Sipadan National Park
Sipadan National Park
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
387 reviews
Excellent
336
Very good
31
Average
13
Poor
4
Terrible
3
Mahendra Tribhuvan Sura
Hyderabad, India19 contributions
Apr 2022
I went diving over 4 days total of 12 dives. Saw hammerhead sharks twice huge schools of Big Eye Trevally and Baracuda vortex.
Written October 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mohzan h
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia386 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
A tiny unhabited island about 45 minutes speedboat ride from Sempurna town. You need a permit to snorkel n dive here. Only the Sabah Park official n a Army post guard the island. Beautiful fantastic corals n fishes , reportedly the top 5 diving sites in the World.
Google for more info. There are too much to tell.
In 1 word for the under water life.........Heaven.
Google for more info. There are too much to tell.
In 1 word for the under water life.........Heaven.
Written September 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth L
Whitstable, England, United Kingdom105 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
What an amazing place! Responsible diving off this amazing island is worth the money. The pictures speak for themselves!
Written August 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ju P
11 contributions
Jun 2022
Did two snorkeling trips to Sipadan Island, it was amazing. Great corals, colorful marine life, beautiful blue water. Just terrific. Have to visit again.
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shaiful
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia10 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
5🌟 for Open Water diving experience in Sipadan Island. It is a world class dive sites with nature beauty still preserved.
Can easily see a group of green turtles resting on the coral & other fishes.
Depending on season & weather on the day, you may lucky to see white/black tip sharks, bump fishes, trigger fishes, schooling of jack fishes &/or barracuda.
Indeed , there are still many big species can be found if it is your luck day.
Most importantly, just enjoy diving & do respect the nature at all times.
Can easily see a group of green turtles resting on the coral & other fishes.
Depending on season & weather on the day, you may lucky to see white/black tip sharks, bump fishes, trigger fishes, schooling of jack fishes &/or barracuda.
Indeed , there are still many big species can be found if it is your luck day.
Most importantly, just enjoy diving & do respect the nature at all times.
Written June 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ng_angie16
Johor Bahru, Malaysia467 contributions
Dec 2021
I was bit of disappointed with the dives in Sipadan as the visibility was not so good during my visit in mid of Decemnber 2021, however, we managed to spot a school of large bumphead parrotfish and also jack fish storm.
All the dive sites in Sipadan are mainly wall dive, the vertical wall deep down to the max depth of 600m, so always check your depth when diving in Sipadan. Due to the underwater terrain, it's very frequent to have down current here, sometime a mild one could bring you 10m+ down within seconds without you noticing.
We met the Jack Fish storm in the big blue sea away from the cliff at Barracuda Point at approximately 11m depth, after i took a few shoot of pictures and noticed that i were being brought down to 22m, so be sure to check on your depth frequently.
The luck is not with us this time so we didn't manage to see the barracuda tornado, i'll definitely be back again!
All the dive sites in Sipadan are mainly wall dive, the vertical wall deep down to the max depth of 600m, so always check your depth when diving in Sipadan. Due to the underwater terrain, it's very frequent to have down current here, sometime a mild one could bring you 10m+ down within seconds without you noticing.
We met the Jack Fish storm in the big blue sea away from the cliff at Barracuda Point at approximately 11m depth, after i took a few shoot of pictures and noticed that i were being brought down to 22m, so be sure to check on your depth frequently.
The luck is not with us this time so we didn't manage to see the barracuda tornado, i'll definitely be back again!
Written January 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bearcat S
New York93 contributions
Nov 2019 • Family
If you’re lucky enough to dive Mabul, bum bum, sipadan you’re already there. Sipadan is not for the inexperienced! Plenty of easier diving and snorkeling in the area. Highly rec. @nddivers I’m a DM - and have dove the world over - this is Mecca.
Written October 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Len
Putrajaya, Malaysia2 contributions
Aug 2020
My third dive trip to Sipadan. My first and second trip was so mind-blowing that i fell in love with the island . Barracudas, bumpheads, reef sharks, jack fish, turtles left and right, superb visibility.
My third trip recently was nothing like my first and second. Turtles are plenty and they're basically everywhere. but the rest of the animals that made Sipadan famous was almost no where to be seen. It was a bit disappointing. Surface current was pretty strong too. To sum it, this trip was the opposite of my first and second trip.
I don't blame the dive operator for the disappointing trip. Diving is still very much about luck and I guess we're totally out of luck that day. We saw bumpheads before decent but they left when we started the decent. We spotted them again but during our surface interval. We still saw some barracudas but just a small group. There were a couple of reef sharks but the number was too small compared to my previous dives. The local dive master told us that the water that week is not too favorable. I'm not sure if the full moon during that time had some effect to the sea level which causes the usual sipadan's underwater residents to shy or stay away from the island.
Eventhough the recent dive trip was a little off, I am still in love with the island. I will come to dive here anytime I can. Again, I believe in luck. Come and dive with zero expectation. Appreciate the island as it is.
My third trip recently was nothing like my first and second. Turtles are plenty and they're basically everywhere. but the rest of the animals that made Sipadan famous was almost no where to be seen. It was a bit disappointing. Surface current was pretty strong too. To sum it, this trip was the opposite of my first and second trip.
I don't blame the dive operator for the disappointing trip. Diving is still very much about luck and I guess we're totally out of luck that day. We saw bumpheads before decent but they left when we started the decent. We spotted them again but during our surface interval. We still saw some barracudas but just a small group. There were a couple of reef sharks but the number was too small compared to my previous dives. The local dive master told us that the water that week is not too favorable. I'm not sure if the full moon during that time had some effect to the sea level which causes the usual sipadan's underwater residents to shy or stay away from the island.
Eventhough the recent dive trip was a little off, I am still in love with the island. I will come to dive here anytime I can. Again, I believe in luck. Come and dive with zero expectation. Appreciate the island as it is.
Written September 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teng
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
Jun 2019
The place was beautiful and amazing, I got to see different kinds of sea creature. I would recommend those who love diving to go there. Its wonderful!!! :))
Written May 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anardive
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt19 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
This is one of the nice place we I was diving. The National Park management very good organized. Staff working at exact time. For me the best reef there is Barracuda reef.
Written April 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mansi P
Mumbai, India59 contributions
What are the charges
Allyson E
Toronto, Canada47 contributions
There is no charge on the Island itself. The resort I stayed in charged but do not remember the amount. If I had to guess, it was 1200 Malaysian dollars for each of the first and second trips, more if you wanted to go a third time.
Ken
32 contributions
Where's the cheapest place to stay nearest to Sipadan? ? I'm a backpacker freediver.
Salty Traveller
Tokyo, Japan86 contributions
Hi. I beleieve my way was the cheapest ;
I booked a hotel at Semporna, and looked for interesting dive tours in seveal diving shops.
Rememver you should book a rour to Sipadan before caming to Semporna. I made the reservation two months ago.
T and M bloggers
New Delhi, India37 contributions
Hi fellow travelers! Me and my friend is planning to visit Sipadan in month of July. We both are non-divers , I was curious to know if diving is allowed for non- divers? Also, is snorkeling worth at Mabul and nearby island? Or we can opt for Gaya island
Thanks in advance
Andrew J Stump
Raglan, New Zealand214 contributions
You can snorkel at all those places you mentioned and at Sipidan at low tide 2 meters deep is teeming with activity if you are taken to the right places. However it's a natural environment and nothing can be gauranteed. You can not stay on Sipidan and i would think about where you want to stay before you go because you will spend more time above the water than in or under it. Closer to KotaKinabalu you will also find good snorkelling and better accomodation.
Rachel U
132 contributions
I read today that if you would like to dive at sipidan that you must have a log of 25 dives?
Due to many people ascending and decending too quickly.
Also that snorkeling (duck diving) I s discouraged .
Any news on this would be appreciated: )
Rachel U
132 contributions
I read today that if you would like to dive at sipidan that you must have a log of 25 dives?
Due to many people ascending and decending too quickly.
Also that snorkeling (duck diving) I s discouraged .
Any news on this would be appreciated: )
Martitarub_13
London, UK106 contributions
Hi there! You must check with the company you are intending to book it with! Yes, it’s for scuba diving 😋
Cookiecuttershark
London, UK15 contributions
Hey Mark, we are visiting next t month and keen to dive.
I’m travelling with 2 kids (one is PADI certified). We’re you aware of any safety concerns around pirates etc? This has been an issue in the past but I can’t find anyth8ng up to date.
Would appreciate your insights.
Also, who did you book with please & did it all go well?
Thx again,
Julia
Harriet R
Stockholm, Sweden32 contributions
There are som actually a lot of militarys on the iland. I have been there tree times and not once have anything happend
sailing2012
riyadh8 contributions
Are there safety issues as still not recommended on the foriegn office website
falanglao
San Francisco, CA37 contributions
It depends on the company and dive instructor.
Janne1994
14 contributions
We don't have our PADI, would you recommend to snorkle at Sipadan or do a discovery dive at Mabul?
how about snorkeling in sipadan?
ALR0609
Kuantan, Malaysia483 contributions
Yes. But you wont get the full experience of Sipadan. And you will probably leave wondering what the fuss was all about. Sipadan is truly wonderful in the deep, not the shallow.
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Claim your listingSIPADAN NATIONAL PARK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Sipadan National Park
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