Sipadan dive sites

Sipadan’s 13 magical dive sites include the thrilling ‘Drop-Off’, the majestic Barracuda Point and the eerie but fascinating Turtle Tomb.

One of the most remarkable things about Sipadan’s dive sites is the sheer diversity of marine life found here. With very high possibilities of spotting pelagics such as hammerhead sharks, eagle rays and mantas, each dive at Sipadan is a highly anticipated event.

The macro life is equally stunning with scorpion fish, mantis shrimps, garden eels, fire gobies, leaf scorpion fish and various pipefish guaranteed at several dive sites. Sipadan is also known for its unusually high population of hawksbill and green turtles, and it is not unusual for a diver to come across 20 turtles on each dive.

General tips
  • Water temperature at Sipadan’s dive sites ranges from 26 to 31°C all year.
  • Dive sites located along the east coast of Sipadan are best dived in the mornings.
  • All dives in Sipadan are essentially wall dives except for Turtle Tomb.
  • Remember that Sipadan permits are required in order to dive here.
Sipadan dive sites Depth Visibility Recommended Level
Turtle Patch 5 – 12m 10 – 20m Open Water
Hanging Gardens 5 – >40m 20 – 30m
Coral Gardens 14 – 22m 20 – 30m
Whitetip Avenue 16 – >40m 20 – 30m
West Ridge 18 – 40 metres ~30m
Barracuda Point 5 – >40m 20 – 30m Advanced Open Water
The Drop-Off 5 – >40m 15 – 30m
Mid Reef 5 – >40m 10 – 25m
Lobster Lairs 25 – 40 metres ~30m
North Point 25 – >40m 15 – 30m
South Point 20 – >40m 20 – 30m
Staghorn Crest 20 – >40m 20 – 30m
Turtle Tomb 17 – 23 metres ~30m Divemaster

Barracuda Point

Barracuda Point is a popular site named for the spectacular spirals of blacktail and chevron barracuda that come here to feed along a wall which harbours turtles and parrotfish.

In a nutshell: Wall dive then valley
Currents: Can be strong
Surface conditions: Can be choppy

Blackfin Barracuda

Drop-Off

Another popular site just east of the jetty at Sipadan, the Drop-Off is a seemingly endless wall of rock covered with several species of sponges and corals.

In a nutshell: Wall dive
Currents: Can be strong
Surface conditions: Can be choppy

Feather Star

Turtle Tomb

The eerie Turtle Tomb is an underwater cave stacked with the skeletal remains of hawksbill and green turtles that drifted into it and never found their way out.

In a nutshell: Cave diving

Turtle skeleton

Turtle Patch

Turtle Patch offers frequent sightings of thresher and hammerhead sharks, humphead parrotfish, triggerfish and the hawksbill as well as green turtles that are commonly seen around Sipadan.

In a nutshell: Coral gardens
Currents: Gentle
Surface conditions: Calm

Green Turtle

Hanging Gardens

An extraordinarily elegant profusion of soft coral hanging from the underside of the reef ledge. The reef descends to depths of about 70m (230 ft), where terraces teeming with alcyonarian and gorgonian fan corals form the Hanging Gardens.

In a nutshell: Wall diving along a vertical drop-off
Currents: Gentle
Surface conditions: Calm

Tree Coral

Coral Gardens

Sipadan boasts a rich variety of soft and hard corals, among these Dendronephyta (tree corals) in pastel colours and crinoids (feather stars) that come in all hues and shades. These are all visible at the Coral Gardens, where gentle currents and calm surface conditions make it ideal for long dives.

In a nutshell: Coral gardens
Currents: Gentle
Surface conditions: Calm

Barrel Sponge

Whitetip Avenue

Whitetip Avenue is a gap in the coral reef where shy, gentle whitetip sharks and grey reef sharks resting on shallow plateaus are easily spotted. Divers may also encounter schools of bumphead parrotfish and bigeye trevallies.

In a nutshell: Coral garden on the edge of a drop-off
Currents: Gentle – moderate
Surface conditions: Calm

Whitetip Reef Shark

West Ridge

West Ridge is a great site for afternoon dives or snorkelling at the shallow area. Large black coral bushes as well as numerous reef fish dominate the area.

In a nutshell: Wall diving
Currents: Gentle – moderate
Surface conditions: Calm

Blacktip Grouper

Mid Reef

At Mid Reef, encounter an explosion of life as boxfish, leaffish, puffers and lionfish rise from the deep, glowing in the open blue water amidst some of the best coral formations around Sipadan featuring table corals, black corals, gorgonians and staghorn corals in the shallower parts.

In a nutshell: Wall dive
Currents: Moderate – strong
Surface conditions: Can be choppy

Striated Sturgeonfish

Lobster Lairs

As it’s name suggests, one can look forward to numerous encounters with lobsters as well as scorpionfish, pipefish and lionfish over here.

In a nutshell: Wall dive
Current: Moderate – strong
Surface conditions: Can be choppy

White-spotted Puffer

North Point

Anemones, sea squirts, sponges and turtles are common finds at North Point. Because many of the marine species here can also be found at Coral Gardens, where there is in fact more variety, it is advisable to prioritize other sites before dropping by here during noon when this site is at its most interesting.

In a nutshell: Wall dive, drift dive
Current: Can be strong
Surface conditions: Can be choppy

Six-banded Angelfish

South Point

Located on the opposite side of Sipadan from Barracuda Point, South Point is known for attracting large pelagic species such as manta rays, grey reef and hammerhead sharks. The stronger currents here would suit advanced divers, and beginners should make sure to remain under the supervision of their guides. If you are lucky, you can spot the largest shark species, the Whale Shark gliding by in the current off South Point during it’s migration.

In a nutshell: Coral heads and steep wall
Currents: Can be strong
Surface conditions: Can be choppy

Bignose Unicornfish

Staghorn Crest

Anemones, sea squirts, sponges and turtles are common finds at North Point. Because many of the marine species here can also be found at Coral Gardens, where there is in fact more variety, it is advisable to prioritize other sites before dropping by here during noon when this site is at its most interesting.

In a nutshell: Wall dive, drift dive
Current: Can be strong
Surface conditions: Can be choppy

Threeband Pennantfish

Photos on this page shot on location by Bernard Dupont

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