Mabul & Kapalai

An amazing change of scenery from Sipadan, and famous for excellent muck and macro diving.  

Check out the main page for Mabul and Kapalai here!

Content:

• Where is Mabul & Kapalai?

• Why go there?

• When to go?

• Who & How to go there?

  
  

• Conservation.

Where is Mabul & Kapalai?

Mabul is a very small island about 1,5 hours by boat, south of Semporna. It's right in the middle of the Celebes Sea, between 2 large volcanic plates.

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To the south side of Mabul and Kapalai, the ocean drops to 600 meters deep, while on the south side of Sipadan (A little more south from Mabul and Kapalai) it drops to a mind-blowing 2000+ meters deep!

These incredible depths mean, small but also, very big fish have a chance of showing up, and actually regularly do, hence why Mabul, Kapalai, and Sipadan are so famous.

Why go there?

Mabul:

Like I said before, Mabul is probably your best choice for accommodation. There are quite a few resorts on the island, most of them offering all-inclusive packages for diving Sipadan, 3 meals per day, and accommodation. The small villages on the island sell basic goods like coffee, candy, drinks, etc.

Diving around Mabul is also quite good. With plenty of macro life for you to enjoy, some wrecks to explore, and artificial reefs to admire!

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Kapalai:

This is not actually an island, but more a sandbank, where they built a resort on top off. The resort is quite expensive, and permits are acquired, however, not too many. If you decide to stay here, you will probably be diving around Kapalai quite a lot, which should not be your main reason for coming to this remote part of the world.

Diving is excellent though! Macro life is the keyword here and you will find an abundance of rare nudibranchs, octopuses, shrimps, and crabs. Flamboyant cuttlefishes, my personal favorite can also be found here, regularly.

When to go?

Mabul and Kapalai are open for diving throughout the year.

However, most people want to visit Sipadan when they're here and that season opens only between October and July.

Mind you, scuba diving in Sipadan can only be done by obtaining a permit. These permits are valid for 1 day and 1 person and are registered by name.

You need to book your trip in advance. For the dive centers and/ or resorts to organize these permits!

Who & How to go there?

To get to Mabul, Kapalai, and Sipadan Island you will want to enter Borneo/ Sabah from either Kota Kinabalu or Tawau. You can fly to Tawau from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu has an international airport servicing flights from most places in Asia.

If you decide to start your Borneo adventure in Kota Kinabalu, you must fly to Tawau since it's easy and cheap.

From Tawau, you can get a taxi or bus to Semporna. A taxi will cost you between 90 and 120 ringgits (20-25$) for a 90-minute drive. Buses are cheaper but much more uncomfortable. Roads between Tawau and Semporna are well maintained, so relatively comfortable.

Once in Semporna, you might have to stay the night, because boats to different resorts might have a very early departure time.

I do not recommend staying in Semporna! This town hasn't got a lot to offer, is very poor and very, very polluted.

There are many resorts on the island of Mabul, Kapalai, and even islands further away like Mataking will service the area. However, Mabul is by far(!) your best choice!