Sipadan Islands is a well protected island known for its healthy coral life, large numbers of turtles and big fish such as hammerheads, barracuda and trevelly.

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Sipadan Island is one of the best known dive regions throughout Malaysia, probably even in the world. It is a tiny circular island (less than 15 ha) completely covered in dense tropical rainforest. It is formed on top of an ancient volcano rising up from the bottom of the Celebes Sea at depths of more than 600 meters. This provides ample dive sites such as spectacular steep walls (some go down to almost 600 meters), strong currents bringing in planktonic rich waters and an incredible amount of marine life since this is the only place just beneath the surface line other than water for kilometers. Since 2005, an extra conservation project was started to ban all forms of accommodations and to get Pulau Sipidan listed as a World Heritage Site. The jungle (bird sanctuary) is filled with birds such as kingfishers, sea eagles and wood pigeons. You can walk around the island in twenty minutes along its narrow white sanded beaches which are often used by turtles to nest their eggs.

Sipadan's marine life is in one word spectacular with more than three thousand species that have been classified living off Sipidan in the Indo-Pacific basin. Tens of hammerhead sharks circling above you, green and hawksbill turtles in sizes and numbers you have never seen anywhere before and its underwater diversity is fantastic. There even is an underwater limestone cave, aptly named Turtle Tomb, because it is filled with turtle skeletons that drowned not able to find the surface anymore. One of the highlights for all divers should be diving Barracuda Point, where you will be encircled by thousands of big-eye trevally and barracudas forming spectacular tornado-like formations. The west side of Sipadan plunges straight down into the abyss and offers many spectacular wall dives while the east is more shallow and often overshadowed by its western counterpart. It is big fish, small critters, and healthy hard and soft corals, all within easy reach of mainland Semporna, Sabah. Enjoy this dive destination as it is one of the best places worldwide.

Diving here is possible all year round. But, the best conditions at Sipadan Island exist from April to October, especially July and August. A decrease of visibility can be seen from January to March, because of the weather. The resorts still receive many visitors during this time and diving then is still not to be considered as bad.

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