the day. The poor visibility meant that the instructor didn’t look out for me while I was descending. It was the most terrifying experience I have ever had.

HOW MANY DAYS IS ENOUGH TO SCUBA DIVE in SIPADAN?

If you have good weather and the permit is expensive, 1 or 2 days in Sipadan should be sufficient. I was not able to make it work. In hindsight, staying longer would have been just as bad, and I would have lost $600. Before you leave, pray to all weather gods. If you don’t want to spend too much but still want the best experience, two days (6 dives each) should suffice. Transit time would be a good idea, so I recommend allowing one night between the dives. Five nights is enough to take a trip to Sipadan or the surrounding islands.

WHERE TO STAY WHEN SCUBA DIVING WITH SIPADAN

Many dive centers offer packages that include the accommodation and the diving fee. Most dive equipment comes with an additional charge. You can choose from dorm or fancy rooms at resorts. If you are planning to travel during high season, make sure you plan your trip at least 4 months in advance. I had only 2 months to go before my trip, so I had to accept whoever promised me a Sipadan permit for one day.

BUDGET FOR SCUBA DIVING in SIPADAN

Sipadan diving permits are the most expensive at MYR 1300 (USD300 per day). The resorts offer luxury chalets as well as dorms for solo and budget travelers. Chalets cost MYR 450 (USD110) per night and dorms MYR 150 (3 USD 35) per night. Non-Sipadan diving costs MYR 350 (USD85) for 3 dives per day. A total budget of USD 750 is safe for 5 days. This does not include flights.

You can book your next diving trip at asiadivingvacation.com.

OTHER TRAVEL TIPS TO SCUBA DIVING IN SIPADAN

You should plan your trip at least six months in advance to ensure that you don’t compromise on the quality of your dive operators.
Food can be a problem if you are vegetarian. Take snacks and prepared meals with you.
Semporna had only two currency exchange outlets, and both were closed on my arrival. Keep some local currency handy.
Some islands don’t have ATMs. It is a good idea to keep cash.
Use enough bug spray to protect your skin.

I hope you find this blog helpful and gives you some insight to help you plan your Sipadan scuba trip. I hope you have a better diving experience than mine. If you have further questions about Sipadan diving, please email me.