BORNEO DIVING
MABUL SIPADAN WATER VILLAGE RESORT
Mabul Sipadan Water Village Resort (SWV) is located to the North-West of Pulau Sipadan - about 15 minutes away by speed boat. The resort has been designed along the lines of a typical Bajau water village, using a mix of traditional and modern materials, offering luxury accommodation with breathtaking sea views. The resort offers chalet accommodation, a lounge and a restaurant. There is also a souvenir kiosk and a dive shop.
Room types include Junior Chalets, Standard Chalets, Deluxe Cottages and Grand Deluxe Cottages. Junior Chalets and some Standard Chalets are semi-detached. All other accommodation is free standing. Sizes vary from 51 sq metres (Junior) to 140 sq metres (Grand Deluxe)
For your budgeting purposes, Standard Cottages are approximately 10 percent cheaper than the Deluxe Cottages.
Rooms amenities for the Deluxe Cottages include:
- King size bed
- Balcony offering sea or island view
- Tea/coffee maker
- Private bathtub and toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Hot and cold showers
- Ceiling fans
- Mini bar (consumption is charged to your room account)
- Couch
- Dressing table and chair
- Timber wardrobe
- Electric light and power point (220-240V)
Mabul also has beautiful white sandy beaches, and for divers and non-divers alike, snorkelling along the edge of the reef is excellent.
A model itinerary for a stay at Mabul would be:
Day 1
Depart Kota Kinabalu for Tawau, then transfer by bus to Semporna, about 1.5 hours away. From Semporna, proceed by speed boat to Mabul Island. (about 30 minutes). Under normal circumstances, you will have checked in by about 11.00 hrs. You will then be taken on an "Orientation dive". After lunch, you will go on your first boat dive at one of the Mabul dive spots.Day 2
After breakfast, head off to Sipadan, where you will have 2 boat dives during the morning before returning to Mabul for lunch. In the afternoon, you can have a boat dive and a self dive at Paradise Point on Mabul.Day 3
Spend the morning doing two boat dives on Mabul. After lunch, head over to Sipadan to do a boat dive and a beach dive at the drop off point. Return to Mabul in the early evening.Day 4
Depart Mabul by boat at 06.30 hrs for Semporna, then proceed to Tawau by bus. You will then transfer to your flight to Kota Kinabalu, or perhaps some other part of Eastern Sabah.Night dives are also possible at Mabul, but subject to weather conditions.
Rates for Mabul include:
return transfer from Tawau airport to Mabul Island by bus and boat,
3 meals per day and accommodation,
3 boat dives per day and unlimited shore dives. (No diving is permitted within 24 hrs of departure flight)
Weights, weight belts and tanks, as well as coffee tea and snacks are also included for the length of the stay.
Deluxe Cottages
| Duration | Diver/Non Diver | 1 Person | 2 People | 3 People |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days/2 nights | Diver | $1,775 | $1,183 | $1,183 |
| Non Diver | $1,332 | $888 | $888 | |
| 4 days/ 3 nights | Diver | $2,300 | $1,534 | $1,534 |
| Non Diver | $1,640 | $1,093 | $1,093 | |
| 5 days/ 4 nights | Diver | $2,827 | $1,885 | $1,885 |
| Non Diver | $1,945 | $1,297 | $1,297 | |
| Extra nights | Diver | $526 | $351 | $351 |
| Non Diver | $308 | $205 | $205 |
Standard Cottages
| Duration | Diver/Non Diver | 1 Person | 2 People | 3 People |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days/2 nights | Diver | $1,698 | $1,132 | $1,132 |
| Non Diver | $1,256 | $837 | $837 | |
| 4 days/ 3 nights | Diver | $2,185 | $1,457 | $1,457 |
| Non Diver | $1,524 | $1,016 | $1,016 | |
| 5 days/ 4 nights | Diver | $2,675 | $1,783 | $1,783 |
| Non Diver | $1,793 | $1,195 | $1,195 | |
| Extra nights | Diver | $489 | $326 | $326 |
| Non Diver | $269 | $179 | $179 | |
| Rates for Grand Deluxe, and Junior Cottages available on request |
Photographs courtesy of Mabul Sipadan Water Village and Phil Youdale