SCUBA DIVING IN BORNEO
MABUL ISLAND
MABUL SIPADAN WATER VILLAGE RESORT
MABUL ISLAND
is located to the North-West of Pulau Sipadan – about 15 minutes away by speed boat. Mabul is a coral island surrounded by gentle sloping reefs with depths from 3 to 35 metres and also a wall, housing numerous species of hard corals. The marine life is unique and offers an insight into the ecology of the smaller marine inhabitants of the reef not usually seen on nearby Sipadan. There are eight popular dive spots on Mabul – each offering its own speciality. The two islands – Mabul and Sipadan, together with Kapalai – are combined to provide a total diving experience. Mabul also has beautiful white sandy beaches (as opposed to Sipadan’s gravelly beach), and snorkelling along the edge of the reef is excellent.
BOAT BUILDING ON MABUL
Mabul is home to a small village – generally fishing and boat building, as well as being the location of at least five dive resorts, and also smaller dive lodges.
VILLAGE LIFE ON MABUL
MABUL SHORELINE – LATE AFTERNOON SUN
Favourite dive spots in Mabul include:
- Paradise Great for viewing Cuttle fish, Mandarin fish, Pyjama fish, Crab eye gobies, Frog fish and Ghost Pipe fish.
- Eel Garden Home to the eels (what else?) and also Gobies.
- Ribbon Valley 1 Look out for the Ribbon eels and larger frog fish (12-15 cm)
- Ribbon Valley 2 and 3 Great leaf fish and Ghost pipe fish.
- Old Reef House Many Frog fish and Nudibranchs
- Yoshi Point Excellent for Gobies and a special kind of seahorse.
- Kapali Famous for Blue spotted sting rays and Nudibranchs.
- Second Wall Rocks A drop of about 45 metres and home to the Hawk fish. At the bottom large Cods are found in sizes from 50 kg to 200 kg.
A LARGE BRAIN CORAL
DIVE SITES AROUND MABUL ISLAND
A COLOURFUL NUDIBRANCH
Thanks to Mabul Sipadan Water Village for assistance in compiling the above information. Photographs copyright to Mabul Sipadan Water Village, Pulau Sipadan Resort &: Tours Sdn. Bhd. and Phil Youdale