Sipadan-Mabul Resort MABUL ISLAND · SABAH
Large school of barracuda swirling in blue water above the reef (placeholder, to recheck when the photo is replaced)
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  2. Sipadan-Mabul Resort
  3. Diving

Scuba diving with SMART-TEC

World-famous Sipadan and the macro life of Mabul and Kapalai from the same beach.

The dive centre

SMART-TEC is the dive centre for guests of Sipadan-Mabul Resort. It is at the sister resort Mabul Water Bungalows, which a free electric buggy with driver links to the beach. SMART-TEC runs 3 guided boat dives a day around Mabul and Kapalai. The centre combines the excitement of diving Sipadan with the macro marine life of Mabul and Kapalai.

Divers going to Sipadan must hold at least an Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent. Sipadan permits must be requested well in advance and depend on permit availability.

The house reef

Certified divers can also dive the house reef from the jetty, always with a buddy. Frogfish, mandarin fish, pipefish, crabs, shrimps and lobsters are among the species found there.

Green turtle, a batfish and a diver in front of a school of jacks (placeholder, to recheck when the photo is replaced)

15 M · THE REEF EDGE

Dive site maps

The 3 maps below show the dive sites around each island as marked by the resort.

Map of Sipadan Island, Sabah, with dive site flags around the reef
Sipadan Island dive site map

Sipadan Island

  • Barracuda Point
  • Coral Gardens
  • Whitetip Avenue
  • Mid Reef
  • Turtle Patch
  • South Point
  • Staghorn Crest
  • Lobster Lair
  • Hanging Gardens
  • West Ridge
  • North Point
  • The Drop Off
  • Turtle Tomb
Map of Mabul Island, Sabah, with dive site flags around the reef
Mabul Island dive site map

Mabul Island

  • Seaventures Oil Rig
  • Buoy Point
  • Paradise I
  • Paradise II
  • SWV House Reef
  • Crocodile Avenue
  • Froggy Lair
  • Coral Reef
  • Eel Garden
  • Ribbon Valley
  • Ray Point
  • Lobster Wall
  • Second Wall
  • Panglima Reef
Map of Kapalai, Sabah, with dive site flags around the sandbank
Kapalai dive site map

Kapalai

  • Nudi Branchia
  • Sweetlips Table
  • Mantis Ground
  • Flambo Reef
  • Mid Reef
  • Mandarin Garden
  • Mandarin Valley
  • Cleaning Station
  • Gurnard Ground
  • Kapalai Rock
  • Eel Garden
  • Black Ray Channel
  • Froggy Lair
  • Lost World
  • Jetty
  • Goby Land
  • Little Okinawa

Site names as marked on the resort's maps.

25 M · THE WALL

Dive courses

SMART-TEC is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort and TEC centre. Courses run from a first try-dive to Advanced Open Water, nitrox and technical diving (PADI, NAUI and TDI). All courses are run on Mabul Island.

White sand beach with thatched shelters and coconut palms at Sipadan-Mabul Resort (placeholder, to recheck when the photo is replaced)

Other activities

For non-divers and for divers on a day off:

  • Snorkelling
  • Seawater pool and 2 shared open-air jacuzzis at Mabul Water Bungalows
  • Sea kayaking
  • Beach volleyball
  • Badminton
  • Treatments at the overwater Ka’andaman Spa at Mabul Water Bungalows
  • A visit to the local traditional village
  • Sunset walk

40 M · THE DROP-OFF

Plan your dive trip

Tell us your certification level, how many divers are coming and whether Sipadan is on your list.

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