{"id":682,"date":"2017-03-01T08:34:51","date_gmt":"2017-03-01T00:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiadivingvacation.com\/blog\/?p=682"},"modified":"2025-03-10T10:21:57","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T02:21:57","slug":"guide-visiting-sipadan-island-infographic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asiadivingvacation.com\/blog\/guide-visiting-sipadan-island-infographic","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Visiting Sipadan Island"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the decisions you have to make when visiting Sipadan Island is choosing the right resort with available permits during your stay<\/strong>. Not all resorts in the area have permit allotment to bring visitors to Sipadan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you just want to visit the other nearby islands, then you don’t need these permits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ve put together a guide based on our data and verified it with the listed resorts to help you decide where to stay based on permit availability, budget, number of people in your group, non-diver friendliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Diving at Sipadan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sipadan Island<\/a> is the only oceanic island in Malaysia. Because of this, you will likely see oceanic pelagic fish here compared to the other nearby islands where you will see more reef pelagic fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The usual suspects you will encounter here include the Chevron and yellow fin barracudas, Trevallies, Green and hawksbill turtles, Bumphead parrotfish, White tip, black tip, grey tip sharks, Potato head groupers and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to Stay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Almost all resorts are located on Mabul, Kapalai and Mataking Islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting Here<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The gateway to Sipadan Island is through Semporna town and the nearest airport to Semporna town is Tawau Airport<\/strong> (IATA: TWU). A travel time from Tawau Airport to Semporna is about 90 minutes and from Semporna to your resort is around 45 minutes by boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

There are direct flights via Malaysia Airlines<\/a> and AirAsia<\/a> to Tawau Airport from Kota Kinabalu International Airport<\/a> (IATA: BKI) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport<\/a> (IATA: KUL).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip<\/strong>: Choose your flight to arrive early at Tawau Airport so that you can catch the first boat transfer to your resort. On departure, choose the afternoon flight so that you have time to off-gas between your last dive and your departure flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>Sipadan: Choose an early flight into Tawau so you can catch the first boat transfer to your resort.<\/span>Click To Tweet<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>Sipadan: On departure, choose the afternoon flight so that you have time to off-gas between your last dive and your flight.<\/span>Click To Tweet<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\n

Best Times to Visit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best time is during the dry season which is from March to October<\/strong>. High period is in July, August and first week of October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Beginning 2020, Sipadan Island will close from 1st<\/sup> to 31st<\/sup> December every year<\/strong>. However other nearby islands is still available for diving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*<\/strong> In 2020, after consulting with various environmental agencies and bodies, Sabah Parks<\/a> decided to clase all water activities including diving and snorkelling for a period of one month in December every year for the good of the island eco system.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which Resort Should I Consider?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve compiled the information for you to save you time in choosing the right resort for your dive holiday based on a number of criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n