Sipadan - the best time for diving?

[sipadan.com]

The best season for Sipadan regarding viz is between Mars to end October. Also it's open year round. Between November and february it's a bit more rainy. August can be a bit choppy. Also this year the sun was out there from February (weather changing - El Nido - Gloal Warming).
Try to avoid the peak seasons when it's usually fully booked long time in advance especially the Chinese holdiays such as 1st week of October, July AUgust and February (Chinese new year).
Outside of peak season it's quite easy to get extra permits, but need to apply in advance.

Ask for Extra permits and of course Discounts if you book through Sipadan.com (advising thousands of divers a years since 10 years).

 

[CWK]

Whatever month you go, try to get your Sipadan permits as close to full moon or new moon as possible.

Avoiding Sipadan peak periods is a must if you want a higher allocation of Sipadan permits.

 

[The Wolf]

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

G'day,

Let me give you a lay-of-the-land with regards to the security situation at Sipadan and the surrounding islands.

The threats are a genuine concerns for everyone who are pushing their luck and going all the way out to the borderline at sea between Sabah and the Philippines. Nobody goes out to these areas except fishermen and sea gypsies as well as some cargo ships passing through between Kalimantan and the Philippines so the travel advisories do not take this into account and they have lumped the entire East coast of Sabah into the travel warning which I think is not accurate or fair.

Is the whole of the Sabah east coast dangerous? Absolutely not.

The vast majority of tourist visiting the East coast of Sabah visit the jungle nature areas of Danum or Tabin or Kinabatanganand so forth and there are no issues.

Turtle island is also very popular and there have been no issues here as security is tight and this area is further north near Sandakan.

The area you are referring to is the Lahad Datu/Semporna areas and yes, there areas one should not venture out to for visits/dives, fishing either day or night? Yes. Refer to the red box I have indicated on the goggle map below.


The red boxed area would be the "no go" zones both day or night for both Malaysian's and non-Malaysians. This red zone is to be avoided by all boats/ships.

The yellow box would be the Sipadan/Kapalai/Mabul areas out of Semporna, to the South between Tawau and Semporna and these are completely safe zones as the security is very tight here and there are armed patrols on the islands themselves as well as patrol boats in the vicinity.

I am very comfortable advising families planning on visiting Sipadan/Mabul/Kapalai or sea ventures that these are safe zones and visit/stay at for diving or leisure.

There have been random kidnappings of fishermen in the past 12 months in the red zone areas, with 90% of the cases being at night when the trawlers should not be out there in the first place (stubborn boat skippers?).

 

[pconsidine007]

G'day,

Let me give you a lay-of-the-land with regards to the security situation at Sipadan and the surrounding islands.

The threats are a genuine concerns for everyone who are pushing their luck and going all the way out to the borderline at sea between Sabah and the Philippines. Nobody goes out to these areas except fishermen and sea gypsies as well as some cargo ships passing through between Kalimantan and the Philippines so the travel advisories do not take this into account and they have lumped the entire East coast of Sabah into the travel warning which I think is not accurate or fair.

Is the whole of the Sabah east coast dangerous? Absolutely not.

The vast majority of tourist visiting the East coast of Sabah visit the jungle nature areas of Danum or Tabin or Kinabatanganand so forth and there are no issues.

Turtle island is also very popular and there have been no issues here as security is tight and this area is further north near Sandakan.

The area you are referring to is the Lahad Datu/Semporna areas and yes, there areas one should not venture out to for visits/dives, fishing either day or night? Yes. Refer to the red box I have indicated on the goggle map below.


The red boxed area would be the "no go" zones both day or night for both Malaysian's and non-Malaysians. This red zone is to be avoided by all boats/ships.

The yellow box would be the Sipadan/Kapalai/Mabul areas out of Semporna, to the South between Tawau and Semporna and these are completely safe zones as the security is very tight here and there are armed patrols on the islands themselves as well as patrol boats in the vicinity.

I am very comfortable advising families planning on visiting Sipadan/Mabul/Kapalai or sea ventures that these are safe zones and visit/stay at for diving or leisure.

There have been random kidnappings of fishermen in the past 12 months in the red zone areas, with 90% of the cases being at night when the trawlers should not be out there in the first place (stubborn boat skippers?).

THANK YOU so so much for this. Definitely clears things up and makes me comfortable with planning a trip!

 

[Pearlman]

Maratua Atoll - On my bucket list. Thanks!