Hardeep Wreck | SS Suddhadib | Wreck Dives Thailand
12/03/2020
This is SCUBA Diving Sipadan!
Sipadan Unveiled
If you're an avid scuba diver, the name Sipadan probably isn't foreign to you. It's a perennial presence on the list of the world's top 10 dive sites, and its acclaim is well-earned. What sets Sipadan apart is its unrivaled biodiversity. Diving here opens the door to a realm where sharks, turtles, mesmerizing barracuda whirlwinds, colossal schools of trevally, and vibrant reef ecosystems teeming with marine life converge.For those with a fascination for sharks, Sipadan delivers in abundance. White-tip and grey reef sharks, hammerheads, leopard sharks, thresher sharks, and even the gentle giants of the sea, whale sharks, may grace your underwater encounters. The island is, without a doubt, a haven for turtles, with both green turtles and the smaller hawksbill turtles almost guaranteed sightings. It's not unusual to count more than 20 turtles on a single dive!
But that's not all; Sipadan has more in its treasure trove. How about the famous barracuda tornado, a resident school of jackfish, or the frenzied gatherings of bumphead parrotfish? And if you crave the intricate wonders of the microcosm, Sipadan boasts a wealth of macro life. Octopuses, leaf scorpionfish, lobsters, and nudibranchs are among the common discoveries here, provided you can divert your attention from the captivating blue expanse and the splendid marine drama unfolding all around.
In essence, there's no such thing as a subpar day at Sipadan. We wholeheartedly believe that this enchanting island stands as one of the, if not the very best, dive destinations on our planet.
In essence, there's no such thing as a subpar day at Sipadan. We wholeheartedly believe that this enchanting island stands as one of the, if not the very best, dive destinations on our planet.
What Makes Sipadan Island So Exceptional?
Nestled in the heart of the Celebes Sea, Sipadan Island has a remarkable origin story. Over countless millennia, corals gradually blanketed the surface of an extinct volcano, forming this unique island. What sets Sipadan apart is the fact that it's the sole volcanic island in Malaysia to breach the ocean's surface, plummeting directly to the seabed, a staggering 2,000 meters below!
Situated within the coral triangle, the most biodiverse marine habitat globally, Sipadan is a treasure trove of underwater life. This extraordinary region boasts a staggering 600 coral species and nearly 3,000 species of fish. It's safe to declare Sipadan one of the most biologically diverse underwater ecosystems on Earth, and your dive log might need extra pages to document the myriad marine wonders you'll encounter.
Sipadan's ecological significance is further underscored by its status as a national park, zealously protected by Sabah Parks. Here, you won't find any fishing activities. An extensive no-fishing zone extends 500 meters from the island's shores, which translates into an incredible proliferation of marine life. When diving here, you might find it challenging to keep track of your fellow divers amid the mesmerizing abundance of fish.
Thanks to oceanic currents and the island's depth, Sipadan becomes a convergence point for pelagic marine creatures. The entire marine food chain thrives here. From minuscule nudibranchs and vibrant reef inhabitants to magnificent whales, sharks, and graceful sea turtles, Sipadan stands as one of the world's most exceptional dive destinations, cherished for its extraordinary diversity.
The sea, once it casts its spell,
holds one in its net of wonder forever.
If the ocean doesn't already have you in its net of wonder, once you visit the east coast of Sabah in the Celebes Sea, the mighty Sipadan will ensure it does! Sipadan, found rising 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the seabed is a scuba diving marvel! Diving Sipadan is very special because it was impressively formed over thousands of years by living corals growing on top of an extinct Volcano. This epic dive location is one of the richest marine habitats in the world and is at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin. More than 3,000 species of fish can be found here not to mention hundreds of coral species, making even a single dive in Sipadan a true spectacle!
Sipadan, world's best dive site?
Until now this statement was hard to believe. nonetheless, its not until you dive Sipadan you can begin to understand it's claims to be the world's best dive site. While this is a huge claim, there can be no doubt that diving Sipadan is certainly world class.Sipadan was at the top of 'The Top Dive Destination in the World' published by Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine. At the same time it shared its pole position spot with 2 other world class dive destinations also known for the diversity of their marine life - the Galapagos Islands and Truk in Micronesia.
It Must Be Protected
In order to protect the environment and this truly amazing bio diversity, Sipadan closed its resorts in 2002 so now if you want to go diving Sipadan, you have to stay somewhere nearby, such as on Mabul, Kapalai or in Semporna, and take a boat onto the island.Read about Diving Mabul and Kapalai here.
Exclusive Sipadan Diving limitations
Because Sipadan is now a protected site, only 120 divers are allowed daily between 08:00-15:00. From the main beach by drop off and sign in you are literally only 20 m away from the top of the reef and wall dropping 1,000-2,000m. From the moment you start diving Sipadan you’ll be surrounded by both hard and soft coral as well as all manner of reef fishes. You’ll descent next to Turtles and come across even more as you continue as well as white tip reef sharks and blacktip reef shark which you can see on more or less every dive. If you can get out in the first light (6am boat) you have the best chance of catching a glimpse of the hammerhead sharks and leopard sharks can also be seen at times (though not so much nowadays).
Clouds Of Fish That Block The Sunlight
Enormous jackfish schools, barracudas and bumphead parrotfish are also highlights (especially around Barracuda Point) - if you are lucky you may see a jackfish and barracuda "tornado" as they change direction. While macro life does exist here, you are mainly at Sipadan to see the larger things if you only get one permit for your trip – that said we had plenty of time to enjoy the larger sights on the first days and still managed to spend a full day macroing out Sipadan on the 3rd day. But don’t fear, if you had to chose we recommend enjoying the sharks and turtles and saving your macro itch for the dive sites around Mabul and Kapalai which are said to have coined the term “muck” dive and are abundantly rich with critters to keep any macro photographer satisfied!Advanced License Minimum Requirement
Visibility ranges from 10m to 40m and more, although this decreases on stormy rainy days. A lot of diving here consists of current or drift diving, with the currents around Barracuda Point being the strongest (at one point, you can get swept away quite quickly if you aren't careful). Divemasters will usually keep you around 20-25m for the wall dives, although deeper dives are available for technical divers (depending on the dive shop and divemasters available). Due to the currents and Depth of Sipadan Diving, a minimum of Advanced Level diver is required. Your last dive of the day will generally be at a shallower site, around 15m. One of the dive sites includes a cave called the Turtle Tomb - if you are lucky and get a cave-certified divemaster and torches, you may even be able to go into the dark for a cool and hair-raising experience (do follow instructions to the letter, or you may not be able to come back out!).
