Sabah Dive Sites
SIPADAN ISLAND
Dive site name : Barracuda Point
Barracuda Point is probably the most popular site at Sipadan. The visibility is pretty good here from anywhere 20 metres to 30 metres but currents can be unpredictable. Average depth is about 15 metres. Barracuda point is so named because of the large shoal of barracudas often found in this spot. Here on the shallower shelves, you can find quite a bit of coral rubble.
Dive site name : Coral Gardens
Coral Gardens, this is where divers usually ascend after making their way through the barracuda point. This takes divers through a pleasant underwater garden with soft corals and hard corals, a variety of coral denizens, whitetip sharks, unicornfish, a great variety of triggerfishes hovering in schools, a lonesome napolean wrasse here and there, etc.
Dive site name : South Point
The South Point average depth is about 20m. The currents can be pretty rough and may reverse during dives so be cautious. However, if there are strong currents, there could be lots of pelagics swimming through for some plankton chow. It's been known to have large shoals of fusiliers, batfish, sweetlips, snappers, rainbow runners. Other slow moving marine life such as the lionfish, crocodilefish, pufferfish, stonefish and turtles have their regular hangouts here. For those wishing to meet the large school of bumphead parrotfish or hammerheads that may flow through with the currents.
Dive site name : Hanging Gardens
Here in the Hanging Garden, divers will back roll into a shallow reef crest and slowly make their way to the drop-off and down the wall. Average depth here is about 18 metres. The entire wall is covered with soft corals, large gorgonian sea fans, black corals, barrel sponges, Dendrophyllia corals, Tubastrea corals. Small caverns with sleeping whitetips and if you look closer, you may even get to see the jewfish. With plenty of corals, divers are bound to see a lot of micro stuff. Upon ascending the Hanging Garden one might encounter with a group of turtles.
Dive site name : Mid Reef
Mid Reef have some of the most prettiest and varied coral formation around sipadan. Hard corals such as table coral, star coral and staghorn coral are complemented by barrel sponges, encrusting sponges and soft corals. Orange gorgonian sea fans, sea whips, feather stars and thousand of sea squirts are also in abundance. Of course there is a chances to see the big species here such as trevallys, barracuda, humphead parrotfish and whitetip sharks.
Dive site name : Staghorn Crest
Diving Staghorn crest, on the wall, there are numerous crevices, balconies, cavities and protruding vaults where a diverse range of marine life such as Red Seawhip Corals, Black Corals, Barrel Sponges, groupers and angelfish can be found. As with most Sipadan dive sites there is alway the possibility of a manta ray or shark sighting which can be spotted 30m away from the wall in this region.
Dive site name : Turtle Cavern
Turtle Cavern dive site in Sipadan is recommended for experienced divers only. It is a well known dive site because of its many turtle skeleton found there.The cave is one of the most beautiful coral caves. The entrance to the Turtle Caverns can be found around the 18m level and it will lead to a network of interconnecting caverns that can go up to 24m in depth. Inside the cavern you will see the skeletons of those previous entrants who failed to find the exit and perished. The caves most notably occupants is the flashlight fish, moray eels, spiny caves lobster, shrimp and large snapper.
Dive site name : The Drop Off
The Drop Off is a wicked steep wll dive site dropping down just 10 metres from the beach. The wall is covered in many varieties of coral and some big pelagics often visit the area, keep a lookout for grey reef sharks in the deep blues. you are likely to see several hundred jacks circling overhead and a squadron of bumpheaded parrotfish charging around. This is truly a world class dive site and night dive are also excellent at the wall of the drop off.
Dive site name : Turtle Patch
A typical Sipadan dive with an abundance of turtles, its not unusual to see over 20 of them in one dive. Similarly with Coral Garden, the main attraction for divers here is the shallow terraces at the top of the eastern wall. Large school of trevallys can surround divers here. Currents can be strong around this area, so this dive is often done as a drift dive.
Dive site name : Whitetip Avenue
The wall at the Whitetip Avenue is one of the best diving spot to whitetip sharks. Coral is abundant and Gorgonians are common, as with most other Sipadan dive sites you'll see turtles, jacks, bigeye trevally and barracuda. This is a good dive site to hunt for some smaller species like long nose hawkfish or fang blennies. Diver should keep one on the deep blue because it's not uncommon to see hammerhead sharks and other large species.
MABUL ISLAND
Dive site name : Froggy Lair
Froggy Lair is famous for macro and critter photography. This dive site features unusual species often found here among the suspended particules. The diving in the shallows here should be slow and steady, attention to the small things are what this dive site is all about.
Froggy Lair is a typical Mabul/Kapalai muck diving site with poor visibility and a maximum depth of just 15m. Other critters to look out for are ornate ghost pipefish, leaf fish, crocodile fish, stone fish, scorpionfish, lionfish, cowries, and numerous nudibranch species. Cuttlefish can be seen including the beautiful flamboyant cuttlefish.
Dive site name : Crocodile Avenue
Crocodile Avenue is a very nice dive for macro.It features seahorses, crocodilefish lying on the sandy floor, the occasional ghost pipefish, snake eels and an abundance of critters and small stuff. More muck and more attention to detail is required here. A shallow sandy slope with small pockets of activity which upon close inspection can reveal seahorses clinging on to coral branches. Night dives are also popular on this dive site when all the same critters are still in evidence and it may also be possible to see cuttlefish, often in pairs. Even eagle rays have been spotted here.
Dive site name : Eel Garden
Eel Garden is famous of its many garden eels, rising out of the seabed. Featruing rose, red, blue and black frogfishes, giant mantis shrimp, blue ribbon eels, batfish, etc. Located to the south east of Mabul Island, this Mabul muck diving site is another dive site that rewards divers prepared to move slowly and deliberately over the sand looking for unusual species. Moray eels can be seen on the coral reef as can frogfish and leaf fish. Twin spot lionfish and scorpionfish are also present.
Dive site name : Seaventure Platform
Seaventure Platform is a world of wonderful muck diving and lies under the metallic platform of a converted oil rig. A lot of nudibranchs, frogfishes, crocodillefish, stonefishes, murray eels and uncountable small creatures. Sometimes great diving comes in the most unusual of places and Seaventures platform is one of those. A couple of kilometres of the north east coast of Mabul Island is a decommissioned oil rig that now acts as a budget resort for Sipadan/Mabul divers. It is certainly unique but rather ugly to look at, at least from above the water. Once underwater however, the steel structures create a muck divers wonderland and this dive is often the highlight of a stay at Mabul.
KAPALAI ISLAND
Dive site name : Mandarin Valley
Mandarin Valley is a gently sloping coral reef that descends down to 20m. At the bottom of the reef cuttlefish are often seen near an old fishing boat wreck. On the hard coral reef moray eels and scorpionfish can be found plus some small reef fish. Frogfish and leafy scorpionfish can be seen here, both excellently camouflaged amongst coral and sponge. Pipe fish are present as on most Kapalai reefs and seahorses can often be spotted. Nudibranchs are numerous. Occasionally reef sharks come into the reef.
However the main stars of this dive site are the mandarin fish which dance among the coral displaying their vibrant colours. This dive site is one of the most reliable dive sites to spot them, not always easy as they are just a few centimetres long. Mandarin fish mate around dusk time so a nice dive is to jump in just before dusk to witness the mating and then finish the dive as a night dive. At night a myriad of shrimps and other crustaceans can be found.
If you drift slowly southwards from Mandarin Valley you will come to a small dive site called Cleaning Station which is home to lots of colourful nudibranchs and seaslugs as well as hermit crabs and other crustaceans.
All the same critters can be found at Ray Channel, another popular Kapalai dive site. Maximum depth here is 20m and currents are weak. Frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, pipefish and so on are all present but the main draw is a pair of pegasus sea moths (dragonfish) that inhabit the bottom here. These crazy looking specimen are quite rare and a sighting is a real treat for any serious muck diver.
Dive site name : Ray Channel
This dive site on the other side of the reef has a sandy channel that can be explored at a leisurely pace. There are many crevices and hiding spots for marine life so keep a close lookout. Things to look out for include nudibranchs, octopus, dragonfish and ribbon eels. A rare pair of dragonfish (pegasus) would definately the highlight of the dive. Maximum depth here is 20 metres and currents are weak. Frogfish, leaf lionfish, pipefish and so on are all present.
LANGKAYAN ISLAND
Dive site name : Jawfish Lair
In Lankayan, one of the most popular dive sites is Jaw fish Lair, which is just 4 to 5 minutes boat ride from Lankayan jetty. Some of the common sightings are of course the giant jaw fish itself, normally they show just their head out of their rubble burrow, although sometimes the feisty little characters venture further out and display their whole bodies. Sting rays, snappers, groupers, anemone fish, fusilier, trumpet fish, and nudibranches. Rare sightings include blue ribbon eel, ghost pipe fish (seasonal), juvenile cat fish, peacock mantis shrimp, and turtle. It is possible that some of the species found here are yet to be described. Pelagic also abound here, from large schools of scads, yellow tail barracudas, jacks, and many more.
Dive site name : Jetty Wreck
This wreck of a small fishing boat lies right in front of the jetty and is marked by a guide rope. Any time of the day or night you can make a giant stride into the water, right of the end of the pier and explore the wreck for yourself. Before you reach the small fishing boat down below you'll see schools of batfish and jacks. The conditions are usually calm so this dive is suitable for most levels of experience. The dive reaches a depth of 20 meters. Just follow the shot line down. The wreck itself is home to Ghost Pipefish and camouflaged frogfish, as well as many nudibranchs. Also look for lionfish lurking around the jetty's pillars.
Dive site name : Mosquito Wreck
This dive reaches a depth of 25 meters. The ship at this site was once part of Japan's World War II Mosquito Fleet. Plenty of fish have made this wreck home, today it is home to jacks and barracuda. However take a moment to appreciate the boat itself. The bow gun is still intact as are other parts of the ship. The wreck still has some bits and pieces of the original. It is a great place for small creatures and, in contrast, it is also an area where you may see a manta ray or whale shark.
Dive site name : Lankayan Wreck
This Lankayan diving site is quite a shallow dive at 15-23 meters, so is suitable for most levels of divers. It located about 8 minutes boat ride from Lanykayan Jetty. Many rare subjects can be found including seahorses. Flying gurnards, flamboyant cuttlefish, Jaw fish, dragonets and sand divers. It is not a surprise to also see the occasional hawksbill or green turtle on one of your dives. Though sightings of sharks are still quite rare, spiky-toothed barracudas and schools of jacks have already returned, making great subjects for wide-angle photographers.
LAYANG LAYANG ISLAND
Dive site name : Gorgonian Forest
This is one of the best dive sites around Layang Layang. Diving at the Gorgonian Forest you are likely to encounter a formation of huge and colorful Gorgonian fans. Close to the reefs it is possible to find individual hammerheads or maybe come across a Leopard Shark resting on a ledge. The current is usually moderate and the best diving time is around april and may. Whale shark and manta rays have all been spotted in this area, along with barracuda, dog tooth tuna and giant trevallys.
Dive site name : Dogtooth Lair
This dive site in Layang Layang is named after a large number of Doogtooth tunas that can be seen cruising around this area. Reef fish such as snapper, wrasse, fusilier, surgeonfish, angelfish and parrotfish are common on this water. The drop off start at 40 metres and plunge down to the abyss of 2000 metres. Other blue water species that can be found in this area are the barracudas and trevallys, and even the oceanic sunfish is occasionally spotted here.
Dive site name : Wreck Point
At Wreck Point you will find giant clams, sponges and hard corals. Despite its name, this dive site is not wreck anymore. Many varieties of hard corals and smaller reef fish can be found here. You'll descend on to a 8 metres deep sandy shelf with some small and rather picturesque coves and inlets. The wall is covered with barrel sponges and gorgonian sea fans. Manta rays and dogtooth tuna are common in this area while reef sharks are usually seen new the wall. Wreck Point is also good for night dive.
Dive site name : The Tunnel
The Tunnel is located just to the south of Layang Layang Island Resort. This spot is a little more sheltered than the rest of Layang Layang's dive sites. The Shallow sloping reef is mainly hard corals including staghorn, plate, table and mushroom corals. Turtles are often spotted here and huge schools of jackscan be seen. Other ever presents are pufferfish, parrotfish, snapper, wrasse and fulilier. Nocturnal marine creature like the mantis shrimp, crayfish, crinoids, starfish, crab and sea urchins makes this dive spot perfect for a night dive.
Dive site name : The Runway
The runway is a vertical wall dive which, like many dive sites at Layang Layang offers the chances to dive with both small and big marine life. Local fish can be seen swimming vertically down these walls avidly hunting their next meal, cascading like a waterfall of marine life. Occasional sightings of hammerhead sharks and manta rays often come up to the the wall to play.
Dive site name : Snapper Ledge
Snapper's Ledge is an easy relaxing dive site, where the currents are occasional and depth ranging from 10 to 40 metres. The variety of reef fish here is just awesome. Snappers, goatfish, wrasse, parrotfish, fusiliers and pufferfish are common here. Drifting along with the current, you'll find yourself in a garden of colorful corals such as gorgonians and black corals.
Dive site name : D'wall
D'wall is a sheer vertical from one metre below to the surface and down to 2000 metres. There is a slight ledge at 40 metres where leopard sharks sometimes rest but other then that it's straight down. The wall itself is covered in soft corals, sponges and gorgonians with large schooling fish present. Big fish like this dive site. Whitetip reef sharks and barracuda are out in the blue. This wall is also inhabited by trevallies, groupers and emporer angelfish. Visibility is routinely more than 50 metres.
Dive site name : Shark's Cave
Shark's Cave is one of the highlight dive sites in Layang Layang. Don't be surprised to find that you're swimming with tunas or seeing leopard sharks below you. Along the way are beautiful corals and marine plants, with the occasional sighting of turtles. Here you can find a lot of different sharks: Leopard sharks, Whitetip sharks, Nurse sharks, Grey reef sharks and Hammerhead sharks. Dive down the wall to about 30 metres to a sandy ledge, one can see the ledge are packed with soft corals, black corals, gorgonian and barrel sponges.
Dive site name : The Valley
The Valley is a dropping gentle hard coral dive site in the shallow areas before dropping off over the edge to 2000 metres. This dive site is a little different from your average Layang Layang dive site and is haven for surgeofish, sweetlips and groupers. At the edge of the drop anemone patches are abundant with even a rare golden anemone in the area. As always look towards the deeper blue for cruising sharks. This dive site also is a must for underwater photographers.
Dive site name : Wrasse Strip
Wrasse Strip is another Layang Layang dive site that offers the richest and most untouched reefs in the world. Marine life here includes the turtles, manta rays, reef sharks, batfish, redtooth triggerfish, angelfish, butterfly fish, soldierfish, lobsters, starfish, nudibranchs, sea snails, miniscule blennies and crustaceans. The most exciting dive would be from the surface to 20 metres deep, where large coral formations exist.
Dive site name : Crack Reef
Crack Reef gets it's name from from a large vertical crack in the reef that starts at the surface and continues down beyong 40 metres. This is normally a relaxing wall dive although sometimes currents can whip divers along at speed. Underwater photographers have a difficult decision to make on this dive site. That is whether to go for a close up lens or wide angle because both big and small marine life can be seen here.
The reef wall is covered in exquisite soft corals of all colours plus sea whips, feather stars and gorgonian sea fans. Reef fish are everywhere including schools of snapper, fusiliers, wrasse, sweetlips and parrotfish.
Moray eels poke their heads from coral cracks. Nudibranchs and crustaceans are numerous. Turtles are often seen feeding on the reef and white tip reef sharks cruise by regularly. Visibility is always superb making divers think that they are shallower than they really are.
Dive site name : Navigator Lane
Navigator lane is next along the wall, and here the sea fans give way to an impressive display of soft corals. This site is also visited by hammerheads sharks, and invariably there are gray and whitetip sharks circling around off the wall. Tuna cruise up and down the drop-off in search of any unwary reef fish among the schools along the wall.
For more information see: |
|
