Semporna, Sabah
🌴 Mataking Island
Home of the Underwater Post Office & Pristine Reefs
Discover the magic of diving Mataking, a premier destination for beginner-friendly adventures in the Semporna archipelago. Located in the pristine Celebes Sea, Mataking features calm waters and shallow reefs that are ideal for PADI training, relaxed fun dives, and family-friendly snorkeling trips.
Join TDB Semporna to experience the crystal-clear visibility and vibrant marine life that make diving Mataking a top choice for safe and enjoyable underwater exploration. With sheltered conditions and varied reef structures, diving Mataking is suitable for all levels—from first-time PADI Open Water students to certified divers keen to visit the famous Underwater Post Office.
Join TDB Semporna for PADI courses, fun dives, and snorkeling trips, and experience diving Mataking as part of a professionally planned Semporna diving itinerary. Known for its clear water and calm conditions, Mataking Island is an ideal destination for relaxed recreational dives and structured underwater training.
📍 Location & Accessibility
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Distance from Semporna: Approximately 45–60 minutes by speedboat.
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Sea Conditions: Generally calm throughout the year.
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Typical Visibility: 15–25 meters.
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Water Temperature: 27–30°C.
Mataking’s close proximity to Semporna makes it a reliable and frequently visited dive site for daily dive trips, particularly when weather or sea conditions limit access to more exposed offshore locations.
🧭 Why TDB Semporna Dives Mataking Island
From an dive center perspective, Mataking Island offers:
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Stable dive conditions.
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Efficient logistics from Semporna.
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Excellent training environment.
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Suitable depth ranges to meet multiple course requirements.
These advantages make Mataking a core dive site within TDB Semporna’s dive planning for PADI courses, fun dives, and snorkeling experiences.
📅 Best Time to Dive Mataking Island
Mataking Island diving is possible year-round, with optimal conditions typically occurring during the following period:
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March to October: Calmer seas and improved visibility.
During periods when access to more exposed offshore sites is limited, Mataking Island remains a dependable alternative for safe and enjoyable diving.
🐠 Marine Life & Underwater Highlights
Mataking is a “Biodiverse Reef Haven.” Unlike the muck diving of Mabul, Mataking offers a balanced mix of vibrant coral gardens, sandy slopes, and clear blue water—making it ideal for both wide-angle scenes and detailed macro photography.
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The Reef Dwellers: Healthy hard and soft corals attract large schools of Oriental Sweetlips, Snappers, and Blue-Spotted Ribbontail Rays gliding gracefully over the sandy bottom.
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The “Post Office” Residents: The iconic sunken shipwreck near the Underwater Post Office is permanently surrounded by massive schools of Jackfish
(Trevally), curious Batfish, and impressive Giant Groupers. -
The Pelagics: At exposed points such as North Point, incoming currents can bring sightings of Grey Reef Sharks, White Tip Sharks, Barracuda, and the occasional passing Eagle Ray.
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Macro Life: Sandy slopes host waving colonies of Garden Eels, while careful observers can spot colorful Nudibranchs, Ribbon Eels, and Pygmy Seahorses camouflaged within sea fans.
🤿 Diving Conditions at Mataking Island
Mataking dive sites feature:
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Gentle to mild currents
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Sloping reefs and sandy patches
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Coral bommies and shallow coral gardens
These conditions make scuba diving at Mataking Island particularly suitable for:
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PADI Open Water Diver course dives
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Advanced Open Water training dives
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Buoyancy and navigation practice
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Relaxed fun dives for certified divers
At TDB Semporna, Mataking is regularly used for both training and leisure dives thanks to its predictable sea conditions, controlled depth profiles, and consistently high safety margin.
🎓 Courses & Activities Suitable at Mataking
Mataking Island is well-suited for:
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PADI Open Water Diver Course – confined-style open water dives
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PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course – navigation and buoyancy dives
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Discover Scuba Diving (DSD)
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Fun dives for certified divers
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Snorkeling trips for non-divers
Its versatility allows mixed groups of students, certified divers, and snorkelers to enjoy the same destination safely and comfortably, making Mataking an ideal choice for group-based dive itineraries.
✅ Summary: Is Mataking Island Worth Diving?
✅ Beginner-friendly
✅ Ideal for scuba courses and training
✅ Suitable for fun dives and snorkeling
✅ Short boat ride from Semporna
✅ Calm, scenic reef diving
Mataking Island is not about extreme or technical diving. Instead, it focuses on accessible, safe, and enjoyable underwater experiences, making it a core dive site for both first-time divers and experienced divers seeking relaxed, high-quality reef diving in Semporna.
🌍 Famous Dive Sites at Mataking Island
Booking is easy. Simply contact TDB Semporna via WhatsApp or our website. We offer daily packages that include boat transfers, equipment rental, lunch, and a professional dive guide.
Yes. Our day trips often combine Mataking with nearby islands such as Timba-Timba and Pandanan. This creates a 3-island hopping experience in a single day, offering a variety of dive sites and beautiful beaches.
Yes, especially for macro (small creature) photography. The calm water and good visibility allow photographers to get steady shots of tiny critters such as Pygmy Seahorses and Frogfish without fighting strong currents.
Mataking is famous for its macro life and turtles. You can expect to see Green and Hawksbill Turtles, Nudibranchs, Orangutan Crabs, and schools of Jackfish. If you are lucky, you might even spot the resident Barracuda at the house reef.
No. Unlike Sipadan Island, which has a strict daily permit limit, Mataking Island does not require a special permit. This makes it a hassle-free option for spontaneous trips and guarantees you can get in the water when you want.
Absolutely. Mataking offers some of the clearest shallow waters in Sabah, making it a paradise for snorkelers. While divers explore the deeper reefs, snorkelers can swim with turtles and colorful reef fish just a few meters off the beach.
Mataking is located approximately 45–60 minutes by speedboat from the Semporna mainland. TDB Semporna arranges daily boat transfers as part of our diving and snorkeling packages, ensuring a comfortable and scenic ride to the island.
Mataking is home to Malaysia’s first Underwater Post Office, located on the Mataking 1 shipwreck. It sits at a depth of about 18 meters, making it a perfect attraction for Advanced Open Water divers. You can actually mail a waterproof postcard from here.
Yes. Mataking is one of the best locations for diving Semporna if you are a beginner. The island features shallow reefs, gentle currents, and a sandy bottom, creating a stress-free environment for PADI Open Water courses and first-time Discovery Scuba dives.
