FAQs · Destination Guide
Sipadan walls, Mabul macro, Kapalai shallows: Semporna is Sabah's best-of-both-worlds dive base
Updated Feb 13, 2026 • 18 sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers sourced from research and local operating patterns.
Many travelers target April to October for calmer seas and better visibility on the open-water crossings to Sipadan, Mabul, and Kapalai. November to March can be wetter and windier, which may make rides rougher and visibility more variable, even though diving often still runs. Water temperature is typically steady around 27°C to 29°C. If Sipadan is your top priority, plan around permits first, then pick the calmest month you can for comfort.
Sipadan access is controlled by Sabah Parks and issued through registered operators. Sabah Parks notes that dive operators may book up to six months in advance and follow specific deposit and final-payment rules. In practice, many operators rotate permits across guests rather than giving everyone a guaranteed Sipadan day. If Sipadan is a must, book your package early, stay several dive days, and choose an operator with a transparent permit policy. Always confirm what fees are included in your quote.
For Sipadan, many operators require Advanced Open Water because dives can be current-driven and can approach 40 m. Mabul and Kapalai have many calmer, shallower sites that work well for Open Water divers and for training dives. If you are newly certified, use Mabul and Kapalai to build buoyancy and drift-diving comfort first, then ask your operator if Sipadan is appropriate for your experience. Bring your certification card and recent logbook details.
A common strategy is to stay 5 to 7 dive days so you can enjoy Mabul and Kapalai fully while waiting for a Sipadan permit day. Because permits are limited and often distributed on a rotation, a short 2 to 3 day trip can feel like a gamble. Longer stays also give you flexibility to swap days if wind or rain makes crossings uncomfortable. Even without Sipadan every day, the macro diving and night dives around Mabul can easily fill a week.
Sipadan is famous for big-life scenes: turtles on the walls, schooling barracuda and jacks on corners, and regular reef shark sightings. Mabul and Kapalai are famous for the opposite: macro life on sand and reef edges, including nudibranchs, pipefish, frogfish, and small octopus species. If your group includes both wide-angle and macro photographers, Semporna is one of the easiest places to satisfy both styles in the same trip by splitting days between Sipadan and the nearer islands.
Water temperatures around Semporna are typically warm year-round, commonly around 27°C to 29°C. Many divers are comfortable in a 3mm wetsuit, while warm-tolerant divers may use a rashguard for short dive days. If you plan repetitive diving (including night dives) or you get cold easily, a full 3mm suit plus a thin hooded vest can help. Bring a surface layer for boat rides because wind and spray can feel chilly between dives.
Most dive operators can arrange an airport pickup from Tawau (TWU) to Semporna by van, then a speedboat transfer from the Semporna jetty to Mabul or Kapalai. The road transfer is roughly 116 km. Boat transfers vary by destination and sea state, typically 30 to 60 minutes. If you land late in the day, you may need to overnight in Tawau or Semporna because many resorts run fixed boat schedules and may not transfer after dark for safety.
Operators commonly brief Sipadan as a tightly managed park day. Many published rule summaries describe a maximum of two dives per Sipadan permit day, a maximum depth around 40 m, and time limits of about 60 minutes per dive. Some sites may have extra rules, such as limiting how often divers visit Barracuda Point in a day. Exact rules can change, so treat your operator briefing as the rulebook for your specific visit and follow it strictly.
Semporna town is best if you want flexibility, lower-cost lodging, and easy access to Tun Sakaran day trips. Mabul is best if your priorities are macro diving, night dives, and shorter runs to many reefs. Kapalai is best if you want a quiet resort feel, shallow reef time, and an easy off-gas atmosphere between dives. All bases can reach Sipadan on a permit day, but island stays often feel more relaxed because you wake up closer to the water.
Non-divers can join island-hopping days in Tun Sakaran Marine Park for beaches, shallow snorkeling, and the Bohey Dulang viewpoint. In Semporna town, evenings are easy: waterfront seafood, short walks, and relaxed cafes. If the group is staying on Mabul or Kapalai, non-divers can snorkel the shallows, paddle in calm conditions, or book a spa treatment while divers do deeper profiles. Plan at least one shared topside day so everyone has a highlight together.