South Point (Sipadan)

Best time to dive

January to December; April to December; March to June; September to November

What you might see

• Blue-ringed octopusPossible
• Hammerhead sharkPossible
• Manta rayPeak season
• Sea turtleLikely
• Thresher sharkPossible

Sightings are seasonal probabilities, not promises - even in peak season nature does its own thing.

Certification & difficulty

Advanced Open Water - advanced conditions (currents/depth); dive within your training.

Snorkelling

Not a snorkel site - Limited - possible in calmer conditions near the reef top but not recommended when current is running

Safety notes

Strong currents and down-currents that can pull divers off the wall to depth; requires careful depth and air management and an experienced guide

Permits & fees

Requires a Sabah Parks SIPADAN PERMIT - daily cap reported at ~176 permits, allocated to licensed resorts on rotation; diving fee RM250 (Malaysian)/RM350 (foreign) per diver per day; max 2 dives/day at Sipadan under current rules

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Location

Nearest hub: Semporna