Malaysia scuba diving - pulau sipadan island dive sites of Malaysia.
In the northeast of Borneo, in the borderland between Malaysia,
Indonesia and Philippines there are three world-class dive
destinations located within sight of each other. Sipadan is the
legendary island of the turtles,
Kapalai with a resort built on
stilts in the middle of the sea, and
Mabul - an enchanting island
where every coconut tree has its own number.The geographic
position of Sipadan island puts it in the centre of the richest
marine habitat in the world, the hearth of the Indo-Pacific basin.
More than 3000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have
been classified in this richest of ecosystems. Sipadan is well known
for its unusually large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles which
gather there to mate and nest and it is not unusual for a diver to
see more then 20 turtles on each dive. Another unique feature to
dives visiting Sipadan in the turtle tomb, an underwater limestone
cave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many
skeletal remains of turtles that became disoriented and then
drowned.
The residential schooling barracuda and big-eye trevally are one
of the highlights on every diver's wish-list which often gather in
thousands forming spectacular tornado-like formations. With the
possibility of seeing pelagic such as mantas, eagle rays, scalloped
hammerhead sharks and whale sharks, each dive at pulau Sipadan is a
highly anticipated event.
It's not only the big fish that amaze divers coming to Sipidan,
the macro life is equally mesmerizing. Garden eels, leaf scorpion
fish, mantis shrimps, fire gobies and various pipefish are
guaranteed at various dive sites. The diversity and abundance of
marine life found at Sipadan gives it its reputation of being one
the ten best dive locations in the world.
Favorite Dives ALL & Every dive sites especially
Barracuda Point Sipadan:
The maximum depth at Barracuda Point is something you just don't
need to explore, but for experienced divers it's worth dropping to
40m to see which big animals might be there. Reef sharks explore out
in the blue and, occasionally, hammerheads are seen. Meanwhile back
on the wall, the fans, corals and sponges are equally spectacular.
The real appeal is actually further up at shallow depths. Here
divers encounter huge schools of jacks, as turtle flit around; and
as the point approaches you see the reason diving at Barracuda Point
earns it tags: Schooling Barracudas....dancing in tune with the
current.
Drop Off Sipadan island
Is considered to be the best beach dive site in the world. Just 5-6
meters from the shore, the wall plunges a staggering 800 meters 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 22 meters
down along this wall.
This are just few of diving in Sipadan's site, but rest assured, the others,
Coral Gardens, White Tip Avenue, Turtle Patch, South Point, Staghorn
Crest, Hanging Gardens, Lobster Lair, North Point and West Ridge are
equally stunning!
Next Mabul Island