Resorts
SIPADAN WATER VILLAGE RESORT
Now that staying on Sipadan itself is no longer possible, this deluxe dive resort on Mabul is a luxury option for those wanting to dive Sipadan and of course Mabul and Kapalai.
The lovely ‘floating’ cottages of Sipadan Water Village Resort are perched on stilts above the sea. Each individual cottage is built from local wood, with the floor of the cottage just one metre above the sea. As you walk out on to the veranda and hear the water lapping, you can watch the fish dart through a carpet of seaweed dotted with starfish in a peaceful underwater garden. Fish-watch from the balcony in the first light of the day, or the last red-orange light of sunset!
Each spacious fan-cooled cottage is fully equipped with en-suite shower room (with hot and cold water) and living area with tea/coffee making facilities, refrigerator and hairdryer. Standard Cottages have a choice of two twin beds or one double bed. Outside each chalet is a private veranda, providing a wonderfully peaceful spot to relax and mull over Mabul’s fascinating diving. Junior Cottages are similar but semi-detached. Deluxe cottages have a bath tub and a minibar. Grand Deluxe Cottages are similar to Deluxe cottages, but are larger and have a private spa pool.
A separate restaurant and bar offers three buffet-style meals each day featuring mainly Asian-style food. Water, tea and coffee along with fruit juice are available during the day and wine and beer are available for purchase after the day’s diving is complete. Bottled water is provided in all rooms. Hot snacks, such as freshly baked cakes or banana fritters, are served after dives.
Boats leave for offshore dive sites three times each day, with two dives in the morning and one dive scheduled for the afternoon. The dive sites at Mabul and Kapalai are all within a five or ten minutes boat ride, while those at Sipadan are about 15 minutes away (diving at Sipadan is subject to permits being available and prevailing weather conditions on any given day). Shore diving is available on the house reef with permission from the duty divemaster from 0600-1800 hours. Guided night shore diving is available, for an additional charge, subject to minimum numbers. The diving management is of an extremely high quality, with dive staff carrying tanks and BCDs to and from the boat. Simply take your mask, fins and snorkel. The rest will be waiting for you! On return from the dive, your gear will be safely stowed away leaving you to take a fresh water shower on the dive deck. A constant supply of fresh towels are available at the dive centre (apart from the room towels in your bungalow, which are replaced daily).
Stays can be of any length. Prices below relate to a stay of 7 nights.
Price from $1818 for 7 nights. Includes: road/boat transfers between Tawau and Mabul; 7 nights full board accommodation (breakfast, lunch and dinner), including tea, coffee and some soft drinks, on a twin/share basis in a Junior Cottage at Sipadan Water Village Resort; 5 days of diving (3 boat dives daily and house reef shore diving, dive guide on boat dives).
In addition, a Sipadan Marine Park diving permit (currently MYR40, about $12, per day dived at Sipadan) is payable locally. Permits are currently issued the previous day and are subject to a quota, so may not be available every day.
A $3.50 jetty fee will be added for pre-payment.
Reduction for non-divers.
Single Occupancy Supplement: From $378 for 7 nights.