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Gorgeous Attraction of Sipadan Island in Sabah
For the true diving
enthusiast, Sipadan Island,
located off the town of Semporna on the East Coast of Sabah, is a must and is
considered to be one of the best diving areas in this part of the world.
Sipadan Island is a totally new experience for many visitors. Not only are there fascinating coral structures but marine caves. Sipadan Island is reported to have the largest variety of soft corals in the world. Turtles swim and frolic freely in the waters around Sipadan and divers will find lobster, barracudas, beautiful coral fishes and sometimes even sharks swimming by.
Sabah and its surrounding waters
have been recognised as a marine turtle sanctuary since the opening of the
Turtle Island Parks on its east coast. Managed by Sabah Parks, the beaches
within the park welcome nesting green and hawksbill turtles every night all
year round. Similarly, the Wildlife Department monitors and protects nesting
green and hawksbill turtles that visit Pulau Sipadan's shores. Go nearby Pulau
Mabul, the Fisheries Department, in conjunction with Sipadan Mabul Resort, have
sunk hundreds of concrete pipes to form small artificial patch reefs
surrounding a small wooden shipwreck A fish poaching vessel was also sunk off
the island of Pullen Lankayan and already hosts a myriad of creatures from the
smallest ghost pipefish to the giant stingrays and schooling barracuda.
Drop Off
This is considered to be the best beach dive site in the world. Just 20
feet from the shore, the wall plunges a staggering 2,800ft down and is rated as
one of the top 5 Beach Dives in the world. The wall is encrusted with different
varieties of coral, turtles abound and a multitude of lion fish & smaller
reef dwelling fish live on this wall. The entrance to TURTLE CAVERN is
also found about 70ft down along this wall.
Turtle Cavern
Turtle cavern is a complicated site with the entrance to the cavern located
at about 18 meters. Sipadan is famous
for its population of both Green Turtles and the smaller hawksbill Turtles and
it was at one time speculated that the cavern was their mausoleum and that they
came to this site to die. However, a more accurate representation, is that the
turtles became lost in the caverns at night and drowned. Sipadan’s resort operators insist that all divers
to this system of interconnecting caverns must be accompanied by a local dive
master.
Inside the cavern you will see the skeletons of those
previous entrants who failed to find the exit and perished. Deeper penetration
of the system reveals the cavern as home to shoals of fish specifically adapted
to the low light environment of the further reaches.
Barracuda Point
Great dive site with lots of variation. As the name suggests, Barracuda
Point is where a large concentration of Pelagic's converge. Expect to see large
shoals of Barracuda, Jacks, Grey and White Tip Reef Sharks. The schools number
in the high hundreds. Current is strong. It is a fast moving, high voltage dive
site. There may be no guarantees in diving, but let’s just say there is every
chance that you can find yourself in the middle of a swirling vortex of chevron
barracuda on this, one of Sipadan’s most treasured sites. You may see both
large and small stuff. Even a Leaf Fish, Nudi Branches, and the Clown Trigger
Fish.
This dive normally starts quite deep 25+ and ends with a lot of time at 8
meters. Normally divers roll in to the top of the wall here at about 10 meters.
There may be some current here but that means there is lots of food which bring
tones of fish. Cruise along the wall dropping down as far as you wish here and
keep an eye out for a herd of bump head parrotfish and turtles in every nook
and cranny. Even without the barracudas this is a most colorful and
entertaining dive but just when this thought flashes through your mind you may
be engulfed in a tornado of barracudas – more than the eye can take in. A
superb moment in an outstanding dive. It is little wonder that visitors leave
with so many “Barracuda Point” entries in their log-books. You should have one
too...
Coral Gardens
Although the temptation of the drop-off is always there, this site is a
heaven for the underwater photographer. The health and diversity of the coral
growth combined with the fact that almost every species to be seen in Sipadan’s
waters is on view here. You can observe the turtle feed on the edges and
encounter feather stars at every turn. If you are looking for an encounter with
a wrasse then the Giant Wrasse will oblige. Triggerfish of the Clown and Titan
variety are plentiful and may even allow you to take their photo without attack
on their mind. Watching a Leopard Shark is like watching a Ferrari, it is very
smooth and it certainly has the muscles compared to the White Tip Reef Shark.
There was a Mantis Scrimp living in a hole of 2-3 cm. in diameter. Good luck!!!
Sipadan, it is often said, has everything that the Indo-pacific has to
offer and for the macro photographer Coral garden will occupy many a pleasure
filled hour.
White Tip Avenue
As with all the sites on Sipadan island, the name says it
all. Expect to see huge Black & White Tip Reef Sharks, Grey Sharks, massive
Green & Hawsbill Turtles as well as large shoals of Jack & Barracuda.
Turtle Patch
All the sites should be called something with
"Turtle", but this site had a lot. The Titan Trigger Fish were
there too. Many reef sharks also
frequent this site. It is rather barren in comparison to some of the other sites,
but trigger fish and other reef fish dwell on the upper coral reef, making it a
well rounded site. Sipadan is the only
place where you can encounter the Clown Trigger Fish at only 5 meters.
South Point
This is a good place to get a bit deeper in the morning as long as you
don’t mind a thin layer of narcosis-on-toast for breakfast. There is usually a
very strong current present at this site. Dives here can take you through up to
three marked sites. Very large shoals of pelagic feed here (Barracuda, Jacks,
Sharks and Turtles). On the upper reef, a multitude of smaller reef fish
abound. Coral is bursting with color, many huge Anemone and Clown Fish at this
site.
One of the most likely sites for the more rare sharks such as Hammerheads
and Threshers, both of which tend to stay at depths here of 40m+. On this dive
you will descend down to a ledge and then fin out gently into the blue scanning
for a glimpse of action. If you are lucky enough to encounter Hammerheads or
Threshers you will be the toast of the resort and the object of envy. The
wonder of Sipadan is that visitors get
used to countless Turtles, White-tips, Bump-headed Parrotfish and massive
schools of other fish that the crossbar is always raised and South Point is
often the site for the crowning glory.
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