| Reputably one of the best diving spots | | | | hawksbill and green turtles that have |
| in the world, the uniqueness of Sipadan | | | | lost their way in the caves and |
| Island lies in its geographic makeup. | | | | subsequently drowned. Visibility is low |
| Lying on top of a volcanic seamount, | | | | in the far reaches of the caves, which |
| Sipadan Island is the only oceanic | | | | is why only advanced divers should enter |
| island in Malaysia. As this volcano | | | | the cavern. Accompaniment of a local |
| rises steeply over 1600 feet from the | | | | diving master is necessary when |
| seabed, many of the dive sites here | | | | venturing into this maze of |
| consist of steep walls or drop-offs. In | | | | interconnecting tunnels. |
| addition, the entire reef area of 513 | | | | As one of Sipadan's most treasured |
| acres functions as the habitat for soft | | | | sites, Barracuda Point is where schools |
| and hard corals, as well as home to over | | | | of barracudas and jacks swirl around as |
| 3000 species of fish. Hawksbill and | | | | the strong currents here bring food to |
| green turtles are common in Sipadan. In | | | | their midst. Of course, the large volume |
| fact, it is not surprising for divers | | | | of fish also attracts the presence of |
| meet to 70 turtles on each dive! | | | | Grey Reef Sharks and the Hammerheads. |
| Due to the size of the island, dive | | | | Here, it is common for divers to drop |
| sites around Sipadan are close to one | | | | down lower along the wall. However, the |
| another. Altogether, there are 11 marked | | | | northern point of this site should be |
| dive sites around Sipadan: | | | | avoided as strong currents here may |
| The Drop-Off is the most popular dive | | | | bring divers further away from the |
| site here and has won the island the | | | | island. |
| Best Beach Dive Award in the world. | | | | The highlight of the Sipadan Midreef |
| Located just 20 feet from the beach, the | | | | Dive would probably be the strong |
| sea water turns indigo blue as the depth | | | | currents that drift divers north or |
| of the sea drops steeply to a staggering | | | | south from their start points. As they |
| 2800 feet. The circling tornado of | | | | scale along the wall, throngs of marine |
| barracuda or jacks typically found in | | | | life such as triggerfish, unicorn fish, |
| brochures, books or magazines are easily | | | | hawk fish and gobies are visible here. |
| visible overhead when a diver enters the | | | | At times, divers may even be pushed |
| water. Corals and sponges growing at the | | | | upwards by the current, only to be |
| side of the wall attract small reef | | | | stopped by hard flat corals at the top |
| fishes. White tip sharks and green | | | | of the reef. |
| turtles are also amongst the creatures | | | | Other dive sites in Sipadan include the |
| living along the cliff. This is also a | | | | Coral Garden, the Hanging Gardens and |
| popular location for night dives, as | | | | the Staghorn Crest, perfect locations |
| shrimps and crabs can be seen peering | | | | for underwater photography due the |
| out from the crevices along the wall at | | | | unique topography and the abundance of |
| night. | | | | colorful marine life. On the other hand, |
| Next up is the Turtle Cavern, with the | | | | the South Point and Whitetip Avenue dive |
| entrance located about 65 feet below the | | | | sites are great locations to observe the |
| surface. | | | | rarer shark species such as the Whitetip |
| Within these chambers lie the remains of | | | | Reef Sharks and the Hammerheads. |