I have been a diving fiend ever since I made it to Southeast Asia.
Always on the hunt for the best diving around, I’ve hit up Cambodia, Thailand, and Perhentian Island in Peninsular Malaysia, looking for the best dive spot in the world.
All of them had something different to offer and were worth the time and money spent in their own unique ways, but nothing can ever compare to the amazingness that was SCUBA diving in Sipadan in Malaysian Borneo.
I could sit here and wax poetic about it for ages, but why do that when I can simply show you exactly what I saw?
Most divers who dive Sipadan stay on Mabul, where the Bajau Laut, a sea gypsy tribe, make their home:
Sipadan Island itself is uninhabited, and absolutely stunning:
Here’s a look at the sea creatures at the dive sites around Mabul and at Sipadan:
Finally, the crown jewel of my Sipadan experience – my favorite video clips strung together, featuring all of the animals you saw above and more (turn on the sound! The animals swim to the music):
Diving Sipadan was a dream come true. I still get goosebumps when I think about it.
Do it yourself:
- Sipadan limits daily divers and requires a permit to dive. Book at least two weeks in advance!
- Stay in Mabul vs. in Semporna – it’s much more beautiful, albeit more expensive. I would argue it’s worth the extra cost.
- Pick the right company for you – I went with Scuba Junkie and was highly satisfied with my experience (they did not compensate me or ask me to make a favorable review).
Read more of my reviews of diving in Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Similan Islands, and Perhentian Island
*Thank you so much to my dive buddy, Kristy, for sharing her photos and video footage with me. Our combined efforts made this post possible.
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Dan @ A Cruising Couple says
Looks like you had an amazing dive! Southeast Asia has definitely been our favorite region to dive in thus far. There is so much diversity it’s mind-blowing. It seems like every little crack is hiding something new. Those nudibranchs are pretty wild! The best dives we have had so far were at Apo Island in the Philippines. Thanks for sharing!
Kristin says
The Philippines is the next diving site for me after Indonesia! I’ve heard so many good things.
Jeremy says
You got some crazy amazing photos in this one! The kids on the boat is fantastic!
Dale says
I’m not a swimmer, or a diver, but I can see why so many people want to do it because some of those guys are incredible.
Especially the angry-assed sea monster.
Megan says
Holy awesomesauce! The photos and footage are unreal. Seriously impressive- I have so much trouble getting good shots while diving. So far, the Great Barrier Reef is still my top dive experience, but Sipadan looks equally amazing.
Kristin says
I def want to do GBR. There are just too many places that I need to dive, and not enough time (or money)
Julie says
Hi,
Amazing pics! Looks fabulous? Have you been to Maldives? For me it’s still the number one destination to dive, and you should really enjoy it now, as the whole place is endangered!
Also an amazing dive: Navy Pier in Exmouth, Western Australia: the best security stop ever!
Kristin says
I’m dying to go but it’s a little costly! My ever-growing list of dive destinations is getting absolutely ridiculous.
Jasper says
Hey Kristin,
Sipadan looks great, I’ve been wanting to check it out. I’m doing a one month dive trip to the Philippines and Indonesia in September, will hit up Malapascua Island, Raja Ampat and Komodo. Can’t wait! 🙂
Kristin says
I have heard great things about all of those. I’ve only done Komodo and it was fantastic (just posted a video with a manta ray – epic). Let me know how the others are!
Niva says
Amazing! How much did it cost? I’ve been scuba diving only once, several years ago. I am not certified or have any equipment but I really want to do this!
Kristin says
It was not cheap. Not cheap at all! I think I spent $500 for 3 nights on Mabul and 10 dives. This and Komodo were the most costly for diving. Other places like Perhentian were super cheap. Unfortunately, though, I find the more expensive the diving, the better it tends to be. You get what you pay for.
Jennifer says
Hi!
So glad I came across your blog. Read some of your posts and they are all very interesting and helpful.
I especially loved your Mt. Kinabalu post!!! Incredible!
I have definitely bookmarked your blog for future searches for asia.
I am currently researching for a trip to Malaysia. We are a couple of divers and would like to dive in Sidapan.
We would have about 17 days of travel in December.
I was thinking Kuala Lumpur (3days), Singapore (5 days) , and Semporna (want to stay with scuba junkies).
I was also intersted in either Kota Kinabalu or Langkawi.
Both places look very nice and I am having trouble picking one.
Have you been to either of those places? Where would you recommend?
Thanks in advance.
Jenifer.
Kristin says
I really liked Scuba Junkie but I’d suggest staying on Mabul instead of Semporna. You’ll be glad you did. Make sure you book ahead! Both Langkawi and KK are cool. I also found Perhentian to be gorgeous but it’s a bit out of your way.
rhetty says
Hi Kristin,
I just got back from my Mabul trip with SJ – thanks to your post! The diving was really great (eventhough I didn’t get to dive Sipadan as it was fully booked). Definitely will come back in a heartbeat.
Hope to read more diving posts from your site.
Happy bubbling 🙂
/R
Kristin says
Thanks so much for letting me know that you enjoyed it! Mabul is still really good diving. I’m going on a dive trip in a couple days in the Philippines so I’ll be posting about that soon 🙂
Jon | Scuba Costa Rica says
That does look awesome! Was there much for bigger life in that area? Dont get me wrong, I love the macro stuff, but was there any big sharks, mantas, whales, or anything? Did you explore the jungles of Borneo at all while you were there?
Kristin says
Hi Jon, Sipadan is all about the big stuff – big schools of jack fish, barracuda, bump head parrotfish, and sometimes hammerhead sharks. At the very least, TONS of sea turtles and white and black tipped reef sharks. It was the best diving I’ve done, but only by a very small margin compared to Belize and Komodo.
Sadly the jungles of Sabah, at least, are now mostly replaced by palm oil plantations. I took a motorbike all over that part and that’s what I saw 🙁
Jack@biradivecamp says
Wow! what an extreme water adventure. I wanna try that one too.
Sam Fulks says
Hi, I’m travelling to SE Asia in the new year and I am so glad that I have found your blog it has been so helpful!! I was just wondering how did you go about booking your diving in Sipadan and who through? I can’t seem to find any reliable looking websites when googling. Also do you need certain levels of diving experience to be able to dive there? Thanks in advance, Sam.
Kristin says
Hi Sam, Yes at least advanced open water. I did SCUBA Junkies and they were great!
Camels & Chocolate says
We also dove Borneo for our honeymoon (in 2010). It was gorgeous and I loved the volume of fish at Sipidan, but I was a bit put off how all the dive boats went to all the dive sites at the same time. At just 120 (140?) divers a day, you’d think they could all spread out!
Kristin says
It was more spread out when I went, actually. Maybe by 2013 they had figured it out a bit better? I’d be annoyed by that too.
Jane says
Thank you so much for your helpful post and amazing pictures. I’m also going to sipadan this coming end of May and wonder how could I do scuba diving while i’m not holding any qualified certificate for it. How can I register for a training course in sipadan and how much does it cost ?? and also how much does it take for a diving slot separately ???
By the way, did you use a cellphone to take that video under the water ??? any recommendation for this part ???
Thank you Kristin.
Kristin says
GoPro for the under water footage. Contact SCUBA junkie about getting certified!
Joan Chang says
how much is scuba diving in bali and philipines?
Kristin says
Depends a lot on the place and whether you take a boat out or not but it’s not a budget activity.
Brady and Shelly says
AS a PADI and SSI Instructor and avid SCUBA Diver, i am always on the lookout for a new place to dive. Sipadan is definitely on my list. I am going to the Galapagos this next winter and know it will be amazing. I wondered if you have been to Raja Ampat, Indonesia? I hear it’s absolutely insane! Great seeing your adventures!
Kristin says
No I probably need to do that in 2018
Kristin says
It may have changed since I was there four years ago but for three nights of accommodation on Mabul Island, food, dive gear, and the 9-dive Sipadan dive package, I was set back about $500. Expensive but honestly, even years later, still a travel highlight for me.
I flew into Kota Kinabalu from KL and that was dirt cheap because I was scanning deals from Air Asia beforehand. Then I motorbiked around Borneo https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/motorbike-sabah-borneo/ with some friends and arrived at the jumping off point that way. BUT you can take an overnight bus from KK, which is how I returned back to KK. That won’t cost much. Be sure to book ahead of time as well – like at least a month if you can – for the diving!
Angela Lok says
your article brings back so many memories from my visit to Sipadan! I always take dive site hype with a grain of salt and try not to get overly excited, but Barracuda Point completely blew my mind and totally lived up to the expectations. I can’t wait to go back!
and I have to say I really adore the photo with the kids on the boat, it’s one of my favourite shots I’ve seen so far on your blog.
PRAVEEN says
wow well written. Sipadan looks to be divers paradise so much of fish that too big stuff. Also well written review felt as if we were there.
I am planning to go there this April. Just want to know abt scuba Junkie. How is the safety culture of the dive shop. worth, dependable, and How was the current in Sipadan is it too tiresome or mild can be managed for 50 years old person
pl reply
Kristin says
They were a fantastic company and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them, at least when I went with them, though that was 6 years ago.
Kristof says
Scuba-Junkie Dive Sipadan / Mabul thieves. Stay away or stay super allerted.
Travellers, divers, friends. I have been diving with Scuba-Junkie.com on the 06.05.2019 and Captain from Nautilus boat that belong to Scuba Junkie Dive School have stolen money from my backpack. You would ask – how I know? Well I was ALWAYS last out for diving and first on the boat. There was only one person who had enough time to go through all my gear, when I was in the water – Boat Captain. He had 3×40 minutes and he took the chance /himself or with cooperation with Dive Master/.
It is super sad that the person who is responsible of your life and your safety on the boat is a THIEF.
I dive for the past 20 years and Dive Boats were always the safest place – buy not in Sipadan Scuba-Junkie Dive Shop!!
I went to report that to the school but they did not want to listen. Their answer was – you had not cought anybody – it is your fault. They seemed like it was not the first time someone reports that and they had all answers lined up. They neither want to do ANY investigation nor take my details to send me information later.
It is the worst experience ever /not to mention extremely old gear they give to divers – my gauge depth did not work and after I told them that it is broken, did not bother to change it/. They are the cheapest and there is a reason behind it!!
Guess they treat divers as way to make as much money as possible not to invest on their side, and their local boat staff have the same attitude, so if they have chance they will steal from you within a blink of an eye.
So STAY AWAY OR PLEASE STAY ALLERTED IF YOU WANT TO SAFELY DIVE AND TRAVEL!!
SCUBA-JUNKIE DIVERS SIPADAN / MABUL NOT RECOMENDED !!!!
Btw. Mabul / Sipadan / Semporna because of very polluted by waste (mostly plastic) environment is no longer World-Class Diving destination. You will be suprised of the amount of dirt in the water and dead coral reef :/ But for the Dive school it does not matter – people will still come as they have no idea how bad it is !!! When you arrive please take a look at the shore behind Scuba-Junkie Dive School in Mabul – full of plastic waste and Scuba- Junkie does not even care to clean it daily or pay locals to have it cleaned. Worst Scuba Dive School I have EVER seen in my life !!!
Oh and cherry on pie – if you ask them – where is the toilet – they will tell you – piss in the water – it is free and easy… and they point to the area where other divers do their refreshment class. Sorry SCUBA-JUNKIE DIVERS – you should take care of the environment as you live off it, not to encourage travellers to pollute it! SHAME ON YOU!
Kristin says
I’m sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I wasn’t sure if I should approve this comment but I am doing so because I’m curious if anyone else has been there lately and had a bad experience. I had the best experience with them, but that was years ago.