When Jacques Cousteau visited Sipadan, he wrote of the island and its marine life: "an untouched piece of art". Lying 5° above the Equator and resting on the summit of a long-extinct volcano, Sipadan sits in the Sulawesi Sea like a green, forested jewel, ringed by white sandy beaches. From a diving perspective it is famed for its phenomenal wall dives, healthy reefs and a rich mix of species. Its life and colours surround you and this Sipadan Dive Liveaboard trip brings you up-close with some of the most interesting marine species at one of the most beautiful marine locations on Earth.

Following the decision in 2004 to remove all resorts from the bird and marine sanctuary of Sipadan, your only chance to stay close to the island is now by dive liveaboard. To further protect and enhance the marine environment, the number of divers per day that visit Sipadan is limited and permits must be applied for in advance. Our dive liveaboard trips provide the best opportunity to secure permits and dive at Sipadan, as well providing the opportunity to dive at the neighbouring islands of Mabul and Kapalai.

Borneo's sapphire waters may reveal treasures to satisfy the most avid of divers but the best of wild Borneo is both above and below the waves. Whilst this experience has its emphasis on the sub aqua, it also combines close encounters with two of the island's most special animals: sea turtles and orangutans. On your journey, you will be able to experience first-hand one of the world's most famous wildlife rehabilitation and conservation programmes at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where hundreds of young ex-captive or abandoned orangutans (often the victims of deforestation) are being helped by highly trained and motivated staff to readjust to a life back in the wild.

Sea turtles are found in abundance in this part of the world and as well as meeting them below the waves whilst diving around Sipadan and spotting them from your dive liveaboard, we will take you to see them laying eggs at the Selingan or 'Turtle Island' sanctuary. Here you will have the opportunity to see conservation in action and witness the transplanting of eggs to a secure hatchery and hopefully even the release of hatchling turtles into the sea.

You have the option of extending your safari with an exploration of the rich, riparian forest along one of Borneo's most majestic rivers: the Kinabatangan. The river and its surrounding rainforest wetlands make up one of the richest ecosystems on Earth and is one of only a handful of places anywhere on the planet where ten primate species coexist in one habitat. Kinabatangan is home to the largest population of Bornean orangutans in Malaysia and several other species endemic to Borneo, such as the proboscis monkey, the maroon langur and the beautiful Bornean white bearded gibbon.   



Pulau Sipadan
The cream of Malaysian diving and among the best dive locations in the world, Sipadan is Malaysia's only volcanic island. A favourite nesting site for green turtles and the occasional hawksbill, Sipadan was made famous by renowned French oceanographer, Jacques Cousteau in his documentary 'Ghosts of the Sea Turtle'. The waters around the island usually teem with turtles so accustomed to divers that they pay little attention as they go about their daily lives. The waters of Sipadan also boast a sizeable proportion of the coral and fish species that exist within the Indo-Pacific environment.

The coral and marine life is prolific; with the Sipadan reefs inhabited by staghorn, table, plate, lettuce and boulder corals, as well as encrusting, bubble and mushroom corals. Lying among these grand hard corals are large soft corals, vase and barrel sponges and colourful giant clams. Whitetip and gray reef sharks thrive and there is a myriad of reef inhabitants including porcupine fish, pufferfish, triggerfish, unicorn fish, Moorish idols and inquisitive giant moray eels. Camouflaged leaf fish and crocodile fish can often be spotted here, too. Against gorgonian sea fans and black corals protruding from the steep drop offs, encounters with huge bumphead parrotfish are common as is the spectacular sight of schooling barracuda, forming a living wall of silvery-blue bodies. Sipadan has one of the top beach dives in the world, where five metres of sandy shallows suddenly gives way to a precipitous drop.

Pulau Mabul
Mabul is located some 25 minutes north of Sipadan. In contrast to the steep drop offs, coral reefs and pelagic species of Sipadan, Mabul is renowned internationally for a very different reason. A muck diver's paradise, the waters around Mabul fill every hole in the sand and patch of coral rubble with ghost pipefish, frogfish, devil scorpionfish, stonefish, crocodile fish, flamboyant cuttlefish, cowfish and nudibranchs. Macro photographers will find great opportunities to capture some rare species that inhabit the sandy bottom of Mabul's marine environment.

Pulau Kapalai
Like Sipadan and Mabul, Kapalai is part of the Semporna Marine Park island group. Located around 20 minutes from Sipadan, Kapalai is another macro diving destination with all the species found at Mabul including blue-ringed octopuses, dragonets, mating mandarin fish, jawfish and cuttlefish. Other sites around Kapalai are likely to reveal humphead (Napoleon) wrasse, blue spotted ribbontail rays and even bumphead parrotfish.

Sites visited will be dependant upon weather conditions and all diving activity is at the discretion of the boat skipper and Sabah Marine Park rules prevailing at the time.


Sipadan and the Semporna group of islands are jewels in South-East Asia's rich tapestry of marine habitat - and long may they remain that way. The diversity of life within them is of global importance, but like many reefs around the world, they are under pressure. We therefore urge all divers to dive responsibly and safely, avoiding any contact with the reef.

Photographs kindly provided by Alan Oh, SMART, Charlotte Caffrey, Ralph Pannell, Nick Bramley, Lawrence Lee, Albert Teo and PSR

 

 

 

Prices 12 days £1895 (diver)  £1830 (non-diver) 13 days (extra day on liveaboard):              £1985 (diver) £1890 (non-diver) 14 days £2250 (diver)  £2185 (non-diver) For travel Jul-Aug please add £35 Prices valid until 31st March 2013 Single supplements If you are willing to share a cabin with someone of the same gender then the following supplements apply for the rest of your journey (based on diver package): 12 day journey:  add £385 14 day journey:  add £675 If you would like a single cabin to yourself please contact us. For travel Jul-Aug please add £35 Our prices include All domestic flights All land-based accommodation All land and water-based transfers All accommodation onboard liveaboard with private toilet, hot water shower and air conditioning 4-5 dives daily whilst on liveaboard (except for arrival and departure day and subject to sea and weather conditions) Tanks, weights and weight belt All meals and beverages onboard liveaboard (excluding alcoholic and canned/bottled drinks or juices to be purchased at the bar) and as indicated at other times (B,L,D) Guided trips as per itinerary with English-speaking, expert naturalist guides Marine park & national park conservation fees & permits (except Sipadan Island*) Our prices exclude Visas Travel insurance International flights *Sipadan entry fees currently $14 per day Camera permit fee within national parks (RM10) Drinks (except those provided with meals and as mentioned above), tips, dive equipment rental, snorkelling equipment and wet suits Liveaboard features 8 guest rooms - private en-suite and air-conditioning Comfortable sofa lounge with TV, audio system and mini bar Buffet meals Spacious sun deck for relaxation Dive deck with showers and equipment storage Cruising speed of  8-10 knots Overall lenght of 29 metres (99 feet) Beam of 7.2 metres (24 feet) Draft of 2 metres (6.6 feet)

Day 1
Arrive Kota Kinabalu.  Private transfer to the Jesselton Hotel - a tastefully preserved boutique hotel located in a quiet part of central Kota Kinabalu.

Day 2
(B,L)
A day to see something of Kota Kinabalu, or if you wish we can take you on a guided exploration of Gaya and Manukan Islands in the Tunku Abdul Marine Park, or a day's white water rafting on the Padas River (for these trips add £55).

Day 3
(B,L,D)
Early morning flight to Sandakan then transfer by speedboat to Selingan Island in the Turtle Island National Park.  Swim, snorkel and relax during the day until the rangers call you in the evening to witness female turtles arriving to lay eggs on the beach. Eggs are transplanted to the hatchery and baby turtle hatchlings are released to the sea.  Overnight in a chalet on the island.

Day 4*
(B,L,D)
After breakfast journey by speedboat back to Sandakan and venture into the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve and the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Watch a video presentation followed by a short trek into the rainforest to watch the orangutans being fed by the rangers. A short exploration of the local area is undertaken and the night is spent in a jungle lodge on the edge of the forest reserve. A guided night walk is arranged for you to spot nocturnal wildlife.

Day 5
(B,D)
Before breakfast, join your naturalist guide on a dawn walk in the forest. Private overland transfer down to the coastal town of Semporna where upon arrival you are transferred to the dive liveaboard.

Days 6 - 9
(B,L,D)
Liveaboard diving at Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai.

Day 10
(B,L,D)
Liveaboard diving (number of dives is strictly limited by mid-afternoon flight time the next day due to 24 hour surface interval requirement).

Day 11
(B)
Disembark from liveaboard and transfer to the airport for afternoon flight back to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight is spent in the Jesselton, a tastefully preserved boutique hotel.

Day 12
(B)
Private transfer to airport and depart Kota Kinabalu. 

*Alternative 14 day itinerary for days 4 - 14 including rainforest exploration of the Kinabatangan River:

Day 4
(B,L,D)
After breakfast journey by speedboat back to Sandakan and venture into the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve and the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Watch a video presentation followed by a short trek into the rainforest to watch the orangutans being fed by the rangers. Continue by boat journey along the Kinabatangan River for wildlife safari and exploration of the mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats. Overnight is spent in a rainforest lodge on the banks of the river.

Day 5
(B,L,D)
Continue exploration and safari through the wilderness of the Kinabatangan Delta viewing primates, birds and wildlife.

Day 6
(B,L,D)
Return by boat to Sandakan where the night is spent in a jungle lodge on the edge of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. A guided night walk is arranged for you to spot nocturnal wildlife before dinner.

Day 7
(B,D)
Before breakfast, join your naturalist guide on a dawn walk in the forest.  Private overland transfer down to the coastal town of Semporna where upon arrival you are transferred to the dive liveaboard.

Days 8 - 11
Liveaboard diving at Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai (B,L,D).

Day 12
(B,L,D)
Liveaboard diving (number of dives is strictly limited by mid-afternoon flight time the next day due to 24 hour surface interval requirement).

Day 13
(B)
Disembark from liveaboard and transfer to the airport for afternoon flight back to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight is spent in the Jesselton, a tastefully preserved boutique hotel.

Day 14
(B)
Private transfer to airport and depart Kota Kinabalu. 

Photographs kindly provided by Alan Oh, SMART, Charlotte Caffrey, Ralph Pannell, Nick Bramley, Lawrence Lee, Albert Teo and PSR