Sipadan Island - The Big Fish Capital of the World

The Sipadan Island has arguably the best dive sites inOne of the favorite sites here is the Barracuda Point
the world to the extent that most divers rate it as awhere divers will find hordes of turtles, vast schools
top must-dive destination. The huge diversity ofof jacks, bannerfish and snapper. A variety of the
marine life here has made it rated at the top ofshark families are also often spotted here. However,
Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine Gold List for 'Thethe real stars of this site are the spiraling vortex of
Top Dive Sites in the World'.barracudas, so large that the sunlight is often clouded
This dive mecca is a tiny oceanic island located offout.
the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia's eastern mostThe Turtle Cavern site is well worth a visit as it is
state, and lies on the north-eastern corner of Borneounlike other sites in Sipadan. Divers often bumped
Island, the world's third largest island. This 'untouchedinto massive marauding hordes of huge bumphead
piece of art' is just less than an hour from theparrotfish as they sink down the wall, before
mainland and has rich currents sweeping through it.approaching the cave entrance. Looking into the cave
The rich currents bring lots of fish which attractsentrance, you will see turtle skeletons resting on the
bigger creatures like sharks, barracudas, bumpheadsea-bed. Apparently, the turtle seems to meet their
parrotfish and turtles.dead-end in the small and confusing passageways of
The overwhelming list of attraction is staggering andthe caverns.
to make it more exceptional, it involves a wholesomeDiving season in Sipadan Island is all year round with
of big fish encounters. At South Point, a dive sitethe best condition between April and December.
typical of Sipadan, you will be amazed by colorfulThere are no liveaboards offered here. However,
abundant walls, schools of barracuda, sharks, turtlesthere are some excellent resorts which divers can
and exotics like hammerheads and thresher sharks.choose to stay. The nearest resorts are on the
With a rich macro life like the nudibranchs and pigmyMabul and Kapalai Island. Visibility can range from 10
horses on the rich coral garden, divers often foundmeter to more than 40 meter. Depth at Sipadan can
themselves in a dilemma whether to poke around inrange from 5 meter to more than 40 meter.
the wall for macro beings or keep an eye for theRecommended length of stay on Sipadan is 5 to 14
bigger stuff.days including the nearby Mabul and Kapalai islands.