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Pakistan Karakoram Highway Expedition
Pakistan
SEMPORNA, SABAH MALAYSIA
There are few places on Earth where a diver can see huge shoals of whirling barracuda, a dozen sea turtles of varying species, a handful of sharks, and a teeming reef of Needlefish, Parrotfish and swarms of Rabbit-fish all on one dive. At Sipadan such sights are common, with lucky divers bringing home stories of whale sharks, manta rays, and schools of hammerheads.
A few kilometres north of Sipadan is the exhilarating Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort, sitting on its sturdy stilts on the shallow sandbanks of the Ligitan Reefs. Built in “national” style, the chalets overlook a reef filled with turtles, stingrays and tropical fish offering great sunsets and a stunning location in the middle of the sea. The resorts romantic chalets come with their own balcony or private terrace to enjoy the marine life, without getting your feet wet.
Sipadan Island’s unique geography makes it home to a number of excellent dive sites. Its lush forests and white sand beaches rest on top of a prehistoric volcano rising 600 meters from the seafloor and the pristine waters surrounding the island allow for a visibility of at least 20 meters year-round and up to 50 meters during the dry season. Sipadan-Kapalai Resort runs daily dive expeditions with expert guides. All resorts are allocated a limited quota, so serious divers need to book in advance.
Amenities
Bar/PubFamily RoomRestaurantWater SportsWi-Fi AvailableSipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort SEMPORNA, SABAH MALAYSIA
Stay Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort has 50 romantic chalets, each offering twin and triple sharing rooms. All rooms have air-conditioning and en suite bathrooms with shower, bathtub and basic toiletries. Room features include coffee and tea making facilities and 220 volts electrical points. Every chalet has their own backyard balcony, that offers the total privacy for lovers out sunbathing and getting a tan. For those who like to keep in touch with the world, broadband internet is provided.
ChildCare Children are welcome to stay at the Sipadan-Kapalai Resort, but there are no specific facilities available.
Dine Meals at the Sipadan-Kapalai Resort are served on a big western sundeck with sitting area that doubles as bar for evening drinks or an after-dive chat with a view of Kapalai’s fabulous tropical sunset. It is also the perfect place to share your underwater images and videos after dive.
Relax When not diving or exploring the surrounds, free time at the Sipadan-Kapalai Resort is mostly spent watching the marine life from your balcony during the day and gazing up the stars at night.
Experience Dive in Sipadan, where big fish and turtles abound or in Mabul , where silky and muddy bottoms offer different and equally pleasant experiences and opportunities to the lovers of "muck diving". Unlimited self-guided shore and night dives are conducted in front of Sipadan-Kapalai Resort’s scuba centre. Boat rides are conducted by experienced English-speaking dive master (maximum 10 divers per DM), tanks, weights and weight belts, Sipadan permit fee, cold and hot drinks, snacks.
Location Sipadan-Kapalai Resort is located in the Celebes Sea, near Tawau, north-east Borneo. Sipadan and Kapalai Islands area is regularly ranked as one of the top ten diving destinations in the world. Set on Kapalai Island, the Kapalai Dive Resort is an ideal destination for divers & non-divers seeking a great holiday experience!
Getting There International flights arrive at Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Take a morning flight from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau (50 min). You can also fly to Tawau direct from Kaula Lumpur or Singapore. On arrival at Tawau, our representative will receive you at the airport and drive you to the Semporna jetty (1 hr). From there you will take the resort speed boat to Kapalai Island (50 mins).
When to go A good time to travel to Borneo is between March and September/October. Scuba diving occurs all year round at Sipadan Island with decent visibility to be had throughout the year. However, for the most breathtaking experiences, with dive visibility reaching up to 50 meters, you should visit during the dry season which occurs between March and October. Temperatures throughout the year range between 21° C to 32° C (70°F to 90°F).
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