There are around 20 identified Mabul dive sites, each with its own personality and appeal.
Mabul is among the world’s top muck diving destinations. Here are just a few of the top dive sites in Mabul:
Lobster Wall
With an average depth of 25m and a maximum depth of 40m, this is the closest Mabul Island has to a vertical wall dive location.
The calm waters at this dive site contain plenty of lobsters, nudibranchs, sea fans, squirrelfish, soldierfish and boxfish.
Depending on the direction of the current, Lobster Wall can be a drift dive.
Seaventures Dive Rig
Best dived during slack tide as the currents can be challenging for beginners.
This unusual and interesting Mabul dive site is located right below Seaventures Dive Rig Resort, which occupies an oil rig jackup module platform.
It is situated about 300m north of Sipadan Water Village‘s jetty and has an average depth of 16m with a maximum depth of 18m.
Moray eels, crocodilefish, mantis shrimps, stonefish, frogfish and leaffish are common in this area.
Paradise I and II
At 5 to 18m deep, Paradise I and II make up the house reefs of Sipadan Water Village resort and Borneo Divers Mabul Resort.
Ghost pipefish, frogfish, sea moths, spotted-face moray eels, juvenile cuttlefish, black-saddled tobies, yellow-spotted burrfish, ribbon eels and more can be found here.
One of the best spots for night dives in Mabul.
If possible, get your divemaster to bring you below the second jetty and look out for the multicoloured mandarinfish which normally make brief appearances just before sunset.
Ribbon Valley I, II and III
The 3 Ribbon Valley dive sites encompass the southern tip of Mabul reef.
The average depth is 12m with a maximum depth of 18m, and the terraced reef slopes to the sandy bottom at about 25 to 30m.
Over here, butterflyfish, damselfish, emperorfish, angelfish, parrotfish, scorpionfish and gorgonians are common.
The visibility at Ribbon Valley I, II and III is normally better compared to other Mabul dive sites due to stronger currents in the area.
Eel Garden
Eel Garden is located towards the southwestern fringe of Mabul reef with an average depth of 15m and a maximum depth of 25m. At around 22m lies a sandy plateau that gradually descends towards the open sea.
Expect to see garden eel colonies, frogfish, ribbon eels, moray eels, mantis shrimp, gobies and more. The water conditions at this dive site, which is accessed by speedboat, are usually calm and without waves.
Avoid disturbing silt at the bottom so you may observe gobies, moray eels and mantis shrimps.
Crocodile Avenue
Crocodile Avenue is a shallow dive northwest of the Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART) jetty where the water conditions are calm with no waves.
The site comprises gentle, sandy slopes 5 to 20m deep with visibility ranging from 5 to 10m. Common marine life in the area include seahorses, crocodilefish, ghost pipefish and garden eels.
Known as the benchmark for muck diving on the island, Crocodile Avenue is great another great spot for Mabul night diving.
Froggy Lair
Another shallow site with calm waters and no waves known for the quality of muck diving, Froggy Lair a haven for underwater macro photography enthusiasts.
The average visibility is about 3 meters but divers are guaranteed encounters with many colourful, tiny and rare creatures including various kinds of nudibranchs, frogfish as well as ornate ghost pipefish.
A narrow slope of sand and coral, Froggy Lair can be reached by a short swim from the shore or speedboat ride.
Coral Hills
Located in Mabul’s southeast, Coral Hills is accessible by speedboat.
Butterflyfish, lionfish and snailfish are common at this shallow dive site with water conditions that are calm and without waves.
Ray Point
Ray Point is a succession of terraces down to 14m on the southwest side of Mabul reef with better fish life and corals.
Water conditions here are calm without waves and the currents are generally weak. Visibility here ranges from 5 to 10m.
Panglima Reef
Located towards the west of the local village on Mabul, Panglima Reef has an average depth of 5m and a maximum depth of 20m.
Water conditions here are calm without waves and visibility stands at about 3 meters.
Map
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