Sipadan - staying on Mabul island safety?

[Bagfullofstories]

Hi,

I am considering to go to Mabul Island to do some amazing Sipadan dives soon! Anyone who has been there recently and can tell me how the security of the island is.

I read a lot about the "rough" past of it (with kidnappings and so), and that now army and police are present on the island. Anyone been there recently?

 

[Saldiac]

I haven't been back in the last few years but in 2015 and 2017 Mabul was perfectly safe. As long as you don't venture out late at night all alone on abandoned piers, you should be fine. It's not like there's a crazy nightlife scene on Mabul anyway and if you've had a full day of diving then chances are that you'll just end up falling asleep shortly after dinner.

There's an army post on Sipadan island and when we stayed at Seaventures in 2017 a group of soldiers always came onto the oil rig during the early mornings.
I've felt less safe on some of the streets in Belgium

 

[chillyinCanada]

Nothing of serious nature has happened in over 20 years though there was a strange incident on the mainland/Semporna side a couple of years back.

 

[drk5036]

I was just at seaventures this past August (keep forgetting to write a trip report) and I felt completely safe. More-so near Mabul than in Semporna (which was also fine but not somewhere I’d really like to spend more than one night).

Also, it was the best diving I’ve ever done.

 

[gwklein]

I spent 9 days on the Seaventures Dive Rig in June. Each evening 3 armed guards arrived to spend the night. Additionally, a coast guard boat patrolled the waters around the island. I was told that there have been no "incidents" since the Filipino pirate attack in 2000, but the guards and boat are there to make sure nothing else does happen. I felt safe the whole time. I also did not feel like I was under military law since the guards and boat were just part of the background. They weren't obvious to the guests unless you got up during the middle of the night to walk around.

 

[Bagfullofstories]

I spent 9 days on the Seaventures Dive Rig in June. Each evening 3 armed guards arrived to spend the night. Additionally, a coast guard boat patrolled the waters around the island. I was told that there have been no "incidents" since the Filipino pirate attack in 2000, but the guards and boat are there to make sure nothing else does happen. I felt safe the whole time. I also did not feel like I was under military law since the guards and boat were just part of the background. They weren't obvious to the guests unless you got up during the middle of the night to walk around.

Alright, great. That seems ok

 

[Christian]

Nothing of serious nature has happened in over 20 years though there was a strange incident on the mainland/Semporna side a couple of years back.

I was there 20 years ago. Shots were exchagend. I was in a conversation over a drink with a couple of ex US military. We lay down on the floor until the situation calmed down (thiefs trying to steal boat engines, island security intervened). Nobody got hurt. A few months later Aby Sayaff showed up and kidnapped a group of guests which they held hostage in the Sulu Archipelago. Police station in Semporna got raided too. Wild times.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I was there 20 years ago. Shots were exchagend. I was in a conversation over a drink with a couple of ex US military. We lay down on the floor until the situation calmed down (thiefs trying to steal boat engines, island security intervened). Nobody got hurt. A few months later Aby Sayaff showed up and kidnapped a group of guests which they held hostage in the Sulu Archipelago. Police station in Semporna got raided too. Wild times.

You were there before me, so more than 20 years ago?

I was there very shortly before the government shut down Sipidan for overnight stays. All the resorts were on the way out the door to their new resorts on Mabul. I stayed at Borneo divers on Sipidan (almost zero mainentance and it showed but the diving and island beauty made up for it) and then transferred over to Borneo's brand new resort on Mabul. I don't think that anyone had ever stayed in my room before.

 

[Christian]

You were there before me, so more than 20 years ago?

I was there very shortly before the government shut down Sipidan for overnight stays. All the resorts were on the way out the door to their new resorts on Mabul. I stayed at Borneo divers on Sipidan (almost zero mainentance and it showed but the diving and island beauty made up for it) and then transferred over to Borneo's brand new resort on Mabul. I don't think that anyone had ever stayed in my room before.

Pretty much exacly, 1997/98 the first time. Then in 1999/2000. My last visit was also before it closed (not as close as you) 2003/2004 I believe. Haven’t been back since. The package was pretty much unmatched back then. But it got a little out of hand with illegal resorts opening and for the sake of the reef/island—the only sane decision. Great memories. Dived a lot with Eljer and also a few times with M Wong. Always stayed w Borneo Divers.

 

[chillyinCanada]

"Eljer", ha, had just been trying to remember his name the other day. Fun to dive with and quite the character!