Mabul and Kapalai, Malaysia
scuba diving destination Mabul and Kapalai, Malaysia

Mabul and Kapalai, Malaysia

Mabul and Kapalai are two small islands in the Tawau District of Sabah, Malaysia. They’re known for their balmy sandbars, turquoise waters, and dreamy hotels on stilts. Scuba resorts dot the islands and offer a jumpoff point to the region’s exotic, technicolor marine world.

Geography of Mabul and Kapalai, Malaysia

Mabul and Kapalai are small islands off the south-east coast of Sabah. Both are a short boat ride away from Sipadan, the only oceanic island in Malaysia. Mabul’s reef sits on the edge of the continental shelf, with the seabed sloping out to a depth of 30 meters. Kapalai, on the other hand, is smaller and has fewer resorts but has plenty of exotic experiences to offer. Although 200 years of erosion have reduced this beautiful island to a mere sandbar, its underwater life is a treasure trove waiting to be found.

Seaventures Oil Rig (Mabul)

As the name suggests, Seaventures is an oil rig turned Mabul diving resort with plenty of experiences to offer. Above the water, it’s a community for divers and tourists alike. It has a diving school for those getting certified, well-appointed accommodations and modern amenities, as well as tour packages that offer snorkeling and boat diving. But that’s not what people come here for. The area below the rig is home to a vast range of marine flora and fauna. Divers can enjoy all-day diving affairs and encounters with exotic corals, bumphead parrotfish, and pelagics. The deck on the rig offers sweeping views of the sunset over the horizon—the best way to cap off a long day.

Nudibranch Center (Mabul)

You can never get enough of nudibranchs in this popular diving spot off the coast of Mabul Island. This muck diving Mecca takes you up close and personal with diverse species of nudibranchs, a shell-less marine mollusk (aka sea slug) that comes in flamboyant shapes and myriad colors. Divers enjoy great visibility from 10 to 30 meters throughout the year, making the Nudibranch Center a great spot for both snorkelers and divers. Cuttlefish, octopus, and scorpionfish are also abundant in the area.

Mandarin Valley (Kapalai)

Mandarin Valley is a popular Kapalai diving spot where divers can spot the colorful but timid mandarin fish, also called small dragonets. This shallow dive is the perfect site for underwater macro photography. Diving here at dusk to evening is also a dream for photographers when the mandarin fish becomes more active, so gear up and include this site in your itinerary. You’ll also spot some sponges, crocodile fish, stonefish, and gobies, as well as nudibranchs of all sizes and colors. The site is easily accessible from the jetty and gently slopes down to about 20 meters, making it an easy and relaxing dive.

Spotted Ray Channel (Kapalai)

All over Kapalai’s sandy bottom and broken, nearshore reefs, you’ll find the blue-spotted ribbontail ray hovering about. The spotted ray channel offers the highest chances of encountering this elusive cartilaginous fish. The spot offers a shallow and relaxing dive, a great choice for those looking to soak in the area’s underwater garden. The site also offers the best muck diving in the world and rivals that of Mabul Island. So be sure to bring your underwater macro photography gear and take photos of the site’s burrowing residents like the frogfish and ghost moray eels.

Lobster Wall (Mabul)

Your Sipadan diving expedition wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Lobster Wall. It runs along Mabul’s west fringe reef and is arguably the island’s best dive site. This deep open water wall drops up to 40 meters with good visibility and hosts an impressive abundance of colorful fish. Get acquainted with the majestic lionfish, ghost pipefish, clownfish, rabbitfish, seahorses, and pufferfish as they feed on the exotic corals. And, of course, keep an eye out for the wall’s lobster inhabitants among the nooks and crannies.

Froggy Lair (Mabul)

Froggy Lair is worth a side trip in your Mabul diving itinerary. Here, you can go muck, macro, and drift diving all at once. The main action lies on the sandy bottom where burrowing fish and critters abound. Go with a divemaster with sharp eyes as the site has limited visibility. If you look carefully though, you’ll encounter myriad marine critters in the seabed and crevices, like nudibranchs, mandarin fish, frog and crocodile fish, and ornate ghost pipefish. The site is called Froggy Lair because it’s teeming with several species of frogfish.

Marine Life

  • Mimic octopuses - This cephalopod is capable of impersonating other local species, like lionfishes and peacock flounders. Blending in with the environment is both a hunting strategy and a form of defense from bigger predators.
  • Blue-ringed octopuses - Like the mimic octopus, this cephalopod is an expert at camouflage. It spends most of its time hiding in crevices and corals, and possesses venom that’s lethal enough to kill humans.
  • Green moray eels - These enigmatic eels are plentiful throughout Maui, and almost each dive site offers the chance to spot them. They are often found in seawalls and rock pilings, hiding in the crevices.Nudibranchs - Mabul and Kapalai diving offers the best nudibranch encounters. You’ll spot a dizzying array of these shell-less sea slugs around the islands.
  • Peacock mantis shrimps - The peacock mantis shrimp is a multicolored shrimp with shades of green, orange, and blue. While this species is nice to look at, it’s best to keep your distance. Its punch or striking force can be compared to the speed of a .22 caliber bullet.

Other Attractions

  • Bajau Laut village - The Bajau people (sea gypsies) are the main settlers of the islands where they live in quaint boathouses (locally called lepas) fringing the seaside. Hire a boat tour and live among the locals for an authentic Mabul and Kapalai experience.
  • Tun Sakaran Marine Park - Also known as Semporna Islands Park, this marine park is located off the east coast of Semporna. Squeeze in an island hopping tour in your itinerary and explore the region’s aquatic treasures.
  • Regatta Lepa festival - This colorful and lively festival occurs every April in Semporna and is celebrated by the Bajau Laut ethnic community. Join in on the festivities and soak in the local culture and traditions.
  • The Night Sky - Roll down a blanket on your deck and watch the Milky Way Galaxy light up Mabul’s sky. This rare phenomenon is common in the area, especially during the summer, thanks to the low light pollution.

How to Get There

Entry to Malaysia is fairly easy for divers and tourists alike. You can fly in from virtually anywhere in the world and visit the country.

By Air
Sabah is the main jump-off point to Mabul and Kapalai. From your location, fly to Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan and take a short domestic flight to Tawau, the nearest town to the islands. Head down to Semporna and a book a scheduled boat transfer to Mabul Island. From there, you can arrange diving tours around the island and nearby Kapalai.

Getting Around
Sabah is the main jump-off point to Mabul and Kapalai. From your location, fly to Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan and take a short domestic flight to Tawau, the nearest town to the islands. Head down to Semporna and a book a scheduled boat transfer to Mabul Island. From there, you can arrange diving tours around the island and nearby Kapalai.

Best Time to Visit

Mabul and Kapalai are year-round scuba diving destinations. But if you want crystal-clear visibility and low chance of rain, it’s best to visit from May to October. Avoid the months of November to April as this is the wet or rainy season in most of Sabah.

Required Trainings & Certifications

All card-carrying divers from around the world can dive in Mabul and Kapalai. There are a number of training centers and resorts offering certification programs on the islands. Many of the dive sites in the area are great for beginners, but it’s always good to have a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certificate if you wish to venture into the deep, blue abyss.

Miscellaneous Information

Currency
The currency in Mabul and Kapalai is the Malaysian ringgit (RM) and sen (note that 100 sen equals 1 Ringgit). Foreign currency can be converted at banks and money changers at the airport and in Semporna. VISA and Mastercard are accepted at all resorts, while cash payments are advised when shopping or paying for boat rentals and services. There are no banks and ATMs on the islands.

Language
The people of Tawau, Mabul, and Kapalai mainly speak Bahasa Malaysia, with a distinct Sabahan creole. Hakka Chinese is also widely spoken by the ethnic Chinese minority, as well as Sama-Bajau and Suluk languages. English is widely understood.

Time Zone
The Mabul and Kapalai islands both observe Malaysia Time (MYT), which is 8 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and 16 hours ahead of US Pacific Standard Time. There are no Daylight Saving Time clock changes.

Driving Side
The Mabul and Kapalai islands are small fishing villages where its few inhabitants live over the water in stilt houses. In other words, the only way to get around the islands is by boat or foot. But if you’re planning to explore other attractions in Sabah with a rental car, you will be driving on the left side of the road. You’ll also need an international license for you to be able to rent a car and drive in Sabah.

Calling Code
Dial +60 to call a Malaysian number from another country (this should be dialed after the IDD). The country code is followed by the area code.

ISO 3166 code
ISO 3166 alpha-2 code “MY” is the ISO 3166 entry for Malaysia and its 13 states and three federal territories.

Internet TLD
.my is the Internet country code top-level domain for Mabul and Kapalai, Malaysia.