Semporna, Sabah
☀️ Tabawan Island
The Secret Blue Lagoon & Pearl of the North
Tabawan Island is often described as the Hidden Giant of Semporna, located in the northwestern island cluster near the edge of Darvel Bay and best known for its remarkable natural feature, a massive and almost fully enclosed Blue Lagoon with calm, crystal-clear waters, historically used for pearl farming due to its protected and nutrient-rich conditions.
Today, Tabawan Island remains one of the most remote islands in Semporna, far from busy southern routes and offering a strong sense of isolation and untouched nature, where divers and snorkelers often find themselves as the only boat in the area while exploring healthy coral reefs and lagoon waters that feel like a private swimming pool filled with marine life.
With minimal human impact, clear blue waters, and pristine coral reefs, Tabawan Island delivers a true off-the-beaten-path diving experience for those exploring Diving Semporna, making it an ideal destination for adventurers seeking solitude, raw beauty, and one of Sabah’s last truly secluded island environments.
Join TDB Semporna for professionally guided excursions to Tabawan Island, one of the most remote and exclusive destinations in a well-planned Semporna diving itinerary. Our experienced team ensures proper certification alignment, safety briefings, and smooth logistics for exploring the island’s calm Blue Lagoon and surrounding pristine reefs. Ideal for divers and snorkelers seeking untouched coral reefs, clear lagoon waters, and a true off-the-beaten-path experience, diving Tabawan Island delivers a rare sense of solitude and natural beauty unlike anywhere else in Semporna.
📍 Location & Accessibility
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Distance from Semporna: Approximately 60–75 minutes by speedboat via the North Route
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Geography: Tabawan Island is uniquely shaped like a horseshoe, naturally enclosing a deep turquoise lagoon
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Vibe: Ancient and Serene, with dense tropical forest cover and the presence of a Sabah Parks station
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Water Condition: The inner Blue Lagoon remains mirror-calm, while the outer reef walls are influenced by open sea currents
🧭 Why TDB Semporna Dives Tabawan
We organize exclusive expeditions to Tabawan Island for divers who value privacy, unique underwater topography, and remote exploration.
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The Blue Lagoon Experience: Diving inside the lagoon feels surreal, with perfectly flat water conditions that create one of the most relaxing surface intervals in Sabah.
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Dual-Profile Diving: Experience two distinct worlds in one destination, from muck diving and critter hunting inside the lagoon to wall diving and drift diving along the outer reef.
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Zero Crowds: Far from the main tourist routes, Tabawan Island offers pure isolation, where it is just you, the ocean, and untouched jungle surroundings.
📅 Best Time to Dive Tabawan Island
Tabawan Island is accessible for diving year-round thanks to its sheltered location inside Darvel Bay, with seasonal highlights as follows:
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April to September (Golden Season): This period offers the smoothest boat crossings and best visibility often exceeding 20m on the outer walls, while the high midday sun transforms the inner Blue Lagoon into a vivid turquoise, creating ideal conditions for wide-angle photography and drone shots.
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October to March: During the monsoon season, open seas may become choppy, but Tabawan’s natural horseshoe-shaped lagoon remains mirror-calm, ensuring reliable diving, stable conditions, and excellent opportunities for macro photography even when other exposed islands are inaccessible.
🐠 Marine Life & Underwater Highlights
Tabawan Island offers a unique mix of marine ecosystems created by its distinctive lagoon structure.
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Inside the Lagoon: The sandy and silty seabed forms a true macro diving paradise, where divers can spot seahorses, pipefish, Wonderpus octopus, and colorful nudibranchs thriving in calm, protected waters.
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Outer Walls: Beyond the lagoon, the island drops into deep water along dramatic walls, attracting Green Turtles, large schools of fusiliers, and cruising Eagle Rays, offering exciting wall diving and pelagic encounters.
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The Pearl History: Remnants of historic pearl oyster cages remain visible underwater, now transformed into thriving artificial reefs covered with sponges and soft corals.
🤿 Diving Conditions at Tabawan Island
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Topography: Dramatic outer walls contrasted with shallow sandy slopes inside the protected lagoon
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Depth: 5m – 30m+, suitable for a wide range of diving levels
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Currents: Zero to mild currents within the lagoon, with moderate currents occasionally affecting the outer walls
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Visibility: Excellent visibility on the outer reefs often exceeding 20m, while inner lagoon visibility ranges from 10m–15m, typical of nutrient-rich muck diving environments
🎓 Courses & Experience Level at Tabawan
Tabawan Island is a true all-rounder diving destination, suitable for a wide range of marine activities.
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PADI Open Water Course: The sheltered Blue Lagoon provides exceptionally safe, pool-like conditions protected from waves and currents, making it one of the best environments for beginner diver training.
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Underwater Photography: The lagoon’s stability is ideal for macro photography, allowing photographers to hover motionless while capturing detailed shots of nudibranchs and other small marine life.
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Snorkeling: Shallow inner reef edges and calm waters create a safe and enjoyable environment for snorkelers seeking relaxed exploration in crystal-clear conditions.
✅ Summary: Is Tabawan Island Worth Diving?
✅ Dive in Semporna’s Largest Blue Lagoon
✅ Inside vs. Outside Dive Profiles
✅ Complete Privacy (No Crowds)
✅ Macro & Muck Diving
If you are seeking an expedition-style diving trip that feels like exploring a true Lost World, Tabawan Island is the ultimate choice, offering a quiet, majestic, and entirely different experience compared to traditional Mabul or Sipadan diving.
🌍 Famous Dive Sites at Tabawan Island
Choose Tabawan if you hate crowds. At Mabul, you might see 20 other boats. At Tabawan, you will likely be the only boat for miles. It is for the explorer who wants to see “Wild Sabah.”
Batik is a small neighboring island usually included in the Tabawan trip. It is uninhabited and offers excellent wall diving, providing a nice contrast to the sandy lagoon dives of Tabawan.
Yes, but they are mostly found on the Outer Walls and at Batik Island. Inside the lagoon, you are more likely to see rays and critters.
Yes! The lagoon is a paradise for snorkelers because it is so calm and shallow. You can float over the reefs without worrying about waves or strong currents.
Not necessarily. The Lagoon dives are very easy and shallow (Open Water friendly). However, to fully enjoy the Outer Walls and Batik Drop-Off, an Advanced license is recommended due to the depth.
It is one of the furthest islands, taking about 60–80 minutes by speedboat. It is located in the Northern Cluster (towards Lahad Datu), opposite to the direction of Sipadan.
The lagoon is a nutrient-rich environment (which is why it was used for pearl farming). This green tint is plankton, which attracts the rare macro life (seahorses/crabs). Don’t worry—the Outer Wall dives usually have crystal clear blue water.
No. Tabawan is undeveloped for tourism. There are no hotels, resorts, or restaurants. It is strictly a day-trip destination for adventurous divers. We bring all food and supplies with us.
Yes! The lagoon is the highlight of the trip. The boat enters through a narrow channel. The water inside is usually flat and calm, making it perfect for lunch breaks and surface intervals on the boat.
Yes. Like all islands in the Semporna region, it is under the surveillance of the ESSCOM security forces. There is actually a Malaysian security post on the island itself, making it one of the safest places to visit.
