Malaysia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 509

DIVING IN SIPADAN AND THE SEMPORNA ARCHIPELAGO
There are twelve operators who arrange dives in Sipadan and the Semporna archipelago, all of
which have o ces in Semporna and which also have their own accommodation on Mabul
(see below). Once you have chosen an operator, they will take you out to Mabul by boat; you
will stay with them, eat with them and go diving with them. Reputable operators include:
Borneo Speedy Dive Next to Sipadan Inn Hotel ,
T 089 781399, W borneospeedydive.com. Inexpensive
outfit doing a lot of business with backpackers and
a liated with Mabul Backpackers . Three dives off
Mabul/Kapalai RM300; night dive RM160; three-day
PADI Open Water course RM950.
★

Seaventures 4th floor, Waisma Sabah, Kota Kinabalu
T 089 261669, W seaventuresdive.com. Highly
regarded outfit for experienced divers, offering the
most unusual lodging option on Mabul. Four-day/
three-night PADI Open Water course RM3110.
Uncle Chang's 36 Semporna Seafront, entrance to
Dragon Inn T 089 785372, W ucsipadan.com.
Inexpensive dives and snorkelling trips departing from
the backpacker-tastic ”lodge” on Mabul (two dives
Mabul, one dive Kapalai RM270; one-day snorkelling
trip RM180). The diving instructors are a bit hit-and-
miss, though. Uncle Chang has a reputation for being
able to secure a Sipadan permit if other companies are
fully booked.

6

Scuba Junkie 36 Semporna Seafront T 089 785372,
W scuba-junkie.com. Some of the best-value diving at
Sipadan (two-day/three-night packages from RM1640)
and the surrounding islands of Mabul and Kapalai (three
dives RM300); booking is essential. If you've never dived
before, their excellent “Discover Scuba” (RM300) day
package introduces you to the underwater world
courtesy of their patient, professional diving instructors.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By boat Each diving company operates its own speed-
boats, which tend to leave Semporna every day around
8am, arriving in Mabul around 9am. Afternoon boats head
back to Semporna around 4pm.

other islands don't lack for diving spots
themselves, which range from sunken
man-made structures to caves, wrecks and
reef walls, the reefs rivalling the Great
Barrier Reef for diversity and home to
over 200 species of fish (including
sharks), as well as rays and turtles.

DIVING AND SNORKELLING
Each resort tends to offer packages that include three dives
per day, with two before lunch and one after, as well as
night dives at extra cost; Sipadan day-trips include four
dives. Even if you don't dive at Sipadan, there's some
spectacular diving to be done off Mabul itself; the man-
made structures in front of the Scuba Junkie resort attract
numerous turtles, the reef at Kapalai Island is home to a
great variety of colourful tropical fish, and there are
numerous drift dives and wall dives to be done. Snorkellers
go out with the diving boats; there's also great snorkelling
right off the jetties in Mabul itself.

Mabul
MABUL is an attractive little island,
bristling with jetties, where you will be
based for your diving and snorkelling.
he waters around the island offer the
best muck-diving in the archipelago
(it involves looking for small marine
creatures in shallow waters and the term
was coined here). here are a couple of
white sandy beaches and two water
villages, one Filipino and the one next
to the Scuba Junkie resort that's home to
the Bajau Sea Gypsies, most of whom
are stateless and have no rights under
Malay law. You'll spot their colourful
houseboats and their young children
paddling their own sea canoes. It takes
twenty minutes or so to walk around
the island; the dirt path takes you
through the two villages and the
expensive Sipadan Mabul Resort (you
can wander through it, in spite of the
“Non-guests Keep Out” sign, as they
don't own the beach).

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
There are no banks on the island; upmarket resorts accept
cards but budget digs don't. All resorts have wi-fi and
meals are usually included in the room price. You can buy
snacks from shops in the two villages. Rates below are
diver rates; non-diver rates are considerably higher.
Mabul Backpackers T 089 782334, W mabulbackpackers
.com. This friendly longhouse is a liated with Dragon Inn in
Semporna. Rooms and facilities could be cleaner and the food
is rather monotonous, but you live right over the water an d
the diving staff are friendly, funny and informative. RM110
★

Mabul Beach Resort T 089 782 372, W scuba-
junkie.com. Scuba Junkie's attractive launch pad offers