East Malaysia’s Kapalai Island is an idyllic, sun-steeped paradise perched in the middle of the Celebes Sea, with no land in sight.
| At a glance | |
| What: | Picturesque, white sandbank |
| Where: | Next to Mabul & Sipadan |
| Why: | Snorkelling, muck diving, Bajau Sea Gypsies community |
| When: | All year long |
| How: | By speedboat from Semporna or Mabul |
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Details
To dispel a common misconception, Kapalai Island is not, in the true sense of the word, an island.
It is in fact a picturesque, white sandbank at sea level formed as a result of hundreds of years of erosion.
There is only one establishment here on Kapalai Island, the Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort.
The stunning surroundings and ‘one island, one resort’ concept are what make Kapalai Island widely touted as Malaysia’s very own version of the Maldives.
Unlike busy Mabul, there’s a sense of escape here, with a long, thin powdery sandbar you can sunbathe on and snorkel from in between dives.
Accommodation & day tours
The over-the-water Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort is especially popular among couples or newlyweds on their honeymoon.
Things to do in Kapalai Island
Snorkelling & scuba diving – Kapalai Island’s location in the Coral Triangle makes it an outstanding venue for muck diving and underwater macro photography.
Visitors share the immaculate reef with strange critters like the harlequin ghost pipefish, bobtail squid, mimic octopus, blue-ringed octopus and flamboyant cuttlefish.
Popular dive sites here include the Jetty and Mandarin Valley where divers come to spot the brilliantly eye-catching mandarinfish at night.
Together with Mabul, Kapalai Island is one of the few gateways to world-famous Sipadan, just ±20 minutes away.
Ocean kayaking – Ocean kayaking is available at the Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort.
Island hopping – If you’d like to venture further out, trips to nearby Sipadan, Mabul, Si Amil and Danawan may easily be organized.
Other things to do include sun tanning, heading to the spa or relaxing by the large sandbank or your own private balcony. Whether you’re on the beach relaxing or gazing into the turquoise waters stretching into the horizon, an afternoon in this remote part of the world conjures the purest images of natural serenity.
Location & getting here
Kapalai Island sits some 36km southeast of Semporna in the state of Sabah, Malaysia — just 45 minutes away by speedboat.
Nearby are Pulau Mabul and Pulau Sipadan, both 15-20 minutes away by speedboat.
| Destination (by speedboat from Kapalai) | |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Semporna (±50 minutes) |
| Nearest airport | Tawau (±1.5 hours) |
| Nearby islands | Mabul, Sipadan (15-20 minutes) Bum Bum (±45 minutes) Mataking, Pom Pom (±80 minutes) Tun Sakaran Marine Park (±90 minutes) |