Sabah Islands >  Mabul Island

Mabul Island
Sabah, Malaysia

In 2004, in protecting the eco-system and environment of Sipidan Island, the government moved all resorts and dive centers away from Sipitan Island to Mabul Island.

Today there is no more resort on Sipadan Island, and Mabul has become the residential area of Sipidan where divers and tourists stay.
Mabul Island is not too far out into the ocean. Mabul is within easy reaching distances.
From Semporna Town, It's a mere 50 minute boat ride away.

From Tawau Airport to Semporna Town, it's a 50 Minute car ride from the airport.
To reach the final destination of Sipidan Ialand, speed boats are used. Boat rides from Mabul to Sipadan takes 30 minutes.
Kapalai Island is also another popular island near to Mabul which takes only 20 minutes...
All these diving islands in the Celebes Sea have no roads, no motorbikes or cars to live on. All these islands are small enough for one to walk one round in 30 minutes.

The simplicity of life here make many feel paradise away from material contamination. Paradise the Hippies of those years seeking for.

1- Sipadan Dive Cente
2- Uncle Chang's Lodge
3- Sphere Divers
4- Summer Friends
5- My Scuba Diver
6- Sipadan Mabul Lodge
7- Scuba Jeff
8- Big John Scuba
9- Arung Hayat
10- Billabong
11- Seahorse Sipadan
12- Panglima

Kampong Musu

Is it difficult to go to Mabul Island, Sempona Town?
It is easy to go to Mabul Island. The island resort will pick up their hotel guests directly from Tawau Airport and arrange whole transport all the way to the Island. But during booking, the guests must clearly indicate that transport is needed.
It is also easy to go to Semporna Town and Tawau Town. Texi service is available at Tawau airport. Take notice that there is no public bus service available at the Tawau Airport like those in KK and KL Airport. You can specify transport needed during hotel booking to pick you up at airport. Most hotels provide airport pickup at a small charges.
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If you are driving your car so you only need the sea transport from Semporna Town to Mabul Island. All Mabul resorts have their own boats. You only need to shown up at the jetty during departure time.
You only have to settle your car parking during the few days away on the island. Only Seafest Hotel has a private hotel car park. Else, other hotels the cars are parked beside the hotels at the road side.

ACCOMMODATION
ON MABUL ISLAND

A

RESORT

TOP LUXURY Sipadan Water Village Mabul Water Bungalows   LUXURY RANGE Sipadan Mabul Resort SMART   Borneo Divers Mabul Resort   MEDIUM RANGE Seaventures Dive Rig   Scuba Junkie Mabul resort   Sipadan Dive Centre on Mabul Island

B

LODGE

TOP RANGE Mabul Paradise Lodge 馬布島天堂度假村   BillabongScuba BIG JOHN Scuba Uncle Chang's  Lodge MEDIUM RANGE Spheredivers Scuba Mabul Backpackers (SipadanBorneo.com)

C

HOMESTAY

Arung Hayat Homestay ScubaJeff   Summer Friends Homestay

THE 120 SIPIDAN DIVERS
ONLY 120 DIVERS PERMITTED TO DIVE IN SIPIDAN ISLAND PER DAY
Sabah Parks is the authority to issue dive permit to Pulau Sipadan Island
A single permit would allow an individual to visit or snorkel at Sipadan Island for a single day only.
Sabah Parks issues only 120 permits a day, which is divided among different diving resorts. The division of the permits is based on the size of the resorts. It is the resort’s duty to succumb the name and other information of a guest to Sabah Parks for the issuance of a license. However, not every visitor lodging at a resort gets a permit.

RESORTS ON MABUL ISLAND

Watch how this awesome Malaysian girl rescues a sinking canoe:
www.globalpost.com/dispatch

There's not much information about this video, except that it was filmed in Mabul, a small island off the coast of Sabah in Malaysia that has approximately 2,000 inhabitants. The girl is Bajau Laut, an indigenous ethnic group in Southeast Asia. They've been called "sea gypsies" - a term that refers to their nomadic, seafaring history.

RELATED  TOPICS

Islands