Exploring the Sipadan Island Diving Sites

The unique Sipadan Island diving experience is even more special if you think of the many dive sites out which you can choose. There are thirteen dive spots near the Sipadan Island, all offering breathtaking views.

The South Point is one of the most popular diving spot, offering, apart from abundant colorful coral reefs, turtles and schools of fish, the opportunity to see the amazing thresher sharks and, most important of all, hammerheads. When you are underwater at the South Point, you will not know whether to look around so you won't miss one thing, whether to put your hands on the coral wall, or whether to take pictures of everything so that you can show them to your friends later.

If you are more interested in barracudas, then your first choice should be the Barracuda Point. It is another popular diving site, with vast schools of jacks, snapper fish, bannerfish and turtles, and a wide variety of sharks. However, the main attraction consists in the banks of barracudas, so many that they can cloud the sunlight. If you come across a barracuda vortex, you will definitely remain speechless while finding yourself right in the center of this great spectacle. This is definitely a Sipadan Island diving site that you should not miss!

Another great location is the Turtle Cavern, also referred to as the Turtle Tomb. It is not as popular amongst tourists as the above mentioned sites, but it surely is an incredible spot. The name comes from the many turtle skeletons found on the sea bed of this intriguing Sipadan Island diving spot. Bumphead parrotfish can be seen near the entrance of the cave, and once you have entered, the place is truly spectacular and you will be amazed at the narrow, confusing passageways, which are, luckily, much too small for you to get lost in. Also, you can see plenty of hawksbill and green turtles around here, which are truly an amazing sight.

The Hanging Gardens is a divine place for diving. The name comes from the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon, due to the way coral reefs have grown here. The Hanging Gardens is in fact a two meters deep reef, leading to a terrace which plunges into an abyss. This fascinating Sipadan Island diving point is the perfect spot if you want to admire soft corals, in a multitude of pastel colors. It is probably the best place to see if you are passionate about macro diving.

Other dive sites worth visiting are the Coral Gardens, Mid Reef, North Point, Jetty Point (or Drop Off), Lobster Lairs, Turtle Patch, White Tip Adventure, West Ridge and Staghorn Crest.

With so many choices, you will not know which sites to visit on your first day. Once you have got a glimpse of the diverse underwater life at Sipadan, you will always want to come back to see more. Every experience is unique, and the island is incredibly varied from one point to another. A one-week vacation on the Malaysian islands will be the perfect opportunity for you to see the most beautiful Sipadan Island diving sites.