SIPADAN - KAPALAI RESORT / MALAYSIA

THE DIVING IN KAPALAI

This vast and varied area gives the diver an opportunity to explore many different environments during the same holiday, with everything that tropical seas have to offer, from large pelagic fish to strange and rare creatures in an area of immense biological interest.

A dramatic feature of Sipadan is its precipitous reef walls, where the shallow sand gives way suddenly to a vertical wall 600 m deep. The marine life is prolific, unusually large numbers of Green and Howksbill turtle gather here to mate and nest, thousands of residential Bigeye Trevally and Barracuda shoal in spectacular formations, sharks, Jack fish and occasionally some big oceanic “Pilgrims”, add the rich coral growth, huge sea fans and gigantic barrel sponges in deeper water.

Pulau Mabul and the neighbouring island of Pulau Kapalai are gaining international acclaim as one of the best underwater macro photography destinations of the world.

The reduced visibility in this region has forced divers, particularly underwater photographers, to look harder and closer for small subjects and this has had remarkable results.

Though small and mostly bottom dwellers, many of the creatures are unique, stunningly colourful, often rare and sometimes bizarre. The astonishing thing is that most of these creatures can be found on the “House Reef”, just in front of the tourist resorts.

SIPADAN-KAPALAI DIVE RESORT

A few minutes by boat from Sipadan but a full world away lies the exhilarating Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort, sitting on its sturdy stilts on the shallow sandbanks of the Ligitan Reefs. Planned and built in full style as an airy, comfortable, sunny water village with no land in sight, it boasts a mile-long sandbank of powdery blindingly white sand where one can suntan at complete leisure.

The resort offers great food, surprisingly roomy and elegant twin-sharing, air conditioned wooden chalets with huge private balconies and attached bathrooms, and a couple of miles of walkways for those who like to take their morning jog while looking at thousands of fish just a few inches beneath their feet. Meals are served in the terraced, open central structure, while a big western sundeck allows divers to have an evening drink or an after-dive chat against a backdrop of fabulous tropical sunsets. The resort offers three dives a day with day trips to Sipadan & Mabul.

THE MABUL WATER VILLAGE

The Mabul Water Village Island Resort: The entire resort is built over water on stilts. In its design, Sipadan Water Village has achieved near utopia in it’s over the water layout.

The architectural design of the 45 water chalets reflects the influence of the local Bajau style. The resort is located on a part of the island where it is sheltered from the storm. The chalets are spacious with wide sliding doors that open onto the room’s private deck, private bathroom and toiletries, hair dryer, hot/cold showers, ceiling fans, mini bar, and wooden furniture.

An open-air restaurant, wonderfully prepared Asian and Continental cuisine and an impeccable and personable service with meals served in buffet style.

THE MABUL DIVE CENTRE

The Dive Centre is responsible for all in-water activities and scuba training and education. The centre opens from 0700hrs onwards and is equipped with lockers, showers, toilet and a common area for resting between dives with complimentary snack, hot coffee and tea. It carries 5 Bauer compressors for refilling tanks, over 300 aluminium 3000 psi / 80 cubic foot tanks with American style "K" valves, rental sets of scuba diving equipment that are mainly Scuba Pro. The centre equipped with custom-built fibreglass dive boats that carry 12 passengers each. Each boat goes out 3 trips daily accompanied by a boatman and a Dive Master. All Dive Masters are specially trained in the marine ecology of Mabul Island and will not only show divers the attractions but also impart their knowledge of the marine life so that guests may return from their memorable holiday with a better understanding of the environment.

GEO-DIVE OPINION

With regards to the quality of the resorts, there is really nothing we can add; both offer a very good level of service and their diving centres are very well organised and professionally run.

In their dive programmes both resorts offer 3 boat dives per day and cover all of the dive spots found in the Sipadan area (where it is not possible to stay overnight). Dives from the shore are unlimited but best during high tide, water visibility is not always good and depends on the weather situation; the best period is from March to June, and the worst is from November to January.

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