Pulau Kapalia

Pulau Kapalia Scuba Diving Pulau kapalia Malaysia

Pulau Kapalai > Sabah

Dive spots are extremely close and can be reached in just a few minutes by speedboat and some of them, actually, just by swimming from the dive center pier. For those who are ready to venture more and aside from the tiny marvels of the macro life of Kapalai can, in just a few minutes, dive in Sipadan (where big fish and turtles abound) or in Mabul (where silky and muddy bottoms offer different and equally pleasant experience and opportunities to the lovers of "muck diving").With a combination of sun and water in a unique and serene setting with friendly staff, Sipadan-Kapalai is an ideal destination for diver and non diver alike seeking a great holiday experience! Visit Malaysia Year 2011

Eel Garden

Located towards the southern end of Pulau Mabul, Eel Garden is one of the deeper dives around the area. Divers descend to a sandy flat between 20 to 25 metres sloping towards the open sea.

Finning carefully and avoiding stirring up the silty bottom, divers can observe gobies seeking refuge in the tiny crevices and moray eels occupying larger holes. Looking towards the sandy patch, you will see what appear to be blades of long grass swaying with the current. These are the elusive garden eels (Heteroconger Hassi) living in colonies, that quickly dart back into their burrows on approaching shadows or excessive movement in the water.

Ray Point

Also located on the southern tip of Pulau Mabul, this site slopes to about 30 metres at the sandy bottom. Currents sweeping through this point bring clear water and good visibility. Sea fans and soft corals that thrive in current areas are home to gobies, blennies, moray eels, butterfly fish, damsel fish, parrot fish and stonefish (Synanceia Verrucosa).

Mandarin Valley

This site is located on the northern tip of Pulau Kapalai. Pulau Kapalai is only a sandbank with a resort built on stilts over the island. The depth of this site ranges from 15 to 20 metres, sloping to a sandy bottom. Divers can observe stonefish, frogfish, gobies, leaf fish, ghost pipe fish, nudibranchs and mandarin fish (Synchiropus Splendidus).

Getting there

Pulau Kapalai can be reached by flight from the state capital, Kota Kinabalu, then a connecting flight to Tawau, followed by a 2½ hour drive to Semporna and finally a 30 minutes fast catamaran boat transfer to the island.