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Surrounding Dive Sites of Sipadan.
Voted "Best Shore Dive in the World" by Roldales Scuba Diving Magazine. The site is a shear 600m wall to the ocean floor and located just a few metres from Sipadans sandy beach. White tip reef sharks lay in small caverns and on ledges below, turtles lazily pass by, there are schools of jacks, myriads of tropical reef fish, bumphead parrot fish and if dived in the early morning one may see a single or small groups of hammerhead shark. Generally the current is light here and the site is suited to all divers.
Slightly east of the jetty at 18m is the cave entrance. A labyrinth of tunnels and chambers made famous in the 70's by Jacques Cousteau, the limestone cave is a resting place for turtles who ventured inside, became disorientated and sadly drowned. From inside the cave the entrance is marked by a blue hazy glow, it appears mysterious and enchanting. This is an advanced dive and a guide is mandatory.
A fantastic corner dive and arguably the best on offer here, good corals in the shallows sloping to sand then onto the wall. One can hope to see schooling fish including barracuda and jacks, tuna, grey reef shark, white tip shark, turtles and plenty of the usual reef suspects. Currents are temperamental and the less experienced diver should stay with their guide.
Various healthy corals occupy this sloping reef with many smaller reef fish, turtles and white tip reef sharks. Take time here to look for the macro life on offer such as nudibranchs.
A large centre section of the east facing wall of the island. This area is in fact more than one dive site. Many turtles, sea fans and barrel sponges on deeper parts of the reef. Look out in the blue from time to time as anything can pass by including the resident school of hammerheads. Suitable for any level of diver, if the current is strong stay close to the reef and enjoy the ride !
With a particularly stunning top reef of healthy soft and table corals, anemone's and countless colourful reef fish this site is a wild and natural aquarium. Turtles, bumbhead parrot fish, white tip reef sharks and a very large school of jacks are resident and often seen here. Again watch out in the blue, anything can pass by. Sightings of mobular ray, and hammerheads are intermittently reported.
Located at the southern most point of the island, the sloping ledge of the islands reef is a textbook coral ecosystem. Suffice to say schools of jacks, rainbow runners, turtles, white tip reef sharks, leopard sharks, the occasional thresher shark can be seen perusing the area. Strong currents are possible but its generally a novice dive for those staying close to the reef.
An area of rubble and coral heads, home to white tip reef sharks, moray eels and turtles, napoleon wrasse and the odd mobular ray that passes by. The area can be choppy on the surface and some shallow corals have been damaged by strong surge. A suitable site for all divers providing the weather is kind.
As the name suggests, located on the western side of the island with lots of overhangs, sea fans and barrel sponges. Turtles, white tips, leopard sharks, pygmy devil rays and eagle rays.
A good early morning site for observing the school of resident bumphead parrot fish. On the northern point and west of the drop off this wall has many overhangs and inlets sheltering large schools of fish. Solitary giant barracuda can be seen on the top reef and close to the drop off. This site is suitable for all level of divers.
For creature information please peruse our Marine Biology section - links are located on the right of this page.
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Sipadan Island viewed from Kapalai
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