SABAH
Mabul Island
Mention Mabul Island and visions of swaying coconut trees and idyllic water villages come to mind. And that’s just above the water. Located only about 15 minutes by speedboat from the famous Sipadan Island, Mabul has gained its own recognition as one of the best muck-diving (a term used to describe limited visibility dives at shallow sites with usually sandy bottoms) sites in the world.
KEY FACTS
CURRENCY : MYR
LOCAL CUISINE : CHINESE, MALAY, INDIAN
SPECIALITIES : LOCAL DELICACIES
PEAK HOURS : 12p.m.
COMMUNICATION MEDIUM : CANTONESE
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Features
Mabul is a small oval shaped island fringed by sandy beaches and perched on the northwest corner of a larger 200-hectare reef. The reef is on the edge of the continental shelf and the seabed surrounding the reef slopes out to 25–30m deep.
Mabul is also renowned for its amazing array of macrolife, making it an underwater photographer’s dream location to capture some of the rarest ecological species on film. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, spike-fin gobies, frogfish and moray eels are just some of the spectacular critters you will encounter beneath the waters of Mabul.
Although all the excitement is underwater, you can always set your scuba gear aside for a day to laze on Mabul’s soft sand to work on your tan.
Semporna
Semporna is a town on the island of Borneo, in the Malaysian state of Sabah. It’s the gateway to Tun Sakaran Marine Park, a group of 8 islands with dive sites on the Kapikan and Church reefs. Bodgaya Lagoon is home to eagle rays and barracudas. On Bohey Dulang Island, the rocky Bohey Dulang Nature Trail has panoramic views. Hawksbill and green turtles hatch their eggs on the biodiverse Pom Pom Island.
Sunset view
Not an early riser? Mabul’s sunset, with its flaming clouds, is as breathtaking as its morning counterpart.
The sun rises early in this part of the world, and therefore, also sets early.
Around 6.00pm, villagers wind up their day’s chores as the shadows start getting long and lights begin to illuminate the island.
The spectacular views of the skies, which dramatically change colour to accommodate the setting sun, is an experience that is bound to stay with you for some time.
Island hoping Kapalai
One of the best places to go island hopping in Sabah is from the town of Semporna, the gateway to hundreds of islands off its coast.
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The island of Kapalai, just 15 kilometers off Sipadan, was a beautiful island two hundred years ago, but now it is only a sandbar. Erosion has reduced the island to sea level and the village now sits on the edge of the extensive Ligitan Reefs. All of the buildings are on stilts resting on the underwater reef.
Snorkeling
Located just twenty minutes by boat from the world-famous Sipadan and home to both our Mabul Beach Resort and Mabul Turtle Hatchery, Mabul offers snorkelers a perfect balance of snorkelling & beach time. Just a few steps from our beautiful Mabul Beach Resort you will find our house reef where you can spot turtles, cuttlefish, octopus, blue spotted stingrays as well as plenty of schooling tropical reef fish without having to venture too far from your sun-lounger!
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​Semporna Town
Semporna is a well known gateway to beautiful islands such as Mabul, Sipadan, Kapalai, Mataking, and Pom Pom.
The town is mainly populated by Bajau ethnic community, also known as the Sea Gypsies. Most of them live in sprawling stilt villages over the sea water on the outskirt of
Semporna town was founded soon after the establishment of Sandakan town by British North Borneo Company, which the name means place of rest or place to settle.
thetown, or live inside their traditional Lepa boats.
Tengkorak Hill
This archaeological site is located at Jalan Tampi-Tampi, about 10km south of Semporna town. It is on a hill about 600 feet above sea level. Bukit Tengkorak is a volcanic rock-shelter site and a part of volcano mouth of 2km in diameter. Bukit Tengkorak Archaeological Site is the largest pottery making factory in Southeast Asia during the Neolithic period.
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The hill slopes are littered with numerous pottery shards with various patterns dating 3,000 BP. An ethno-archaeological study shows that pottery making is still practised by the Bajau of Semporna today.
