Sipadan Island is one of the world’s most iconic dive destinations, celebrated for its dramatic vertical walls, strong currents, and exceptional marine biodiversity, where divers regularly encounter vast schools of barracuda, swirling jackfish tornadoes, sea turtles, reef sharks, and occasional pelagic species.

To protect this unique ecosystem, diving in Sipadan is strictly regulated through a limited daily permit system, ensuring conservation while preserving its status as a premium and exclusive diving experience.

Best for: Advanced divers, wall diving, and encounters with large marine life

Mabul Island is internationally renowned for its exceptional macro diving and consistently calm conditions, featuring gentle sandy slopes and purpose-built artificial reefs that support an extraordinary concentration of small and rare marine life, including frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, and seahorses, making every dive a detailed exploration of the seabed.

With minimal currents, shallow depth profiles, and excellent dive control, Mabul Island diving is especially suitable for beginner divers, training dives, and underwater photographers, who benefit from extended bottom times, stable conditions, and abundant subjects for close-up photography.

Best for: Macro diving, beginner divers, underwater photography

Kapalai is a unique sandbank dive destination surrounded by shallow reefs and expansive sandy seabeds, and while it is not a true island, it is highly regarded for its outstanding macro diving, where patient divers can encounter rare and fascinating critters such as blue-ringed octopus, mandarin fish, and a wide variety of other cryptic marine life.

With generally good visibility, mild currents, and gentle depth profiles, diving Kapalai offers long, unhurried bottom times, making it ideal for relaxed dives, underwater photographers, and divers who enjoy slow-paced exploration of the seafloor.

Best for: Macro enthusiasts, relaxed diving, underwater photography

Mataking Island is known for its healthy coral reefs, gently sloping dive sites, and consistently excellent visibility, creating an ideal environment for relaxed and scenic diving, where encounters with Green Turtles are common alongside abundant reef fish, cruising rays, and the occasional pelagic species passing through the blue.

Above the surface, Mataking Island is equally appealing with its pristine white-sand beaches and calm, clear waters, making it a popular destination for snorkeling, surface intervals, and leisurely island time between dives, suitable for divers and non-divers alike.

Best for: Reef diving, turtle encounters, snorkeling

Pom Pom Island is celebrated for its unspoiled coral gardens and important turtle nesting beaches, offering calm and accessible dive conditions that suit both scuba divers and snorkelers, while underwater encounters frequently include reef sharks, sea turtles, and dense schools of colorful reef fish cruising over healthy coral formations.

Beyond its scenic reefs, Pom Pom Island diving is closely linked to ongoing marine conservation efforts, particularly turtle protection initiatives, allowing visitors to enjoy relaxed dives and snorkeling sessions while appreciating the island’s role in preserving Sabah’s marine ecosystems.

Best for: Reef diving, snorkeling, marine conservation enthusiasts

Timba-Timba Island is a well-loved island-hopping destination known for its shallow reefs, pristine white sandy beaches, and striking turquoise waters, creating a postcard-perfect tropical setting ideal for relaxed ocean activities.

While scuba diving opportunities are limited due to shallow depth profiles, snorkeling at Timba-Timba is excellent, especially for beginners and families, with calm conditions, good visibility, and vibrant reef fish found just below the surface, making it an ideal stop for leisure-focused marine exploration.

Best for: Snorkeling, island hopping, relaxation

Bohey Dulang is part of the protected Tun Sakaran Marine Park and is renowned for its dramatic volcanic crater lagoon, making it one of the most visually striking islands in the Semporna region.

While scuba diving opportunities are limited, snorkeling around Bohey Dulang reveals healthy coral reefs and abundant reef fish, and the island’s well-known viewpoint hike rewards visitors with one of the most iconic panoramic views in Semporna, highly favored by nature lovers and photographers.

Best for: Snorkeling, nature lovers, photography

Sibuan Island is known for its shallow coral reefs and consistently calm waters, creating a safe and welcoming environment that is ideal for snorkeling and beginner divers, with gentle depth profiles and good visibility allowing relaxed exploration of colorful reef life.

Frequently included in Semporna island-hopping tours, Sibuan is also famous for its scenic long sandbar, which emerges beautifully during low tide and provides an excellent spot for beach walks, photography, and surface intervals, making it a popular choice for visitors seeking an easygoing tropical island experience.

Best for: Snorkeling, beginner divers, island hopping

Mantabuan Island is a local island within the protected marine park area, known for its healthy coral reefs and clear, shallow waters, where snorkeling and light scuba diving reveal vibrant reef fish and colorful coral formations in calm conditions.

In addition to its underwater attractions, Mantabuan offers a glimpse into local island life, making it a meaningful stop for visitors interested in combining marine exploration with cultural island visits during a Semporna island-hopping experience.

Best for: Snorkeling, cultural island visits

Pandanan Island is a popular stop on many Semporna island-hopping routes, valued for its shallow, gently sloping reefs and clear waters that create ideal conditions for snorkeling and relaxed marine exploration.

The surrounding coral gardens are colorful and easy to access, allowing snorkelers to observe reef fish and healthy coral formations just below the surface, while the calm sea conditions make Pandanan suitable for visitors of all ages seeking a peaceful tropical island experience.

Best for: Snorkeling, island hopping

Si Amil Island is a remote and lesser-developed destination known for its untouched reef environments and minimal human impact, offering a more natural and tranquil alternative to the busier dive sites around Semporna.

The surrounding waters are well suited for recreational scuba diving, featuring healthy coral formations, balanced reef ecosystems, and a diverse range of marine life, making Si Amil ideal for divers who appreciate slow-paced exploration, wide reefscapes, and a strong sense of isolation in open water.

Best for: Quiet dives, reef exploration

Danawan Island remains largely undiscovered by mass tourism, offering a quiet and authentic diving environment characterized by natural reef structures, minimal diver traffic, and a strong sense of exploration away from commercial routes.

Diving around Danawan Island typically features good visibility, healthy reef formations, and occasional current influence, making it particularly appealing to experienced divers who appreciate uncrowded sites, situational awareness, and the freedom to explore reefs that feel untouched and unpressured.

Best for: Experienced divers, uncrowded dive sites

Tabawan Island is known for its clean, well-preserved coral reefs and consistently calm sea conditions, making it a comfortable and enjoyable destination for both scuba diving and snorkeling, especially for guests who prefer relaxed, low-stress marine activities.

The surrounding reefs support a healthy mix of reef fish, vibrant hard and soft corals, and occasional encounters with sea turtles, while the gentle currents and good visibility allow for easy exploration, long bottom times, and an overall peaceful underwater experience suitable for a wide range of skill levels.

Best for: Leisure dives, snorkeling

Adal Island features shallow reef systems and clear, calm waters that create ideal conditions for snorkeling and introductory scuba dives, allowing beginners to explore coral reefs comfortably and safely.

With its quiet and largely undeveloped atmosphere, Adal Island offers a relaxed escape from busier routes, where visitors can enjoy unhurried underwater exploration, light marine encounters, and a peaceful island setting well suited for first-time divers and leisure-focused travelers.

Best for: Snorkeling, beginner dives