Sipadan - the best time for diving?

[Mike_Kiev]

Hello all!
Me and my friends are planning to dive at Sipadan in autumn 2019.
Can you, please, tell me the best time to go there to see all big schools of barracudes ect?
Or may be autumn is not a good season?
Thank you all in advance!

 

[The Wolf]

Hello all!
Me and my friends are planning to dive at Sipadan in autumn 2019.
Can you, please, tell me the best time to go there to see all big schools of barracudes ect?
Or may be autumn is not a good season?
Thank you all in advance!

In Asia, much depends on the monsoon season which, unlike before is very unpredictable. The Barracudaes are there most of the time and I have not dived there without not seeing them. The diving is packed there most times of the year but the main concern is really the rain/bad weather you need to worry about which may/may not affect a dive at Sipadan.

I would like to suggest months to dive/not to dive but...the weather patterns are so screwed up, I have given up advising anyone when not to dive.

 

[Nemo Diver]

Any safety concerns? Terrorist or kidnappers still active? Not sure if Malaysian navy or coast guards are more effective now

 

[NYCcowgirl]

Any safety concerns? Terrorist or kidnappers still active? Not sure if Malaysian navy or coast guards are more effective now

Anyone local who can weigh in? I'm also interested to hear about recent issues in the area.

 

[The Wolf]

Anyone local who can weigh in? I'm also interested to hear about recent issues in the area.

Sipadan/Mabul diving is safe.

Security is much better now days.

Security assets on and around Mabul and Kapalai.

If you are going and plan on being out near Sipadan for your trip, stick to Mabul Island, Kapalai or Seaventures rig.

Not safe at night out at sea in other areas.

 

[NYCcowgirl]

Sipadan/Mabul diving is safe.

Security is much better now days.

Security assets on and around Mabul and Kapalai.

If you are going and plan on being out near Sipadan for your trip, stick to Mabul Island, Kapalai or Seaventures rig.

Not safe at night out at sea in other areas.

Good to hear. I was working in the area a few years back and there were some pretty nasty incidents despite military police presence.

 

[The Wolf]

Good to hear. I was working in the area a few years back and there were some pretty nasty incidents despite military police presence.

Agreed. The authorities had some big gaps in the "security net" back then but have improved the security primarily in the Sipadan/Kapalai (security forces on the atoll/island) and sea assets whilst Seaventures is just in front of mabul.

But there are still problems outside of this zone and visitors should be cautious when staying on other islands in the vicinity or further up North fromSemporna or sailing through the area betweenTawau and Sandajan at night.

 

[pconsidine007]

Sipadan/Mabul diving is safe.

Security is much better now days.

Security assets on and around Mabul and Kapalai.

If you are going and plan on being out near Sipadan for your trip, stick to Mabul Island, Kapalai or Seaventures rig.

Agreed. The authorities had some big gaps in the "security net" back then but have improved the security primarily in the Sipadan/Kapalai (security forces on the atoll/island) and sea assets whilst Seaventures is just in front of mabul.

But there are still problems outside of this zone and visitors should be cautious when staying on other islands in the vicinity or further up North fromSemporna or sailing through the area betweenTawau and Sandajan at night.

 

[pconsidine007]

Hi - thanks so much for the info! We would like to go in August but will also be travelling there with 2 little kids (plan to keep them in the resort with grandma while we dive). Is he safety situation better? Some of the online travel advisories are quite concerning but I also know sometimes those can be overblown

 

[Dan]

An alternative to Sipadan is Maratua Atoll, 223 km south of Sipadan in Indonesia side. You will see the barracuda tornado in "The Channel" or "The Big Fish Country" as Home - Nabuccoislandresort named the site. You'll also see manta in Sangalaki & Stingless Jellyfish in Kakaban. I was there in May 2014, what a fantastic trip!


My next trip there would be on liveaboard with Raja Manta