BORNEO DIVING

KAPALAI RESORT

Mabul Island as seen from Kapalai

Kapalai is a sand bar located only 15 minutes by speedboat from Sipadan Island. The sand bar was many years ago the island of Kapalai, but erosion must have taken its toll on what was surely a very beautiful island. It is on what is known as the Ligitan Reefs, a very extensive stretch bordering the deep and vast Celebes Seas.

Kapalai lies just 30 to 40 minutes from Semporna by very fast speedboat. Semporna itself, is a 70-80 minute drive from the closest airport located about 20 km out of Tawau.

The underwater scene is completely different compared to that found at Sipadan. It is a macroworld of great interest, featuring rare subjects ranging from mandarin fish, dragonets, fire gobies, partner and sleeper gobies, wasp or leaf fish, gurnards, the strange "little dragonfish" or seamoth, the tame crocodile fish, giant frogfish of different colours, eels, rays and much much more. This is a truly magnificent macroworld where interesting and rare subjects need to be located by the discerning diver, where you can see things others cannot. It is a place where your skills at spotting small and well camouflaged oddities are to be well rewarded.

Dive sites around Kapalai Resort

Departure from Kapalai Dive Resort

Sipadan Island as seen from Kapalai
(on the horizon, just to the left of the eave on the right hand side)

Dive Season

Due to its geographical position, Kapalai is open for scuba diving all year round, with April until October offering excellent weather conditions. The water temperature ranges from 26 degrees C to 30 degrees C year round. Even during the "monsoon" period, diving in the region is fantastic.

Breakfast on Sipadan Island with the team from Kapalai Resort

Photographs and map courtesy of Pulau Sipadan Resort and Tours Sdn. Bhd. and Phil Youdale