The resort sitting on its sturdy stilts on the shallow sandbanks of the reefs. Scuba junkie sipadan dive the world famous sipadan island. Kapalai dive resort is a luxury water village built on stilts over the sandbanks of the ligitan reefs and located only a few minutes by boat from sipadan and mabul islands. Do know that accommodation at mabul or kapalai is not that cheap.
Kapalai is not a true island but rather a sandbar that resorts have built upon to form a true water resort. Jan 19, 2015 the diving wonders of sipadan are easily accessed from mabul and kapalai islands. Colin bryan, auckland, new zealand i was awestruck when i finally found my way to the mabul water. A few minutes by boat from the islands of sipadan and mabul but a full world away from them lies the exhilarating sipadan kapalai dive resort, sitting on its sturdy stilts on the shallow sandbanks of the ligitan reefs. Permits are not required to dive mabul, kapalai or mataking. The resort offers speedboat trips with 34 boat dives per day to its neighbouring islands of sipadan and mabul, except for 2 dives on the day of arrival depending on arrival time and none on day of departure. On 050505 smk, as its affectionately known here, was launched at le meridien, kota kinabalu. From kuala lumpur, choose either mas, airasia or malindo flights for a 3hour journey to tawau kultwu. Dive spots are extremely close and can be reached in just a.
Our choices usually come recommended for their character, facilities and service or location. There are a total of 25 dive sites in sipadan and mabul islands. Sabahs underwater treasure jason isley, simon christopher, simon enderby, matthew oldfield, roger munns on. The family stay offers a buffet or halal breakfast. The nearest airport is tawau, 61 miles from sipadan kapalai dive resort, and the property offers a free airport shuttle service. Padi 5star idc dive center scuba diving packages to sipadan island. Sipadanmabul diving package welcome to sipadanmabul. Several dive resorts offer guaranteed sipadan permits if you book a dive package. Sipadan scuba padi 5 star idc instructor development centre and national geographic dive center. All dive operators dive around mabul and kapalai and dive operators that. Mabul and kapalai scuba diving day trip book today the floating sipadankapalai dive resort is especially popular among couples or newlyweds on their honeymoon. Sipadan water village resort is beautifully constructed w splendid water cottage accomodations. The diving was fantastic both at sipadan for big fishes and at mabul and kapalai for macro critters.
The sipadankapalai dive resort has 14 daily sipadan dive permits reserved for divers only. Sipadan mabul resort smart is a luxury accommodation located on the southern tip of. Scuba diving twoday trip at sipadan mabul kapalai islands by. These is also a variety of scuba diving courses for all levels and abilities, choose from discover scuba diving, nightdiving, openwater and advanced openwater.
Book borneo divers mabul resort, pulau sipadan on tripadvisor. Sipadan is ranked in the top 5 dive destinations of the world along with the galapagos, cocos island, raja ampat and truk lagoon. Kapalai dive resort is a luxury water village built on stilts over the sandbanks of the ligitan reefs and located only a few minutes by boat from sipadan and mabul islands click here to book your reservation. Diving to sipadan island is a bonus dive, where the resort will bring you to sipadan to dive if managed to get the permit at no extra cost. Each wooden chalet comes equipped with private ensuite bathroom facilities as well as private balconies with magnificent views. All diving are at mabul, kapalai and other nearby good diving area. The staff was really hospitable, friendly and professional. Book sipadan kapalai dive resort, pulau sipadan on tripadvisor. What to do sipadan, mabul and kapalai are paradise for divers and snorkelers. Mabuls charm is unsurpassed and sipadans fame, unwavering. Both islands are among the few places on earth travellers, especially divers, hope to witness in their lifetime once you see them, you will.
Mar 14, 2018 stationed off pulau mabul, seaventures is now the only dive rig in malaysia and the world. Kapalai resort sipadankapalai dive resort latest 2020. Sipadankapalai dive resort in semporna room deals, photos. Sipadan permits the daily 14 sipadan permits are shared between sipadan mabul resort and its sister resort mabul water bungalows. The official website to check availability and book sipadan island online. Dive with sharks, turtles, rays, thousands of schooling barracudas and super cool macro life a photographers paradise. Sipadanmabul resort smart is a dive destination resort that began its modest operations back in 1992. How do i book sipadankapalai dive resort pulau sipadan forum. Nightly rates at sipadankapalai dive resort as low as.
The complete guide to the perfect sipadan dive trip mei mei chu. This resort offers a full array of amenities to make your stay a comfortable one. Sipadan kapalai dive resort consists of 41 individual chalets that stretch out over the water on stilts. You are no longer able to stay directly on sipadan island, so if you wish to dive there you must stay on either kapalai or mabul and visiting sipadan island requires a permit. Mabul and kapalai can be summed up in one word muck.
Sipadanmabulkapalai, sabahs underwater treasure is scubazoos first coffee table book and as such, will always be a special book for us at scubazoo. Kinabalu mountain, kinabatangan river, danum valley, turtle island, mabul. In this video i am going to show you how it is to dive in mabul island malaysia, kapali, sipadan. You may arrange this trip with the dive team in the resort. Sipadan mabul resort smart, semporna settlement, sabah, malaysia. Chance to dive at sipadan island the diving package does not guarantee to dive at sipadan island.
An allinclusive dive resort, it provides trips to pulau mabul, the kapalai atoll and guaranteed dives in pulau sipadan. Located in pulau mabul, mabul backpackers has free wifi, and guests can enjoy a restaurant, a bar and a shared lounge. From kota kinabalu, take a 55minute flight to tawau and enjoy an hours drive to semporna bkitwu. The diving around mabul and kapalai is about diversity and interesting critters, rather than great visibility and big fish and although there are some interesting reefs, they are not a patch on those of sipadan nearby. In addition, the resorts have access to other operators permits, thus maximizing the guests chances of going to sipadan. Sipadan mabul resort can offer alternative diving at nearby islands such as kapalai. Mabul luxury resorts and also kapalai luxury scuba diving packages. It is the product of five passionate divers who have spent the past seven years living and diving on and around these islands.
Budget travelers that find mabul or kapalai too expensive or when the facilities are fully booked could opt to stay at the village of semporna. Kapalai island resort kapalai island is the third point of the famous golden triangle, with sipadan island and mabul island being the other two. Diving around kapalai is exceedingly easy because of the generally shallow sites. The kapalai resort dive centre organises 3 guided boat dives per day to sipadan, mabul and kapalai. Sipadan kapalai dive resort sipadan kapalai dive resort is laid out like a beautiful village rising out from the ocean. All of the nearby resorts on mabul, kapalai and other islands have a quota of permits and guests must book for a minimum number of nights before they can apply for a day permit to dive on sipadan. I am having a problem trying to figure out if sipadankapalai dive. Depends on the availability of permits once you are at the resort. The mabul water bungalows is an amazing resort, with superb water villas. Kapalai is the third point of the famous golden triangle, with sipadan and mabul being the other two. Sipadan island is know as the top place for scuba diving w richest marine habitat in the world. Dec 04, 2019 overall we would consider coming back but only if we could secure 1.
Book your reservation online to receive a special discount. Boat snorkeling to other islands such as kapalai and mabul. The floating sipadankapalai dive resort is especially popular among couples or newlyweds on their. Diving in mabul and kapalai, sabah, malaysia zublu. Mabul and kapalai scuba diving day trip book today. Sipadan island, one of the best dive spots in the world. On the northeast coast of sabah, malaysia, lie three seemingly insignificant islands. The sipadan island marine park sets a limit of 120 visitors a day, so diverssnorkellers need to book a guaranteed spot in advance. Sipadan scuba padi 5 star idc diving courses and dive. You can book bus tickets online using websites such as. The sundeck, a popular favourite, is a great place to enjoy your novel, work on a tan or. Guests at the resort will be able to enjoy activities in and around semporna, like snorkeling. Mabul is arguably one of the richest single destinations for exotic small marine life anywhere in the world.
This fishing village mainly serves as a gateway to sipadan and other great scuba diving spots as mabul, kapalai and mataking. You can watch thousands of fish flit beneath your feet as you walk to breakfast or jump on a boat and be scuba diving within minutes. Kapalai resort is a luxury water village located on kapalai near the islands of sipadan and mabul. Kapalai dive resort is a luxury overthewater village built on wooden stilts over a sunken coral island and located a short distance by speedboat from sipadan and mabul. Sipadanmabul resort latest 2020 discount rates sipadan. It takes about 11 hours to get from kota kinabalu inanam station to semporna by bus.