Trip base · Malaysia
Sipadan and Mabul
Sipadan rises steeply from deep water off Sabah, and Barracuda Point is known for its school of chevron barracuda. Divers stay on Mabul or Kapalai, whose macro sites suit beginners. Sipadan dives need a daily permit.
Strong fit for December
28°C+
- Strength: Water 28–29°C in December
- Strength: 3 of 3 sites are in season in December
- Strength: Calm seas on almost every day
- Trade-off: Rain on almost every day
Pack a 3 mm wetsuit for December.
Why this match: 40 + 26 + 20 + 6 = 92
- Season40 / 40
- 3 of 3 sites are in season in December; calm on almost every day.
- Water26 / 27
- Average 29°C; your minimum is 28°C. Pack a 3 mm wetsuit.
- Your level20 / 20
- No level picked, so all 3 sites count.
- Weather6 / 13
- Rain on almost every day; no real storm risk.
Month by month
Season: best April to December.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | January: Off season | February: Off season | March: Off season | April: Best | May: Best | June: Best | July: Best | August: Best | September: Best | October: Best | November: Best | December: Best |
| Mantas | January: Possible | February: Possible | March: Possible | April: Possible | May: Possible | June: Possible | July: Possible | August: Possible | September: Possible | October: Possible | November: Possible | December: Possible |
| Whale sharks | January: Possible | February: Possible | March: Possible | April: Possible | May: Possible | June: Possible | July: Possible | August: Possible | September: Possible | October: Possible | November: Possible | December: Possible |
| Hammerheads | January: Possible | February: Possible | March: Possible | April: Possible | May: Possible | June: Possible | July: Possible | August: Possible | September: Possible | October: Possible | November: Possible | December: Possible |
| Reef sharks | January: Reliable | February: Reliable | March: Reliable | April: Reliable | May: Reliable | June: Reliable | July: Reliable | August: Reliable | September: Reliable | October: Reliable | November: Reliable | December: Reliable |
| Turtles | January: Reliable | February: Reliable | March: Reliable | April: Reliable | May: Reliable | June: Reliable | July: Reliable | August: Reliable | September: Reliable | October: Reliable | November: Reliable | December: Reliable |
| Dolphins | January: Possible | February: Possible | March: Possible | April: Possible | May: Possible | June: Possible | July: Possible | August: Possible | September: Possible | October: Possible | November: Possible | December: Possible |
| Water | 28° | 28° | 29° | 29° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° |
| Rain days | 25 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
| Calm days | 30 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 |
| Storm risk | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Storm risk: – means under 5%.
Dive sites here
3 sites on Divetip.
- Barracuda Point (Sipadan)Reef · Advanced · max 30 m
- MabulReef · Beginner · max 18 m
- KapalaiReef · Beginner · max 15 m
Getting there
Fly to Tawau (TWU). Road to Semporna, then speedboat to Mabul or Kapalai: about 2 h 15 min.
Day boat only.
What diving costs
No current published price for a day of diving
A day of diving
Cool Dive Semporna: MYR 375 for 3 dives (about €83)
Fun dive day trip to Mabul and Kapalai, 3 dives, non-Malaysian rate (Malaysians RM355). Includes diving gear, lunch, dive guide, boat fare, government taxes and jetty fees. Listed validity 1 Jan - 30 Jun 2026.
Older price list, not used to compare: Published validity ended on 30 June 2026.
Cool Dive Semporna: MYR 1,250 for 3 dives (about €276)
Sipadan dive day (2 dives at Sipadan + 1 at Mabul), non-Malaysian rate (Malaysians RM1,100), AOW divers only. Includes gear, lunch, guide, boat, government taxes and jetty fees; page does not mention the Sipadan permit separately. Listed validity 1 Jan - 30 Jun 2026.
Older price list, not used to compare: Published validity ended on 30 June 2026.
Prices checked 8 November 2026; park fees and equipment often extra.
Non-divers: snorkeling from the shore and by boat
Resort guests on Mabul can snorkel the house reef a few steps from their room, and snorkelers can join the dive boats or a guided snorkel boat to Mabul sites.
Book your Sipadan and Mabul trip
- Book a Sipadan dive day on Klook (partner link, opens in a new tab)
- Search flights on Aviasales (partner link, opens in a new tab)
Partner links: we may earn a commission.