A Prelude to Sipadan, One of the World's Top 10 Dive Sites — The Complete Guide to Eating, Drinking & Exploring Semporna, Malaysia

The Editor says: Sipadan is to divers what Mecca is to Muslims — a sacred destination every diver must visit. Yet Semporna, the staging point before heading to Sipadan, is a stopover that is often overlooked. More and more dive shops are now using Semporna as their hub, radiating outward to various surrounding islands for diving, which means your itinerary no longer has to be limited to the waters around Sipadan alone. How do you get to Semporna, and what is there to do nearby? Let's follow dive instructor Jack's footsteps and find out! This article is republished in full from the 潜水教练杰克 Facebook page.

For many divers and non-divers alike, Semporna is a name most people have already heard. There is plenty of information about it online, so this time the Editor has decided to use a Q&A format to lift the veil of mystery surrounding Semporna, help more people understand it, and answer some of the questions readers might have.

Semporna is a district of Tawau in the Malaysian state of Sabah. In Malay, the word "Semporna" literally means "perfect." The town is surrounded by sea, and Semporna along with its outlying islands feels like a real-world fantasy island — especially Sipadan Island, which is acclaimed as one of the world's top 10 dive sites. Pristine white sandy beaches, coconut palms, and the calm, turquoise waters of the Sulawesi Sea wash gently over colourful reefs. Beyond its breathtaking scenery, Semporna has grown into a renowned diving base, drawing countless diving enthusiasts who come to get certified or explore the depths of the ocean.

How to Get to Semporna

Semporna is located in Sabah and is a district of Tawau, approximately 81 kilometres from Tawau Airport. To reach Semporna, you need to fly into Tawau Airport (TWU) and then take a shared taxi, which takes about one hour. Flights to Tawau (TWU) generally involve a connection through Kuala Lumpur (KUL) or Kota Kinabalu (BKI). Once you exit Tawau Airport, drivers waiting at the entrance can be asked about rides to Semporna — the fare is approximately MYR 25 per person. You can also arrange a shared taxi in advance through a local dive shop or dive instructor, which saves a lot of hassle.

Accommodation

In Semporna, you generally have the choice of staying in town or at an island resort. Several islands near Semporna — including Pom Pom Island, Mataking Island, Mabul Island, and Kapalai Island — all have resorts, and advance booking is required. If you choose to stay in town, there are plenty of options, including backpacker hostels, guesthouses, and hotels, bookable on Booking.com or Agoda. The Editor generally recommends that students stay in town: since Semporna town sits right in the middle, it is relatively convenient to head out to different islands for diving or island-hopping, and there is also a much greater variety of food options.

Food & Dining

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country, so there is a wide range of dining choices, and since Semporna is a fishing village, seafood is an absolute must. In Semporna town there are numerous Chinese restaurants, Malay eateries, Indian restaurants, and fast-food outlets — if you tried a new restaurant every day, you could probably keep going for about a month. You can also buy fresh seafood at the market and bring it to a restaurant to be cooked; preparation fees vary by establishment. For those staying at island resorts, three meals are generally included, so choices are more limited. If you stay on Mabul Island, you can buy seafood directly and have the resort prepare it for you, for which they will charge a cooking fee.

Activities in Semporna

The main activities in Semporna revolve around boat diving and snorkeling. Besides diving and snorkeling, there are also half-day mangrove tours to spot fireflies and proboscis monkeys, as well as various water sports. Since the islands around Semporna are fairly remote — about 45 to 50 minutes by boat — departures are generally at 8:30 in the morning, with a return to town around 4:00 in the afternoon. All diving in Semporna is boat diving; there is no shore diving. Diving packages cost around MYR 350, including 3 dives, equipment, and a simple lunch. Snorkeling packages cost approximately MYR 150.

How Many Days Do You Need in Semporna?

I generally recommend 5 to 7 days, including travel time. There are four routes departing from Semporna:

1. Tun Sakaran Marine Park — covering Sibuan Island, Mantabuan Island, and Boheydulang Island. Activities include diving, snorkeling, and hiking.

2. Mataking Island + Timba Timba — activities include diving and snorkeling.

3. Mabul Island + Kapalai — activities include diving, snorkeling, and visiting the resort for a stroll and photos (an additional fee is required to enter the resort).

4. Sipadan — activities include diving and snorkeling. One of the world's top 10 dive sites with a strict quota: only 120 visitors per day are permitted. Sipadan is also closed every December. Those who wish to dive Sipadan must avoid December and book at least 3 months in advance; the fee is approximately MYR 1,200 per person.

Safety

In 2014, a Chinese female tourist was kidnapped by Filipino armed militants in Semporna and was rescued more than a month later. Following the incident, the Sabah state government took the security of Semporna very seriously, establishing military camps on every island and strengthening maritime patrols. To prevent similar incidents from happening again, all tourists and vessels are prohibited from going out to sea after 5:00 p.m., with the exception of fishing boats. In the six years that followed, although some kidnapping cases did occur, they all took place in open waters and involved local fishermen.

Summary

The Editor first visited Semporna in 2014 to obtain a diving certification, and has returned to dive there almost every chance since. Eventually, the Editor also became a dive instructor and has been teaching in Semporna on a long-term basis. Over this time, it has been encouraging to watch the government continually work to improve safety. In short, tourism in Semporna is nowhere near as dangerous as people make it out to be, with kidnappings hardly being a common occurrence. If you have any questions after reading the above, feel free to get in touch. The Editor regularly helps students arrange their itineraries, so if you find the planning too troublesome, just ask and it can be arranged for you.

Further Reading:

• 潜水教练杰克 Facebook Page

• Diving Mecca Sipadan — The Only Liveaboard Dive Trip

• World's Top 10 Dive Sites — A Sipadan Dive Trip Share

• 【Malaysia · Semporna】 6 Days & 6 Nights Deep in Semporna — A Self-Guided Sipadan Dive Trip Itinerary

• 【Malaysia · Sipadan】 Chasing the Epic Barracuda Tornado! One of the World's Top 10 Dive Sites — God's Playground?

• 【Malaysia · Semporna】 High-Value Island-Hopping Dives Beyond Sipadan — Sea Turtles, Macro, and Big Animals All in One!

• 【Malaysia · Semporna】 Exploring Sabah's Semporna — The Complete Guide to Flights, Accommodation & Food in This Ocean Eden

• World's Top 10 Dive Sites — A Sipadan Dive Trip Share

• Diving Mecca Sipadan — The Only Liveaboard Dive Trip