Location: Pulau Sipadan, Kapalai and Pulau Mabul, Sabah, Malaysia
No. of dives: 15
Mabul
Accessibility to dive sites: 7.0
Marine Animal Density: 8.4
Dive site terrain Quality: 7.5
Marine Animal Diversity: 9.0
Visibility: 7.0
Overall Score: 7.8
Entry: Boat
Difficulty: OW
Dive Sites: Muck
Kapalai
Accessibility to dive sites: 7.0
Marine Animal Density: 8.4
Dive site terrain Quality: 7.5
Marine Animal Diversity: 9.0
Visibility: 7.0
Overall Score: 7.8
Entry: Boat
Difficulty: OW
Dive Sites: Muck
Sipadan
Accessibility to dive sites: 7.0
Marine Animal Density: 9.5
Dive site terrain Quality: 9.0
Marine Animal Diversity: 9.0
Visibility: 9.0
Overall Score: 8.7
Entry: Boat
Difficulty: AOW
Dive Sites: Open water/Walls
Transport: Air Asia to Tawau
Dive operator: Borneo divers
Dive type: Muck, wall and drift dive
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: > 30m[Sipadan], 5-8m[Mabul], 5-8m[Kapalai]
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Advanced
Camera: Canon Powershot A80
Underwater casing: Canon Waterproof Case WP-DC900 for Powershot A80 by Canon
Strobe: NIL
Oraganizer: Wilson Treng
Members: Gang from KL
My reason to go there: My dream dive location, what else can I say…. :)
October 2004: Mention the word Sipadan Island(in 2004) and a few reactions would greet me. Mention going to Sipadan and even more reactions would greet me, the most famous to date was being "What if they(Abu Sayyaf Group) kidnapped you?' Some would also stare at me open-mouthed and say 'Are you crazy?' lol..
Sipadan is no doubt an Underwater Eden, this description is not far from reality: it might even actually downplay a little bit, as Sipadan is considered one of the five top diving destinations in the world.
Formed by corals atop an extinct volcanic peak rising 2000ft from the seabed and promises divers a fantastic diving experience.
If you are a scuba diver, please visit Sipadan. You will not regret!
Mabul Island first became popular due to its close proximity to Sipadan Island, however, in the last few years it has gained its own recognition as one of the best muck-diving sites in the world.
Mabul Island is a small oval shaped island surrounded by sandy beaches and perched on the northwest corner of a larger 200-hectare reef. The reef is on the edge of the continental shelf and the seabed surrounding the reef slopes out to 25m 30m deep.
Mabul is arguably one of the richest single destinations for exotic small marine life anywhere in the world. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, mimic octopus and bobtail squids are just a few of the numerous types of cephalapods to be found on Mabuls reef. The sight of harlequin shrimp feeding on sea stars and boxer crabs waving their tiny anemone pom-poms are just a small example of the endless species of crustaceans.
Between Sipadan and Mabul Island lies a sand bar known many years ago as Kapalai Island. Unfortunately, erosion has taken its toll and now the sand bar sits on top of the reef known as the Ligitan Reefs, a very extensive stretch bordering the deep and vast Celebes Sea. Sipadan-Kapalai Resort is actually a water village style built above the water. All structure are erected on water and guests are able to observe the antics of squids and needlefish from their chalet balcony.
The underwater scene together with nearby Mabul offers some of the best muck-diving in the world. The jetty dive itself has plenty to offer including leaf scorpionfish, pink-eye gobies, ambonian shrimps and the comical antics of the mantis shrimp. Other frequently seen creatures such as the crocodilefish, lionfish and scorpionfish are almost ignored as being too common!
We did 1 dive near to the resort, some current, low visibility, silt, but plenty to see and abundant to explorer. It was a good muck dive..
All shots here were taken using a
Canon Powershot A80 compact camera with its' underwater casing.
SLIDESHOW
