Aerial view of East Malaysia’s Pulau Mabul and the surrounding reef captured by Capt. Naru Kiob.
Details
Mabul Island, or Pulau Mabul in the local Malay language, is located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah in Northern Borneo.
It is the main gateway to world-famous Sipadan, a protected dive site just 15-20 minutes away by speedboat.
Mabul’s luxury resorts make it a popular honeymoon destination – it is also one of the only places on earth where you can stay on an oil rig jackup module (4D3N packages).
Home to the legendary Bajau Laut (Sea Gypsies) community, the island also hosts the annual Miss Scuba International event and is a recognized muck diving destination.
Accommodation
From lavish floating resorts and a one-of-a-kind, converted oil rig to smaller, intimate chalets and cosy guesthouses, Mabul accommodation suits everyone’s needs.
Things to do
Since water is a way of life on the island, popular lagoon excursions include snorkeling, diving, cruising, fishing, visiting the Bajau Laut settlements in Tun Sakaran Marine Park, and of course, turtle nesting and hatching.
You can also take your experience to new levels by staying on a liveaboard or touring Mabul Island by helicopter.
► More things to do in Mabul Island
Location
Mabul is one of hundreds of islands off the mainland from the coastal town of Semporna. It is located in the tropical marine waters of the Coral Triangle, an area between Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines known as the ‘Amazon of the seas’ and recognized by WWF as the global centre of marine biodiversity.
| Destination (by speedboat) | |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Semporna (±40 minutes) |
| Nearest airport | Tawau (-) |
| Nearby islands |
Getting here
► How to get to Mabul Island
