Sipadan Island, Sabah Malaysia

In the northeast of Borneo, in the borderland between Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines there are three world-class dive destinations located within sight of each other. Sipadan is the legendary island of the turtles, Kapalai with a resort built on stilts in the middle of the sea, and Mabul - an enchanting island where every coconut tree has its own number.

In the past, the island was at the centre of a territorial dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia. The matter was brought for adjudication before the International Court of Justice and, at the end of 2002, the Court awarded the island along with the island of Ligitan to Malaysia, on the basis of the "effective occupation" displayed by the latter's precedessor (Malaysia's former colonial power, Great Britain) and the absence of any other superior title. The Philippines had applied to intervene in the proceedings on the basis of its claim to Northern Borneo, but its request was turned down by the Court early in 2001.

In year 2004, the Government of Malaysia ordered all on-site dive & resort operators of Sipadan to move their structures out of the island by the 31st of December 2004. This move is mainly to conserve a balanced eco-system for Sipadan and its surrounding. Diving will continue to be allowed in Sipadan for divers who are ferried in and out by dive & resort operators from the mainland and surrounding islands.

On May 15, 2006, a barge carrying thousands of tonnes of building material beached on the island, destroying a significant portion of reef between the old pier and Barracuda Point, said to be about 372sq metres

The purpose of the building supplies (mainly concrete and gravel) was apparently for a USD1.3 million tourist facility including resthouse, toilets and scuba shop, said the State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat but denied by the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman. Later, it was reported that it was a Federal Government funded project.

SIPADAN ISLAND

Sipadan attracts divers from all over the world simply because it is the best diving spot in Malaysia and among the best in the world. The island is situated about 35 km off the East Coast of Borneo and is near the Indonesian border. The tiny 12 ha jungle-covered island is bordered by snow white sandy beaches that rises up out of the turquoise-blue sea. Sipadan was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct undersea volcano. With its surrounding coral reef the island rises in form of a slim rocky needle 600m from the seabed.

Legend in diving circles, the name Sipadan conjures up images of Barracudas and Jacks moving about, Hammerhead sharks patrolling the waters, colourful fishes darting around the reefs and sea-turtles gently swimming with the currents.A popular feature of this island is the precipitous reef wall just a mere 8 metres in front of Borneo Divers' and Pulau Sipadan's resorts. Many divers have remarked that staying and diving on the island is similar to doing so from a live-aboard ship, coz all dive sites can be reached in a few minutes.To protect the reef and marine life the number of divers staying at Sipadan has been restricted to 80 per night. The consequence is, that the island is fully booked most of the time. Therefore it is absolute necessary to book several weeks or better months in advance.

Green Turtle

Giant Moral Eel

A groupies of Bat Fish