Sweetlips Rock is described as a gentle wall near Mataking Kecil with sweetlips, green turtles, and macro life.
Gentle wall with sweetlips and turtles.
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Gentle wall and reef patch near Mataking Kecil, known for Oriental sweetlips, green turtles, nudibranchs, shrimps, and other macro life. The profile is shallow and relaxed rather than deep or technical, with reef patches that reward slow, careful diving.
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
2m - 18m
Depth Note
Public guides describe a gentle wall to around 18 m; a community record places Sweetlips Rocks at about 50 ft on Mataking Island.
Best Season
Year-round; April-June for clearer water.
Typical Conditions
Gentle wall with shallow reef patches, mild current, and generally calm surface conditions. Visibility is often good in the Mataking area, especially in the clearer months.
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Safety Notes
Keep buoyancy tight over the shallows and rubble patches. The wider Mataking reef area has documented fish-bomb damage, so careful finning matters.
Access Restrictions
Access is normally by local speedboat or resort operator rather than shore entry.
Legal Notes
Mataking has no legal protected status, though resort presence has effectively created a small protected area around parts of the reef.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
A relaxed recreational dive with macro interest rather than a deep or technical profile. Slow reef work pays off around the wall, rubble, and shallow patches.
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Planning answers for access, conditions, timing, and site logistics.
Last Updated
Research Sources
Sweetlips Rock is described as a gentle wall near Mataking Kecil with sweetlips, green turtles, and macro life.
Official survey notes Sweetlips Rock on Mataking and records high rubble in the site area.
Mataking-area guide notes speedboat access, visibility above 20 m, mild current, calm surface conditions, and a clearer April-June window.
Community record gives the exact locality Sweetlips Rocks, Mataking Island, Sabah, and fringing reef context.
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