Pulau Sipadan Travel Forum

Hi all, still putting the finishing touches to our 2012 holidays in March. We are considering visiting the islands around Sipidan and staying on one of them for a couple of nights. We want to experience pristine white sand beaches, good snorkelling (no diving lthough we understand this area to be the finest in the worl, and good dining at the chosen resort. The Islands we are looking at are Mabul,,,Mataking,,,,,Kapalai,,,,and Pom Pom,
Any comments on these islands or other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
We will be staying at Tawau for a couple of nights before going to the Islands
Many thanks for your help
POEPAT

The four of us from KL are planning to go for a trip to Sipadan for diving and snorkeling activities. We will stay at Semporna on the 21st Oct 2011 and dive on the next day. Would like to know if there is any one else with similar plan and would love to get in contact to share information.

Thank you

M

I planning to visit Pulau Sipadan soon. Can i know how is the accomodation in Sipadan Water Village? Any comment about this if i booking my 3 days 2 nights in this cottage resort?

I am going to Sabah early next month. I heard about beautiful underwater near around Pulau Sipadan but it seems just for experienced scuba divers. To a fresh beginner who wants to learn snorkelling, is there anywhere near Sipadan where I can join courses to learn snorkelling? Particularly, I would want to see if there are any courses that the trainer can take care of you for the first time. If it is the first time to learn snorkelling, do you suggest Sipadan, or any small islands near KK that I can take the training easier and safer, and not necessarily commute to a place far from KK?

We would like to make a trip to Pulau Sipadan in June 2010. There are about 8-10 of us in the group. I would like to find out:

1) what is the latest cost to stay at Uncle Chang's in Mabul Island?
2) How much does he charge to take us out snorkelling?
3) What about renting of snorkelling equipment?
4) Will we have a chance to snorkel in Pulau Sipadan?

Tx for any replies!

Pauline

Hi guys, is it possible to go to Sipadan/mabul/kapalai during 28/dec till 1/jan? i heard it's a raining season in the end of the year but will the islands be closed for the raining season??

Thanks!

We have a group going to Pulau Sipadan, 17 people.
we will be there for 3 days, 20 Jun - 22 Jun 2008.
but we have a limited budget.

can anyone give me same sugeestion. thanks for your help.

Hello Vters!

Need help to plan my vacation to Sipadan.

1) Heard that Sipadan is closed, Which one is better to stay; Mabul or Kapalai?
2) Any good resort to recommend? Say 3-4 star rated resort.
3) Best time to go, Planning on Aug 2007.
4) Does it suit child age below 7yrs?

Thank U :-)

I was told by Uncle Chang 2 days ago- no problem, call me 2 weeks before you want to come to Sipadan.
Yesterday they said - big problem, fully booked.
After all the miracles that have been happening with arranging the Mulu, Mnt. Kinabalu, I need one more.

What should I do? We'll be in Sepmporna from May 3rd till May 5th only and then have to catch the flight back home on the 6th.
Please help, advise.....

Hi, anyone know about the taxi fare from Tawau to Semporna. any taxi recommendation is appreciated. Thanks

hello,

I really like to dive at Pulau Sipadan or the surrounding divesites at least once. The thing is that i am travelling on a pretty low budget. Anybody has some tipps to make that experience not to expensive?

thanx andreas

hello,

I really like to dive at Pulau Sipadan or the surrounding divesites at least once. The thing is that i am travelling on a pretty low budget. Anybody has some tipps to make that experience not to expensive?

thanx andreas

I am from Bangkok,Thailand. I plan to go to the Sipidan in a few days. Presently,I am not a scuba diver for I have stopped diving for more than 10 years, but I still enjoy snorkelling or skin diving. Is it possible to snorkel only at Sipidan and Mabul and Kapalai ? Can one be left on Sipidan island during daytime to swim and snorkel and be picked up by a dive boat in the afternoon?

Hi, sure you've heard about the tragic incident that occurred in Sipadan recently. http://www.finsonline.com/blog/fins/20060516/sipadan-tragic-incident.html

While the dive operators are doing their best to salvage the situation, i feel that the best and strongest way to show to the Sabahan Government that these sort of cover-ups and foreseeable travesties to the precious marine life is to boycott Sipadan. It will take thousands of years to heal anyway after the accident, and if divers like us keep going there right now, it would simply show to the Govt that they can keep the media quiet and the furore will just die down and they can continue exploiting the islands as normal. Feigning ignorance about the barge and the developments being approved for the island is completely unacceptable.

There are many other lovely areas to dive around Malaysia. Pls avoid Sipadan and its surrounds for now, if not the whole of Sabah.

Thanks.

Hi Sipadaners!

I have been in Singapore for about a year now. Long enough to realise that the packages that the internet sites of the Sipadan-related resorts offer are really targeted to some overseas customers. Normal prices in South-East Asia are not really overwhelming, usually.

I understand Sipadan is different but I am sure I don't have to pay 100$ a night to see it. So what would be the smart way. I don't mind a bit of an adventure, as a matter of fact I just booked tickets to Tawau and back so hopefully I am able to find something!

The idea is to stay a week, get a basic accomodation from Semporna, Mabul or whereever, dive around, day trips or whatever.. any ideas whats the best way for this kind of approach?

Usually the dive-sites in South-East Asia charge around 25 US$ for a dive. Whats it going to be like in Sipadan? I'll keep the overpriced online reservations as my very last option only.

Thanks for reading so far and thanks even more for the replies! Mike

hi,

I am planning to go diving at sipadan. I am just an certified padi open water diver and I heard its a spot for advanced divers only. What you think about this, is I true? Should I get advanced before diving there?

Thanx Andreas

hi, we want to visit the sipidan area for 2/3 nights, but we do not dive. We really enjoy snorkelling though. Is it worth the visit just to snorkel? Are there trips specifically for just snorkelling, or do you just go along with dive trips? How much do tours cost? thanks for any help

Hi
Is there any resorts inside Pulau Si Padan?
What is the price range like?

Thank you!!

Regards
Sean

hi, can anyone recommend to me a budget dive operator for sipadan dive package. wld also appreciate it if you can recommend some hotels that we can put up in tawau and the indicative rates. thanks!

Hi
Will it be a good time to travel to sipadan on this coming end of october 2005?
Besides, diving, what else can be done?

Regards
Sean

Hi
Will it be a good time to travel to sipadan on this coming end of october 2005?
Besides, diving, what else can be done?

Regards
Sean

Hi all, I'm an Indonesian living in Jakarta. I'm interested to go to Sipadan, but I find it it's a long way to go if I have to fly from Jakarta to KL then Kota Kinabalu then Tawau, while it's closer to East Kalimantan province of Indonesia. Is it possible to go from Tarakan (the northest city of East Kalimantan)? Maybe by boat?
Second, is there cheaper way to stay? I heard we are no longer can stay in Sipadan but in other islands like Mabul. But from the website, there's only (expensive) resort in Mabul and Kapalau. Any other cheaper hotel or hostel?
Thanks a lot!

--Perucha

I am planning a trip to Sabah at the end of November 04.
There have been doubts over safety for western tourists around Sipadan and surrounding islands posted on various international governmental website.
Does anyone have recent first hand experience 'on the groud' as it were from this area.
Also there is talk of the island closing at the end of the year - does anyone know when? How is the diving at this time of year?
All info greatfully received, cheers.

Hello! I'm planning to go to Sipadan soon, but some of my friends who just came back from Sipadan said the water wasn't as good as expected. The visibility was only limited to 10m. As I heard all the resorts on Sipadan Island will be close down end of this year for preserving the Island; I'm not sure if I should try to make it to the Island by this year, so that I can stay on Sipadan Island or should I go next year? the water could be better by then. Does it really make a different staying on Sipadan Island?

Hi,

Is there much difference where I stayed if I wanted to dive in Sipadan? Would it make much difference if I stayed in Mabul or Kapalai, or would it be much better if I just stayed on SIpadan island instead?

hi!
i am an open water diver...pretty new in diving and am planning to dive in sipadan. do they have easy diving for me or do i need at least advance to go diving in sipadan? and another thing is, can someone estimate for me how much does it costs to get from KL to sipadan island and stay probably about 5nights there? the rates that i get costs me about RM5000 which is totally crazy!!!

If I would like to dive deep in Pulau Sipadan, do I need a full diver license?

How long do I need to take a course for it? one week? or one month?

Anyone know about any cheap diving courses in sabah?

Hello!
Anyone have good lobang to get a special rate on accomodation and dive package in Sipadan.

I'm going to spend a week in Sipadan in Jan...

Thank you,

Thus,
Jen