Simply the best diving spot in the world
This description is not far from reality: it might even actually downplay a little bit, as Sipadan is considered one of the five top diving destinations in the world. This small rainforest-covered tropical island rising from a 700 meter abyss in the Celebes Sea is a destination the committed diver cannot miss. The Sipadan Island Dive Resort, one of a handful of operators allowed on this protected island, offers great food and comfortable accommodation in simple, beach-front chalets with attached bathrooms and power points, with three boat dives a day, unlimited shore diving and not-to-be missed excursions to the nearby very different dive sites of Kapalai. Resort Facilities
If you're even luckier, you might swim with a thresher shark, see orcas, hear the underwater song of whales. Without forgetting - like everybody seems to do - the unbelievable diversity offered by Sipadan's reef life teeming with thousands of angelfish, butterfly fish, triggerfish, parrotfish, morays, groupers and even gobies; and if you look carefully you'll be rewarded with uncommon sightings like leaf fish of many colors, nocturnal scorpion fish and rare commensally shrimp. This natural richness is not surprising, the island is ideally situated in the middle of very deep water, at the core of the area with the highest marine biodiversity of the whole world, right in the middle of the Indo-Pacific basin. Its paramount importance as a mating and nesting ground for green turtles cannot be overemphasized enough. Of course the large number of visitors coming regularly to such a small place may place it in jeopardy, posing problems like overcrowding and reef damaging. Much has been done and much is yet to be done to solve these environmental hazards, and the island operators are doing their best in this respect.
Sipadan Island Dive Resort probably offers the best twin-sharing bungalows on the island at the moment, ideally located in front of the world-famous Sipadan drop-off, all featuring private bathrooms and power points for the recharging of strobe and video batteries. Furthermore, being part of the same company which owns and operates the very close by Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort, switching dives between these two very different locations presents no problems at all. Accommodation In order to preserve the island's fragile ecosystem, traditional huts made from billion shingle roofs and nibong walls brought to the island from the mainland provide guests with simple and authentic accommodation. Bungalow accommodation on a Twin/Triple Share basis unless a single supplement is paid. The Bungalows are equipped with built in beds & bedding, towels, mosquito nets, ceiling fan, and electrical light with 220v power points. Chalets feature hot showers. The traditional sundeck and dinning area has been constructed to extend out onto the beach from the shade of the jungle tree line. This provides alternatives for sun worshippers, makes it ideal for tea, meals, drinks, and discussions of the day's dives. Meals are served in the double story spacious recreation/dinning hall. There is a boundless flow of coffee and tea on the house while carbonated drinks and beer can be purchased at the bar. There is also a small shop which sells a range of T-shirts, films, batteries and toiletries. Other Benefits An abundance of clean, fresh air, this being an island on a big ocean. Resort provide special service of having more staff in its diving team, they will fix any problems with your gear before your dive, all you have to do is transfer your gear and tanks to the boat, resort will carry them back when the dive is complete. The resort also provide a service where it take you to its neighboring islands of Mabul and Kapalai for diving if you stay longer with Sipadan Island Dive Resort.
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The
name of Sipadan is simply legendary in diving circles, conjuring images
of twirling tornados of barracudas and jacks, patrolling hammerhead
sharks, millions of Technicolor reef fish and, above all, dozens of sea
turtles swimming peacefully everywhere.
