For those who have never visited Borneo, Kapalai Island and Mabul Island may seem like just another island. But for divers and beach-loving travelers, this place is a paradise. The resorts are fabulous, with airy, stylish accommodations, and the ecosystem is simply wonderful. The powdery white sand, crystal clear waters, and abundance of marine life make this destination a must-see for any traveler.
Sipadan Island is renowned as one of the top five dive destinations in the world, and it is only a 15-minute boat ride away from Kapalai Island. With its crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and diverse marine life, it is no wonder why Sipadan is so highly regarded by divers around the globe. From the majestic sea turtles to the colorful schools of fish, Sipadan is a paradise for underwater exploration.
Our journey to Kapalai is an approximately one-hour boat ride from Semporna on the mainland. However, this remote town is an eight-hour drive from the capital city of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu. Fortunately, there are daily flights from Kota Kinabalu to the nearby Tawau town, which take just under an hour. For this trip, we opted to take the road journey, allowing us to make a few stops at various towns along the way.
Reaching the island of Kapalai, we were then taken on a tour of the thrilling Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort (SKDR), which stands on no land in sight. The resort here is built on stilts that go down into the water, allowing us to observe the playful antics of squids and needlefish from our chalet balcony. Kapalai was said to be a stunning island two hundred years ago, but now it is merely a sandbar. Erosion has reduced the island to sea level, and the village now sits atop the Ligitan reef.
The island of Mabul is located a little further away from Sipadan, but closer to Semporna and Tawau. It is home to a large population of Bajau Laut and Sulug Muslims, whom Europeans refer to as 'Sea Gypsies'. According to our guide, Amir (Sulug), half of the island's population is comprised of children. Mabul is primarily a fishing village, but in recent years it has become increasingly popular among divers due to its proximity to Sipadan.
There are two luxurious dive resorts on the island of Mabul: the Mabul Water Bungalow and the Sipadan Water Village. For a more unique experience, visitors can stay on the converted oil rig platform, Seaventure Platform. For those looking for a more budget-friendly option, the local villagers offer Homestay accommodations starting at just USD16.00.
We experienced the underwater environment here, which is quite different from that of Sipadan or Manukan Island near Kota Kinabalu. My colleague Ozie was telling me that he didn't spot any schools of fish, turtles, or sharks, but he was still delighted to observe an array of unusual creatures such as razor fish, cuttlefish, mandarin fish, nudibranchs, and frogfish in this island.
At the end of our trip, Amir informed us that Mabul Island was once owned by a man from the nearby island of Menampilik. In the 1970s, the island was primarily used for fishing. Later, Sipadan Mabul Resort purchased part of the island for tourism development, and it remains that way to this day.
We returned to Semporna with sweet memories to last a lifetime, making the overall boat tour cost of USD145.00 well worth it.
Sincerest gratitude to Mohammad Shiddley, Cindy Bong, Ozie Tungging, and Aleza Sohar for their invaluable contributions in making this remarkable journey a reality. Without them, this incredible experience would not have been possible.
Disclaimer - Treat this writing and photography as fact or pure fantasy if you'd like. I welcome your comments and opinions.
what a nice tropics. cool place. good story.
ReplyDeletethanks!!
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