High Season

Hi friends and colleagues. Its me again. Just to inform you that months of July and August is super peak seasons. So do make your bookings early to avoid disappointments. I will post a longer one next week. So long....

Resorts Accommodation at Pulau Sipadan

For those of you interested to dive in Sipadan here are the list of resorts for reference :


Sipadan Diving Resorts
Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort (PULAU KAPALAI)
Sipadan Water Village Resort (PULAU MABUL)
Borneo Divers Mabul Dive Resort (PULAU MABUL)

More Information and Places of Interest in Sabah

You can also email us if you require further details at impressions@impressions.com.my

Diving and Resorts Accommodation in Sipadan Malaysia

Sipadan Island or locally known as Pulau Sipadan is a well known diving haven located in the State of Sabah, East Malaysia on the Island of Borneo, Sout East Asia. For the true diving enthusiast, the island of Sipadan, located off the town of Semporna on the East Coast of Sabah, is a must and is considered to be one of the best diving areas in this part of the world. What makes this island special is that it is the only oceanic island (not connected to the continental shelf) in Malaysia rising 2,000 feet (600 meters) on a limestone pinnacle that 'mushrooms' out near the surface

Pulau Sipadan is a totally new experience for many visitors. Not only are there fascinating coral structures but marine caves. Pulau Sipadan is reported to have the largest variety of soft corals in the world. Turtles swim and frolic freely in the waters around Sipadan and divers will find lobster, barracudas, beautiful coral fishes and sometimes even sharks swimming by.
Pulau Sipadan's waters are so clear that visibility is over a hundred feet. Coral formations 40-50 feet deep teeming with fishes can be clearly seen. Pulau Sipadan has excellent sandy beaches with a densely wooded central core. It is the perfect venue for hours of sunning and swimming. The evenings bring beautiful sunsets framed against a timeless horizon.
Pulau Sipadan is also a bird sanctuary and bird-watchers will be able to observe the many frigates, sea eagles, terns and sea-gulls that glide across the clear skies. Pulau Sipadan is also a stop-over point for the Nicobar pigeon which flies through from China during the colder months.

Dive Sites
Most are wall dives
Sipadan has 11 marked dive sites. All dives are wall dives. It is however possible to dive shallow at the southern and eastern part of Sipadan. Sipadan is small, very small, so most dive sites are so close that you enter at one site and exit at the next site... Following is a brief description of the sites.
Drop Off
This is considered to be the best beach dive site in the world. Just 20 feet from the shore, the wall plunges a staggering 2,800ft down and is rated as one of the top 5 Beach Dives in the world. The wall is encrusted with different varieties of coral, turtles abound and a multitude of lion fish & smaller reef dwelling fish live on this wall. The entrance to TURTLE CAVERN is also found about 70ft down along this wall.
You are allowed to do all the beach dives you want, also all night dives are at the drop off. At night you will see the huge (1½ to 2 meters) Bump Head Parrot Fish sleeping at the wall. It can be a bit crowded during the night though.

Turtle Cavern
Turtle cavern is a complicated site with the entrance to the cavern located at about 18 meters. Sipadan is famous for its population of both Green Turtles and the smaller hawksbill Turtles and it was at one time speculated that the cavern was their mausoleum and that they came to this site to die. However, a more accurate representation, is that the turtles became lost in the caverns at night and drowned. Sipadan’s resort operators insist that all divers to this system of interconnecting caverns must be accompanied by a local dive master.
Inside the cavern you will see the skeletons of those previous entrants who failed to find the exit and perished. Deeper penetration of the system reveals the cavern as home to shoals of fish specifically adapted to the low light environment of the further reaches.

Barracuda Point
Great dive site with lots of variation. As the name suggests, Barracuda Point is where a large concentration of Pelagic's converge. Expect to see large shoals of Barracuda, Jacks, Grey and White Tip Reef Sharks. The schools number in the high hundreds. Current is strong. It is a fast moving, high voltage dive site. There may be no guarantees in diving, but let’s just say there is every chance that you can find yourself in the middle of a swirling vortex of chevron barracuda on this, one of Sipadan’s most treasured sites. You may see both large and small stuff. Even a Leaf Fish, Nudi Branches, and the Clown Trigger Fish.
This dive normally starts quite deep 25+ and ends with a lot of time at 8 meters. Normally divers roll in to the top of the wall here at about 10 meters. There may be some current here but that means there is lots of food which bring tones of fish. Cruise along the wall dropping down as far as you wish here and keep an eye out for a herd of bump head parrotfish and turtles in every nook and cranny. Even without the barracudas this is a most colorful and entertaining dive but just when this thought flashes through your mind you may be engulfed in a tornado of barracudas – more than the eye can take in. A superb moment in an outstanding dive. It is little wonder that visitors leave with so many “Barracuda Point” entries in their log-books. You should have one too...
Coral Gardens
Although the temptation of the drop-off is always there, this site is a heaven for the underwater photographer. The health and diversity of the coral growth combined with the fact that almost every species to be seen in Sipadan’s waters is on view here. You can observe the turtle feed on the edges and encounter feather stars at every turn. If you are looking for an encounter with a wrasse then the Giant Wrasse will oblige. Triggerfish of the Clown and Titan variety are plentiful and may even allow you to take their photo without attack on their mind. Watching a Leopard Shark is like watching a Ferrari, it is very smooth and it certainly has the muscles compared to the White Tip Reef Shark. There was a Mantis Scrimp living in a hole of 2-3 cm. in diameter. Good luck!!!
Sipadan, it is often said, has everything that the Indo-pacific has to offer and for the macro photographer Coral garden will occupy many a pleasure filled hour.
White Tip AvenueAs with all the sites on Sipadan island, the name says it all. Expect to see huge Black & White Tip Reef Sharks, Grey Sharks, massive Green & Hawsbill Turtles as well as large shoals of Jack & Barracuda.
Turtle PatchAll the sites should be called something with "Turtle", but this site had a lot. The Titan Trigger Fish were there too. Many reef sharks also frequent this site. It is rather barren in comparison to some of the other sites, but trigger fish and other reef fish dwell on the upper coral reef, making it a well rounded site. Sipadan is the only place where you can encounter the Clown Trigger Fish at only 5 meters.
South Point
This is a good place to get a bit deeper in the morning as long as you don’t mind a thin layer of narcosis-on-toast for breakfast. There is usually a very strong current present at this site. Dives here can take you through up to three marked sites. Very large shoals of pelagic feed here (Barracuda, Jacks, Sharks and Turtles). On the upper reef, a multitude of smaller reef fish abound. Coral is bursting with color, many huge Anemone and Clown Fish at this site.
One of the most likely sites for the more rare sharks such as Hammerheads and Threshers, both of which tend to stay at depths here of 40m+. On this dive you will descend down to a ledge and then fin out gently into the blue scanning for a glimpse of action. If you are lucky enough to encounter Hammerheads or Threshers you will be the toast of the resort and the object of envy. The wonder of Sipadan is that visitors get used to countless Turtles, White-tips, Bump-headed Parrotfish and massive schools of other fish that the crossbar is always raised and South Point is often the site for the crowning glory.
Stafhorn CrestVery close to the dive site LOBSTER LAIRS. It is excellent for filming. The Jacks are quite friendly...
Lobster LairsExcellent for shallow dives and good for afternoon dives due to the position of the sun.
Hanging GardensThis site was not all that exciting unless you like small holes to look in. The wall is covered in a multitude of soft coral. Hawksbill & Green Turtles live on the ledges at this site and the current is usually quite calm. A great spot for photography as colorful corals hang from the interesting cracks and crevices along the wall.
West RidgeGreat place for afternoon dives and also for filming at the shallow area.
North PointGo to WEST RIDGE and dive around NORTH POINT and get out of the water at the DROP OFF. This dive site is only worth going to at noon due to the position of the sun.
How to Get There
Most international flights arrive in Kota Kinabalu. Visitors to Borneo who are on their way to dive at Sipadan spend their first night in one of Kota Kinabalu's fine hotels and fly to Tawau early the following morning.
Some guests opt to fly to Tawau on their arrival day and overnight there before going on to Sipadan. From Tawau Borneo Divers transports you by road to the seaside town of Semporna where the ferry boat departs for Sipadan each morning.
The flight from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau takes about 40 minutes. The ride from Tawau to Semporna takes a little over an hour. The boat ride to Sipadan from Semporna takes about an hour, depending on weather conditions.
Departure Trip
Proposed Flight
Boat Schedule
From your country, take a flight to Kota Kinabalu and transit 1 night in Kota Kinabalu before flying to Tawau the next day
MH2121 BKI/TWU
ETD0610hrs/ETA0655hrs
SEMPORNA/SIPADAN
ETD between 0830-0900hrs
ETA between 0930-1000hrs
From your country, take a flight to Kota Kinabalu and connect flight to Tawau same day
MH2137 BKI/TWU
ETD1330hrs/ETA1415hrs
SEMPORNA/SIPADAN
ETD1600hrs/ETA1700hrs
Returning Trip
Proposed Flight
Boat Schedule
From Tawau, take a flight to Kota Kinabalu and connect flight home
MH2663 TWU/BKI
ETD1740hrs/ETA1820hrs
SIPADAN/SEMPORNA
ETD1330hrs/ETA1430hrs
MH2126 TWU/BKI
ETD1050hrs/ETA1130hrs
SIPADAN/SEMPORNA
ETD1630hrs/ETA0730hrs
MH2132 TWU/BKI
ETD1235hrs/ETA1315hrs
SIPADAN/SEMPORNA
ETD0630hrs/ETA0730hrs