Kapalai Dive Resort, Mabul and Kapalai
Luxurious water village resort on Kapalai, perfectly positioned to enjoy Sipadan’s incredible diving
per person, full board
Overview
- Excellent facilities for divers and scuba students
- Incredible ocean views and a totally unplugged atmosphere - ideal for reconnecting with nature
- This is Kapalai’s only resort, on a mile-long sandbank and house reef
- Quick and easy access to Sipadan, Mabul and the region’s other incredible diving areas
The serene water village of Kapalai Dive Resort boasts uninterrupted ocean views as far as the eye can see. Standing in perfect isolation at the end of a mile-long sandbank, Kapalai balances exceptional diving with absolute luxury, plus close access to Sipadan and Mabul. Enjoy short boat rides to the region’s most famous sites known for their cool macro creatures, powerful pelagics like sharks, and of course - Sipadan’s legendary schools of barracuda. Or, grab your buddy and set off on a self-guided adventure on the island’s house reef. Between dives guests can dine on delicious chef-prepared meals and delight in the blissful open-ocean scenery.
Rooms
Water bungalow
1 x King bed, sleeps 2
Ensuite bathroom, Fan, Private terrace...from $247 /night
Resort checklist
Meal plans:
- Full Board
Diving in Mabul and Kapalai
TurtlesYear round
TrevallyYear round
Rare OctopusNot frequently
Exotic cuttlefishNot frequently
Clown frogfishYear round
Giant frogfishYear round
MandarinfishNot frequently
SeahorseNot frequently
Unique crabs & shrimpsNot frequently
Exotic NudisYear round
Artificial reefsYear round
Ghost pipefishNot frequently
Update Oct 2023 - The nearby island of Sipadan will be closed for the month of November every year in order to give the reefs and marine life a respite from dive tourism
Mabul and Kapalai can be summed up in one word - ‘muck’! At Mabul Island and Kapalai, diving is all about diversity and interesting critters, rather than great visibility and big fish. Although there are some interesting reefs, they are not a patch on those of Sipadan nearby. But the mix of different habitats around Mabul and Kapalai means a great diversity of life and these islands have become well known for unusual species and ‘muck’ critters. There are even artificial reefs around Mabul and Kapalai that have attracted a great deal of life - including giant groupers for those that need their big fish fix!
A typical dive on Mabul or Kapalai might mean hunting for leaf scorpionfish, frogfish, ribbon eels, different crustaceans and ghost pipefish. Blue ring octopus are also commonly found here. The sheltered sandy bays are home to more sought after ‘muck’ critters including the elusive mimic octopus, Ambon scorpionfish, frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, sea horses and some unusual nudibranchs. Wherever you dive, you will encounter amazing numbers of reef fish, schooling snappers and goatfish, sting rays and gobies in the sand, anemones in the shallows with their resident ‘Nemos’, and - this being Sabah - passing turtles.
