Sipadan Island (Malaysia)

Sipadan is Malaysia's only oceanic island. This island is actually a rocky outcrop that rises dramatically from the ocean floor. Except for an encircling narrow sand beach, the island, which is covered by a thick crop of rain forest, has a low profile and is less than a mile in circumference. It has an area of 12 hectares (30 acres).

Sipadan was declared a bird sanctuary in 1933 by the colonial Government of North Borneo and regazetted again in 1963 after Independence by the Malaysian Government. There have been quite a large number of bird species spotted on and around Sipadan such as frigate bird; sea eagles, reef egrets, kingfishers, wood pigeons, starlings and sunbirds, and the Nicobar pigeon.

The most notable feature of the invertebrate fauna is presence of the robber or coconut crab (Birgus latro). These large animals live in the strand vegetation and are voracious and robust scavengers.

There are trails on Sipadan Island for those who like to explore the whole vegetation and wildlife that exists.

Lodge

• Beach huts accomodation made from Borneo native materials on a Twin-Share basis unless single supplement is paid.
• Huts are equipped with built-in beds with beddings and towels provided, mosquito nets, ceiling fan, electrical light and power points (220 v).
• Centralised toilets and showers.
• Solar panels with hot water for showers.
• Large dining hall / bar for meals, socialising, dancing and staff presentations.
• Sundry shop for Borneo Diver's products, sundries, films etc.
• Radio telephone for mainland and overseas communication.

Diving

West Ridge, Turtle Cavern Tomb, White Tip Avenue, South Point...

Here on the minute island of Sipadan, off the northeastern coast of Borneo, the schooling hammerheads are at the top of every diver's wish list. The waters that surround Sipadan are a seascape of intoxicating abundance, where sea turtles continualy swim in and out of the ether, sometimes bumping into you in their absent-minded meandering, where dense schools oftrevally and barracuda reflect the light with mirror-brightness, where bannerfish flutter along the precipice of the coral wall like falling leaves. Sipadan is also the turtle capital of the world.

Installations

• We use six 28 x 7 foot custom-built fibreglass dive boats powered by twin 65 hp outboards.
  This boat can carry 10 divers each and get to any of the island's dive sites in 10 minutes or less.
• Three boat dive a day with one boatman and a Divemaster
• Unlimited Beach Diving and usage of tanks, weight belts and weights only.
• Bauer compressors, aluminium 3000 psi / 80 cubic foot tanks with American-style "K" valves, equipment for rental, 220 / 110 volts charger for strobes and lights.