#1 Diving in Malaysia · 2026
Sipadan Island
🌺🌺🌺 Legend / Must-Visit · 🤿 Diving
Why go
Sipadan is world-famous for turtles, barracuda tornadoes and reef sharks off a vertical wall. Daily permits are limited, so book months ahead through a licensed operator.
⭐ Don't miss: Barracuda Point and Turtle Cavern
- Entry fee
- Dive permit about RM40 per day plus operator fees
- Opening hours
- Daily dives with permits (dawn to afternoon) (check before you go)
- Best time to go
- Mar-Oct
- Time needed
- 1-3 days
- How to get there
- Fly to Tawau, drive to Semporna, then boat from Mabul or Semporna.
- Address
- Pulau Sipadan, 91300 Semporna, Sabah
- Area
- Pulau Sipadan, Semporna, Sabah
- Facilities
- 🧭 guided tours
- Muslim-friendly
- 🕌 Prayer room (surau) on site · 🍽️ Halal food nearby
Halal food at operators; no alcohol on Sipadan - Accessibility
- Boat transfer only; not wheelchair friendly
- Kids
- Minimum age rules apply for diving; not suitable for kids
☪️ Halal status changes. For food, look for a valid JAKIM certificate (check at myehalal.halal.gov.my). Hotels and venues we have not verified are described as "pork-free", not halal.
- Permit required (limited daily)
- Strong currents; advanced diving recommended
- Check operator is PADI/SSI certified
Also nearby
Mabul Island
🏝️ Islands · Pulau Mabul, Semporna, Sabah
Tiny Bajau-style island near Sipadan, with stilted resorts, macro-rich house reefs and friendly village life. Divers love it for critters and as the Sipadan base.
Don't miss: Snorkelling or diving with turtles around the jetty
Kapalai and Mabul Muck Diving
🤿 Diving · Kapalai / Mabul, Semporna, Sabah
World-class muck diving: ghost pipefish, frogfish, mandarin fish and octopus on sandy slopes. Easy to combine with Sipadan trips.
Don't miss: Frogfish and mimic octopus at Kapalai
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