Mabul is a tiny island located in Sabah, Malaysia and currently is the main gateway to Sipadan island as it is now no longer possible to stay in Sipadan. Sipadan can also be accessible from Semporna Town in Mainland Sabah but it is more convenience to stay in Mabul and dive in Sipadan rather than staying in Semporna and dive in Sipadan.
Diving in Mabul and Sipadan is just fantastic. The two islands are parted by a 30 minutes boat ride making diving at both islands in a same day conveniently possible. Me and my buddies TK Lim and Huzaine just went there from 17 to 22 of October 2007 and that is one of the best dive locations we have been so far.
There are many fabulous dive sites to choose from either near Mabul or Sipadan. The well-known Drop Off dive site in Sipadan is just fantastic. The drop is less than 10 meters away from Sipadan Island beach and yet drops as deep as 800 meters! On our first dive here, we saw a school of Jack fish in thousands and few bumphead parrot fish. On the next dive at the same spot, we saw thousand of barracudas – the experience is just magical! Not to mentions 4 black tip reef sharks hovering in front of us.
Mabul is also well know for it Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus Bargibanti), Mandarin Fish and also Harlequin Ghost Pipe Fish. Seeing all these rare creatures in its natural habitats is simply stunning! Nudibranch, ells (Moray and Garden), Mantis Shrimp, Soft and Hard Corals and reef fishes are also abundant here.
At some dive sites, current can go up to 3 knots and water temperatures are normally at 29 to 30 degrees Celsius. 3 mm wetsuit is advisable as the temperature can drop to 27 and due to some thermo cline down there.
In getting to Mabul, you need to land at Tawau Airport either from Kuala Lumpur, Kuching or Kota Kinabalu. From Tawau, get a ride by taxi or mini van to Semporna town which is about one and a halt hour journey. From Semporna town, take a boat to Mabul island, about an hour long journey and there are plenty of place to stay once you are in Mabul.
As a person who loves to travel and dive, Mabul and Sipadan are indeed a place not to be missed. Happy diving there!
Regards…. Mohdfitri
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Fantastic.
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Not many!
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Malayalam, English
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Malaysian Ringgit |
Active travel warnings exist for this location (see Lonely Planet)! |
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Bio from Lonely Planet |
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