Rising 700 metres from the sea floor and at only 12 hectare, Malaysia's sole oceanic island is very small in size. A 25-minute walk is all that is needed to circle the island on foot, but the huge amount of diverse marine life it attracts from the blackness of the open sea is simply mind-blowing. Surrounded by crystal clear waters, this crown jewel is a treasure trove of some of the most amazing species out there.
The dense vegetation on Sipadan supports a large variety of tropical birds that include sea eagles, kingfishers, sunbirds, starlings and wood pigeons. Exotic crustaceans including the amazing coconut crab roam the beaches and scurry among the undergrowth. Encounters with turtles, resident schools of jacks, bumphead parrotfish and barracudas are almost assured when diving around the tiny coral island.
In addition, Sipadan has ten dive sites, including Barracuda Point, Coral Garden, The Drop Off, Hanging Gardens, Midreef, South Point, Staghorn Crest, Turtle Cavern, Turtle Patch and Whitetip Avenue.