Jacques Cousteau described the shore diving at Sipadan as the best in the world, and with an incredible assortment of marine life attracted to the island thanks to its position atop a 600 meter drop off, most divers who visit tend to agree. This tiny oasis in the Sulawesi Sea is fabled for its hammerhead sharks and manta rays, turtles, eagle rays, and more. With some sites which are suitable even for new divers, this is truly some of the best diving in Malaysia. There are around twenty named dive sites around Sipadan – enough to keep you busy for weeks; here are just five to help you begin making plans for fun and adventure.
Hanging Gardens - Sipadan Dive Sites
Beginning in shallow water, a scant meter below the surface, Hanging Gardens is so named due to its resemblance to the Hanging Gardens of Babylonian myth. Colorful soft coral and clusters of sea sponges, lush gorgonians, and sea squirts are here in abundant profusion. Allowing expert divers to descend as far as their training and experience allow, the site is suitable for all to enjoy. Here, you’ll find reef fish in abundance. Watch for coral groupers and titan triggerfish, sweetlips and butterfly fish, and clouds of fusiliers and wrasse, along with parrotfish, clown triggerfish, and many others. Larger marine life is seen here as well, with common turtle and white tip reef shark encounters. In addition, scalloped hammerheads and elegant thresher sharks are sometimes seen passing in the blue.
South Point - Sipadan Dive Sites
Best known for its hammerhead shark encounters, South Point is subject to the strong currents these animals prefer. With schooling hammerheads normally encountered at depths beyond forty meters, where temperatures are cooler, it is sometimes possible to see them in shallower water. The wall itself is beautifully colorful, with lots of coral and sea fans, plus some incredible sponge growth. Schooling jacks and barracuda, green sea turtles, and white tip reef sharks are often seen here, as are enormous humphead parrotfish, some up to a meter long. Minimum depth here is about 20 meters, with maximum depth being determined by the scope of your experience and training. This site is reserved for experienced divers only.
Turtle Patch - Sipadan Dive Sites
Unlike the majority of Sipadan Island dive sites, Turtle Patch offers a gentle slope rather than a sheer descent into the abyss. Beginning in just 5 meters of water and offering an abundance of life in the shallows, the site is suitable for all divers. With a larger turtle population here than at any other single site in the world, you are virtually guaranteed encounters with green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles. More experienced divers can enjoy an exciting drift along the colorful wall below, surrounded by schooling trevally and big eyes, snappers and the occasional passing fleet of barracudas. Although currents at the top of the wall are usually light, they can be quite strong once you head into deeper water.
Drop Off - Sipadan Dive Sites
The site that gave Sipadan almost overnight fame, the Drop Off lets you step off shore, head to about five meters, and fly above the abyss 600 meters below. The wall, which is covered in a proliferation of sea fans and sponges, plus a colorful coat of soft coral, is intriguing in its own right, but what is most spectacular here is the marine life. Besides regular encounters with manta rays when the current is running, divers find themselves surrounded by schooling jacks and clouds of silver baitfish, along with squadrons of chevron barracuda and groups of big humphead parrotfish. Green sea turtles, grey and white tip reef sharks, and a colorful abundance of reef fish are normally seen here, as well. The Drop Off is suitable for intermediate divers and up.
Barracuda Point - Sipadan Dive Sites
Small groups of barracuda on the prowl are always a treat to see, so imagine yourself suspended in mid-water, surrounded by a churning, swirling tornado-like vortex of blacktail and chevron barracuda. Besides these splendidly toothy fish, you’ll also encounter schooling triggerfish and bannerfish, grey reef sharks and tuna. Along the wall, which begins at five meters and continues into the abyss, you’ll find turtles and bumphead parrotfish, napoleon wrasse and other large reef occupants, including white tip reef sharks. Suitable for intermediate to advanced divers, this lovely site is best at its south end, with unpredictable down currents to the north, which are capable of pushing you under and dragging you away from the island.
You can dive Sipadan all year long, although it is at its best between April and September, when conditions are most favorable. Be sure to book in advance though, particularly if you want to visit during China’s Lunar New Year or Japan’s Golden Week. Between May and August, divers come in droves, but September is much less active. There are no accommodations on Sipadan itself, so plan to stay at Mabul or Kapalai, both of which are only ten minutes away. Alternately, you can visit as part of a trip on a Malaysian liveaboard. Either way, you’re certain to enjoy some of the best diving the world has to offer.