Mabul + Kapalai Island Diving Trip

Description

Discovery Scuba Diving or Leisure Diving then proceed to Mabul Island

Mabul Island, may be Sipadan’s lesser known neighbour, yet it offers some of the best muck diving in the world. Many divers think the challenge of finding a camouflaged frogfish and hidden harlequin shrimp is far more satisfying than bumping into a giant school of fish. Located at just 26 kilometres or a 45-minute boat ride from the nearest town of Semporna. However, divers can also stay at resorts on this island and make their way to Sipadan, which is just 15 kilometres or a 20-minute boat ride away.

Catch a glimpse of the local culture between dives at the two villages nearby. This 20 hectare island is home to the Bajau Laut tribe, one of over fifty ethnic groups to be found within Malaysia’s Sabah State; and the Suluk tribe, a group of people originally from the southern Philippines. Most of the Bajau Laut people live in the Musu Village while the Suluk people live in the Suluk Village. Children can be seen playing around the only school on the island – the Sekolah Kebangsaan Pulau Mabul (Mabul Island National School).

Mabul offers approximately 2 square kilometres of reef with over 10 dive sites for scuba divers to explore. Unlike Sipadan which is home to large pelagic species and huge schools of fish, this island is known for its unique and seldom seen critters. On a typical dive, you will see snake eels, juvenile batfish, lots of pelagic reef fishes and the occasional flamboyant cuttlefish. Look again closely at the reef and you may see nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, and harlequin shrimp. Dive sites include the Eel Garden, Gurnard Point, Lobster Wall, Nudibranch Center, Panglima Reef, and Ray Point. However the most notable sites are the Coral Reef Garden, Paradise, and the Seaventure Platform.

If you are a macro diver, you will fall in love with Mabul Island because it has 12 diving sites that are unique in their own ways. Mabul is recognized as the world’s “muck diving Mecca” for good reason. The waters of Mabul Island are rich with nutrients hence, making it a good habitat for marine life. Diving in Mabul is suited for all levels of divers especially beginner divers as dive sites are mostly shallows while mild current allows for easy drift dives. The depth of the dive sites is from five to 40 meters deep with visibility of up to 20 meters. This also makes it easier for divers to observe macro marine life and for those who are doing underwater photography because the surface conditions are calm and the currents are gentle.

Strictly no expecting mothers, age under 12 and above 50 years old or serious medical history allowed for the trip and surface interval of 24 hours prior to flights after diving.