Mabul Island accommodation caters to every budget. Most homestays, lodges, hotels and resorts are located on the island itself while one is situated on a modified jackup for oil rigs about 500m from the beach.
First things first: If you’re staying on Mabul, it’s probably because you want to dive Sipadan. Keep in mind that not all resorts/dive operators are allocated Sipadan permits directly from the government. That being said, there is a rich secondary market for permits. If your dive operator is unable to provide a permit, they may obtain one for you at a premium or book that day with a resort or dive operator who can.
Table of contents
- Budget Mabul hotels (with Sipadan permits)
- Other Mabul budget hotels
- Mid-range Mabul hotels (with Sipadan permits)
- Luxury Mabul hotels (with Sipadan permits)
- Mataking Island hotels (with Sipadan permits)
- Kapalai Island hotels (with Sipadan permits)
- Semporna hotels (with Sipadan permits)
- Pom Pom Island hotels
Budget Mabul hotels (with Sipadan permits)
Longhouse extending over the water from the beach with twin and double sharing or dormitory rooms available.
► 3D2N packages for Mabul Backpackers Longhouse
Homestay chalets built over the ocean with air-conditioning and attached bathrooms.
1 day diving in Sipadan from RM848 (3 dives)
Uncle Chang Sipadan
Wooden lodge built on stilts over the sea. Dorm, double, family rooms and seaview chalets available.
1 day diving in Sipadan from RM600 (non-divers), RM720 (2 dives) and RM750 (3 dives)
Billabong Scuba
Homestay chalets built over the ocean with air-conditioning and attached bathrooms.
1 day diving in Sipadan from RM848 (3 dives)
Other Mabul budget hotels
Mabul accommodation consisting of a guesthouse built over the sea. Fan, air-cond and VIP rooms available. Previously known as Arung Hayat Sea Adventures Dive Center.
► Check pricing for Amina Holidays Resort on:
All dorm, double and triple sharing rooms are air-conditioned at this budget lodge built over the water. Scrumptious buffet served at the spacious sun deck.
Beachside accommodation with sea-facing and water-village-view rooms that come with air-conditioning and ensuite bathrooms (hot shower).
Located within the Bajau Laut (Sea Gypsies) village on the island, this guesthouse is constructed on stilts over the ocean. Twin sharing rooms with shared/attached bathrooms available.
Seahorse Sipadan Scuba
Comfortable, tastefully renovated rooms next to the water. Dorm and standard rooms with attached bathrooms, ceiling fans and sea views available at this floating lodge.
Sipadan Dive Center (SDC) Mabul Lodge
Beachside accommodation with sea-facing and water-village-view rooms that come with air-conditioning and ensuite bathrooms (hot shower).
► 3D2N packages for Sipadan Dive Centre (SDC) Mabul Lodge
Scuba Jeff Sipadan
Private beach accommodation or sharing rooms built over the sea available here. Features an ‘ocean hammock’ area.
Unlimited jetty/house reef diving
– Brand new!
Summer Friends Homestay
Homestay built on stilts in the middle of a fishing village with 10 rooms (single, twin, triple & quad sharing) and 6 detached bathrooms.
All rooms are equipped with fans.
Mid-range Mabul hotels (with Sipadan permits)
Borneo Divers Mabul Resort (14 permits)
30 tropical-themed chalets. Popular rooms include the ethnic-inspired Runggus Twin and luxurious Runggus Double featuring traditional platform beds.
Stay 4 nights for 1 day diving in Sipadan
Unlimited jetty/house reef diving
► 4D3N packages for Borneo Divers Mabul Dive Resort
Seaventures Dive Rig (11 permits)
Stay on and dive below an oil rig.
Stay 3 nights for 1 day diving in Sipadan
Unlimited jetty/house reef diving
► 4D3N packages for Seaventures Dive Rig Resort
Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART Divers Resort) (14 permits)
40 wooden chalets nestled in a coconut grove towards the southeastern side of Mabul. Sister resort of the luxurious Mabul Water Bungalows.
Stay 5 nights for 1 day diving in Sipadan
Unlimited jetty/house reef diving
► 4D3N packages for Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART)
Mabul Beach Resort (Scuba Junkie) (7 permits)
This Mabul resort consists of 24 ensuite rooms situated on the beachfront. Scuba Junkie also operates Scuba Junkie Backpackers based in Semporna.
Stay 3 nights for 1 day diving in Sipadan
► 4D3N packages for Mabul Beach Resort (with snorkeling in Sipadan)
5. MV Celebes Explorer (13 permits)
The only liveaboard serving Mabul, Kapalai and Sipadan. This boat with 8 cabins is an excellent choice if diving in Sipadan is your priority. Compared to land-based resorts, this liveaboard lets you dive in Sipadan on every day of your stay.
Stay 3 nights for 10 dives in Sipadan
► 4D3N packages for MV Celebes Explorer
Luxury Mabul hotels (with Sipadan permits)
1. Mabul Water Bungalows (14 permits)
Exclusive Mabul resort with 16 units of floating bungalows offering private balconies with panoramic vistas of the ocean. Sister resort of Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART).
Stay 5 nights for 1 day diving in Sipadan
Unlimited jetty/house reef diving
► 4D3N packages for Mabul Water Bungalows
2. Sipadan Water Village Resort (14 permits)
45 water chalets built based on Bajau architectural design, each with private decks overlooking the sea.
Stay 4 nights for 1 day diving in Sipadan
Unlimited jetty/house reef diving
► 3D2N packages for Sipadan Water Village (with snorkeling in Sipadan)
Kapalai Island hotels (with Sipadan permits)
Learn more about Kapalai Island
1. Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort (14 permits)
15-20 minutes from Sipadan and Mabul, this lavish resort is built in the middle of the Celebes Sea with no land in sight. Popular among couples and honeymooners.
Stay 3 nights for 1 day diving in Sipadan
Unlimited jetty/house reef diving
► 4D3N packages for Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort
Mataking Island hotels (with Sipadan permits)
Learn more about Mataking Island
1. Reef Dive Resort (7 permits)
Resort with daily diving trips to Sipadan (±80 minutes away) and other islands.
Return dive trip to Sipadan – RM1,400 per boat (up to 7 pax per boat)
Unlimited jetty/house reef diving
► Check pricing for Mataking Reef Dive Resort on Expedia
Semporna hotels (with Sipadan permits)
Learn more about Semporna
1. Sipadan Scuba (7 permits)
Dive operator in Semporna with an attached hotel (Holiday Dive Inn) and daily trips to Sipadan.
Stay 2 nights for 1 day diving in Sipadan. Divers: RM1000, Non-divers: RM950
Pom Pom Island hotels
Learn more about Pom Pom Island
1. Pom Pom Island Resort
Resort in Pom Pom Island offering day trips to Mabul, Kapalai and other islands. Located next to Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
Unlimited jetty/house reef diving
2. Celebes Beach Resort
Situated near an idyllic and secluded stretch of sandy beach with coconut palms lining its fringe, this is a newly revamped resort with diving facilities.
Unlimited shore and house reef diving
Free night dives