Sipadan Water Village

Boasting intricate Bajau architectural design, Sipadan Water Village Resort represents the epitome of Bornean luxury and hospitality.

The building materials, design and layout of the resort is a result of the owners’ intentions of ensuring that this floating paradise exists in harmony with its surroundings.

The architectural design of Sipadan Water Village reflects the influence of the local sea gypsies community based on the opposite side of Mabul Island.

Built over water using Belian wood a.k.a. ironwood from Borneo, the layout of the resort was carefully chosen, with its stilts cautiously anchored to minimize harm to the existing reef surrounding the resort.

It appears that Sipadan Water Village has rightly earned its ‘paradise’ status with its clever over-the-water layout, impeccable water cottage accommodations, scrumptious Asian and Continental cuisine and highly-personalized service.

There are no individual rooms for rent here, only whole bungalows built over the water. The bungalows, dive shop, lobby and restaurant are connected by a wooden, flowered sidewalks beautifully ornamented with bougainvillea, hibiscus and palm treas. Beneath all of this is a natural, turquoise-coloured aquarium full of coral reefs and aquatic creatures.

Here, the surface of the ocean during high tide is less than a meter below the floor of the water cottages. Each chalet is spacious with wide sliding doors that provide access to the private deck.

Diving

The resort’s well-equipped dive centre opens from 7.00am onwards and is equipped with lockers, showers, toilet and a common area for resting between dives with complimentary snack, hot coffee and tea.

It houses 5 Bauer compressors for refilling tanks, over 300 aluminium 3000 psi / 80 cubic foot tanks with American style “K” valves and rental sets of branded scuba diving equipment.

The centre deploys custom-built fibreglass dive boats capable of carrying 12 passengers each on 3 daily trips accompanied by a divemaster and boatman.

Tanks are available throughout the day for shore diving. Towels are provided in the dive shop so you don’t need to bring a towel from your room.

There are also 4 “camera rooms” at the dive shop. These rooms can be rented and are great for storing your cameras overnight and between dives so you don’t have to carry them to your room. They are equipped with 110V outlets. The rooms are small as they are only intended for storage and charging. Several people can easily share a room.

The resort’s house reef, Paradise 1, is a must-visit, especially for night dives.

Dining

Sipadan Water Village’s restaurant is housed in an open-air building overlooking the water with a seating capacity of 150 people.

Breakfast is served from 7am to 9am, lunch from 12pm to 2pm and dinner from 7.30pm to 8.30pm.

Meals are served buffet-style featuring a mixture of local and continental cuisine. There are also cooking station for eggs in the morning and soups or grilled meats/seafood at lunch and dinner.

There is drinking water and hot water for tea, coffee or hot chocolate and snacks are available in the afternoon. There are lots of large picnic tables so there’s plenty of space to work on cameras between dives or just relax. A library of fish identification books are available so that you can learn more about the critters you see on your dives.

The bar lounge, located next to the reception counter in the main building, is open from 9.00am until midnight.

There is a mini mart open from 9am to 9pm selling various souvenirs ranging from t-shirts, postcards, caps and towels bearing the Sipadan Water Village logo.

SWV Rooms

There are 5 different types and around 40 beautifully designed water chalets:

Grand Deluxe Cottages – 4units (click to expand)

• 1508 square feet
• Two queen size beds
• Balcony offering sea or island views
• Tea/coffee maker
• Private bathtub and toiletries
• WILTON Residential Spa Pool
• Hair dryer
• Hot/cold showers
• Ceiling fans
• Mini bar (consumption is charged to guest’s room account)
• Settees
• Dressing table/chair
• Wooden wardrobe
• Electrical outlets are 220/240V

Deluxe Cottages – 2units (click to expand)

• 1068 square feet
• King size bed
• Balcony offering sea or island views
• Tea/coffee maker
• Private bathtub and toiletries
• Hair dryer
• Hot/cold showers
• Ceiling fans
• Mini bar (consumption is charged to guest’s room account)
• Settees
• Dressing table/chair
• Wooden wardrobe
• Electrical outlets are 220/240V

Standard Cottages – 29 units (click to expand)

• 714 square feet
• Twin/double or triple beds
• Balcony offering sea or island views
• Tea/coffee maker
• Private bathroom and toiletries
• Hair dryer
• Hot/cold showers
• Ceiling fans
• Mini bar (consumption is charged to guest’s room account)
• Settees
• Dressing table/chair
• Wooden wardrobe
• Electrical outlets are 220/240V

Junior Cottages – 4 units (click to expand)

• 552 square feet
• Two twin beds
• Balcony offering sea or island views
• Tea/coffee maker
• Private bathroom and toiletries
• Hair dryer
• Hot/cold showers
• Ceiling fans
• Mini bar (consumption is charged to guest’s room account)
• Settees
• Dressing table/chair
• Wooden wardrobe
• Electrical outlets are 220/240V

Most of the cottages are Standard Cottages. They measure about 700 sq ft each and have either 2 twin beds or 1 king bed, with room for a third twin bed. 20 of the Standard Cottages have air conditioning and 4 of them are configured as duplexes. Each cottage is completely private but shares a wall and balcony with the adjacent cottage. This configuration makes it ideal for families or friends traveling together.

There are 4 Junior Cottages, which are smaller in size and located near the dive shop. These cottages have two twin beds or a king bed.

There are only 2 Deluxe Cottages, both of which are air-conditioned and larger than the Standard Cottage. There is one king bed, a bigger bathroom with a bathtub and dual sinks.

The Grand Deluxe Cottages are more than double the size of a Standard Cottage, measuring about 1500 sq ft. There are two queen beds and walk-in closets, a huge bathroom with dual sinks, a large sitting area with a couch and chairs as well as a hot tub on the balcony.

Upon arrival, each room has two bottles of water and a water pitcher. The water pitcher is filled daily. And, you can refill the water bottles in the lobby bar, the dive shop or the restaurant as often as you wish.

The electricity in the cottages is 220V.

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