Semporna Guide: Island Hopping and Diving Near Sipadan

Semporna is a working harbour town on the south-east tip of Sabah, and almost everyone who comes here is heading somewhere else: out to the reefs and islands of the Celebes Sea. The town itself is functional, with a busy jetty, a fish market and rows of dive shops, but within an hour by speedboat you reach some of the best diving and snorkelling in Asia. Sipadan sits about 36km offshore, and Mabul, Kapalai, Mataking and the Tun Sakaran Marine Park are closer still.

This guide covers how Semporna works as a base, which islands suit which travellers, and the practical details that catch people out, from permits to boat times.

Why go to Semporna

The draw is the water. Green and hawksbill turtles are common on almost every reef, the shallows around the islands are clear and warm, and the walls off Sipadan drop away into deep blue water where divers see schooling barracuda, jacks and reef sharks. Even on a snorkelling day trip you spend most of your time in colour-saturated water over coral.

Semporna is also home to the Bajau Laut, a seafaring community who have traditionally lived on boats and stilt houses around the islands. You will see their lepa-style boats and children paddling between islands on any day trip. The annual Regatta Lepa boat festival, held in April, is the best time to see the boats dressed in their sail colours.

Top things to do in Semporna

Dive Sipadan

Sipadan Island is the reason many divers fly to Borneo. Access is controlled by Sabah Parks through a daily permit quota, and permits are allocated to licensed dive operators and resorts rather than sold to individuals. In practice, you book a dive package and the operator assigns your Sipadan day. Operators generally require Advanced Open Water certification for Sipadan dives, so check the current rules before you go. Book weeks or months ahead in peak season.

Dive or snorkel Mabul and Kapalai

Mabul is famous for muck diving: frogfish, nudibranchs, mandarinfish and other small creatures on sandy slopes and jetty pilings. Kapalai, a sandbar with a resort on stilts, has gentle sites with excellent macro life. Both are good for newer divers and for anyone who has not secured a Sipadan permit.

Hike Bohey Dulang

Bohey Dulang, in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park, is the island behind the famous Semporna postcard view. A steep forest trail of roughly 650m leads to a viewpoint over a turquoise lagoon and the surrounding islands; most people take 25 to 40 minutes to reach the top. Go in the morning when it is cooler, and wear proper shoes, as the path gets muddy after rain.

Island hopping in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park

Most island-hopping day trips combine Bohey Dulang with snorkelling stops at nearby islands such as Mantabuan and Sibuan, where the sand is white and the water shallow. A park permit is needed and tour operators arrange it. Expect an early start from the main jetty and to be back by mid-afternoon.

Stay on a private island

Mataking and Pom Pom each have a single-island resort setting with house reefs you can snorkel from the beach. They are the most comfortable way to see the area if diving is not your main interest.

Where Semporna fits in a Sabah trip

Semporna is a long way from the rest of Sabah, so plan the order of your trip around flights. A common route is Kota Kinabalu first, then a flight to Sandakan for orangutans and the Kinabatangan River, then on to Tawau and Semporna to finish with time on the water. Our Sabah 7-day itinerary follows that logic, and the Sabah state guide covers the rest of the region.

Practical tips

• Leave a day between diving and flying. Standard dive guidance is to allow around 24 hours before you fly home from Tawau, so plan a non-diving day at the end.
• Bring cash. Island resorts and smaller dive shops do not always take cards, and there are few ATMs outside town.
• Book boats through registered operators. Choose operators with proper life jackets and licensed boats; your hotel can recommend one.
• Protect the reef. Use reef-safe sunscreen, do not stand on coral and do not buy shells or turtle products.
• Expect early starts. Boats leave the jetty in the morning to make the most of calm water and daylight.

Safety and travel advisories

The east coast of Sabah, between Sandakan and Tawau, is covered by the Eastern Sabah Security Zone, and there is a visible police and military presence on the water and at the island resorts. Since 2014 the Malaysian authorities have also applied a night-time curfew in the waters off several east coast districts, including Semporna, which is renewed periodically; your operator will know the current rules, and island trips run in daylight.

Some foreign governments advise against all but essential travel to the islands and dive sites off eastern Sabah. At the time of writing the UK Foreign Office advice applies to the islands and dive sites, not the mainland. Check your own government’s latest advice and confirm that your travel insurance covers your plans before you book.

How long to stay and when to go

Three to five days suits most visitors. Divers should allow at least four days to fit in Sipadan alongside Mabul and Kapalai; non-divers can see Bohey Dulang and the marine park in two days, with a third for a resort stay.

Diving is possible all year, and the area largely escapes the heavy monsoons that hit other parts of Malaysia. April to October generally brings the calmest seas, while December to March has more rain and occasional rough crossings. School holidays and the Regatta Lepa in April are busy, so book transfers and permits early.