This sea turtle couldn't care less about the camera — it's probably thinking: "Are you done shooting yet?"
If you've come all the way to Semporna and think Sipadan is the only place to dive, think again! There are more than eight islands scattered around the area, each one waiting to be explored on a different day. The hardest part of your morning? Deciding which island to head to today.
Beyond the world-class dive site of Sipadan (see: 【Malaysia · Sipadan】Chasing the Thrilling Barracuda Tornado! A Top-10 Dive Destination in the World — God's Playground?), the surrounding islands hold their own and are absolutely not to be underestimated. Each has its own character — rich marine life, vibrant coral, fearless sea turtles, a spectacular wreck, and even Malaysia's first underwater post box!
This article focuses on the dive sites beyond Sipadan. On this trip, we did three days of scuba diving: two days on the surrounding islands (three dives each day), saved the last day for two dives at Sipadan, and even squeezed in a full day of snorkeling, sunbathing, and island-hopping photos. It was a perfectly balanced schedule — after diving each day, we'd head back to town, freshen up, and be ready to catch the sunset and enjoy dinner!
The boats here are more like speedboats, accommodating up to 10 passengers.
Diving in Semporna means someone helps you switch out your gear the moment you surface — all you have to do is soak in the scenery!
The Sea Nomads — The Bajau People
As you head out to sea, you'll pass several stilt villages — houses perched high on wooden poles above the water, with children playing out front and sometimes leaping straight into the sea below. The people who live here are mostly stateless ocean nomads known as the Bajau, living between the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Without any recognized identity or nationality, they sometimes travel to town to beg, or paddle up to tourist boats selling freshly caught seafood. Seeing them always makes you stop and think — we really are so fortunate.
The houses look very rudimentary, the conditions are poor, and litter is everywhere.
For this dive trip, we didn't pack the schedule with back-to-back dives. The Editor feels that four or five dives a day when diving abroad is genuinely exhausting — three dives a day is just right. There's still time after diving to go ashore and take photos. Three dives is plenty!
The sun worked its magic — everyone ended up with different tan lines from their swimwear, a souvenir to bring back to Taiwan (laughs).
Sample itinerary
Island-Hopping Snorkeling — Carefree and Fun
Besides scuba diving, there's always time to snorkel, freedive, and snap great photos. Without all the heavy gear, you can jump into the water whenever the captain pulls up to a good spot. That's when the captain's skill and experience really shows — a seasoned captain can read the surface and tell at a glance where the schools of fish and big animals are lurking.
Mataking Island
Three times the size of Sipadan, Mataking is ringed by all manner of coral. Stick your face in the water and the sheer expanse of what greets you is simply breathtaking. Note that half of Mataking Island is private resort property, so be sure to check in advance — you are not permitted to set foot on the beach without prior authorization!
If you're lucky, you might encounter a truly enormous sea turtle!
Pandanan Island
Located to the northeast of Semporna, not far from Mataking. Although the island is home to a number of military and police personnel, they are extremely friendly to visitors and will greet you warmly. The water is crystal clear — dip your head below the surface and barely 2 meters down you'll find coral and fish in abundance. Just make sure you keep your buoyancy under control to avoid accidentally landing on the coral.
Multicoloured coral paired with swarms of tiny fish — it's impossible not to smile.
We spotted so many Clownfish here! Absolutely adorable (heart melting).
Pandanan Island's beach is the quintessential picture-perfect beach — powdery white sand, water so clear it's practically glass, a lush green forest as a backdrop, and a blazing sun under a cloudless sky. The scenery is so stunning you'll find yourself hammering the shutter button until your memory card cries for mercy!
No colour correction, no filters — isn't it genuinely beautiful? (Though with a sun that fierce, five minutes of walking feels like a guaranteed sunburn.)
TimbaTimba Island
Isn't that a fun name? Like the two islands above, TimbaTimba boasts beautifully clear water, and the fish life here is impressive. Once the boat stops, you can leap straight in — just remember to check the depth first so you don't touch the bottom!
Even just snorkeling with friends is an absolute blast!
Semporna is prone to afternoon thunderstorms, but they pass as quickly as they arrive — nothing to worry too much about.
There are plenty of one-day island-hopping snorkeling tours available online for Semporna, taking you to three different islands to snorkel and take photos. Lunch is a simple packed meal — rice, vegetables, and meat — nothing fancy but perfectly decent. You can book directly online if you're interested!
The Editor loves the rice here — it has a firmer texture than usual! Though why is the chicken also on the tough and dry side? (laughs)
Wrecks, Underwater Villages — Surprises Await at Every Scuba Dive
There are an enormous number of dive sites around Semporna. Water temperature year-round sits between 27–29°C, and the topography is rich and varied. Beyond the endless expanses of coral, the area even carries the title of "world's number one wall diving destination" — on one side a dramatic wall, on the other a bottomless expanse of deep blue. Neutral buoyancy is absolutely essential when diving here.
To your left is the open, unfathomable deep — keep a close eye on your dive computer and maintain your buoyancy at all times.
Diving in Semporna is done entirely by boat dive (as is the case in most overseas diving destinations), and virtually all the boats here are speedboats. For safety, a back-roll entry is the recommended entry method.
Mabul Island：paradise 2
This site is home to a famous wreck known as "Paradise 2" — a fishing vessel originally from the Philippines that was confiscated by the Malaysian government for crossing into Malaysian waters. Since the vessel had no further use, it was sunk as an artificial reef. The wreck spans three decks and is quite sizeable; you can freely swim through the interior, though buoyancy control is essential to avoid stirring up the silt inside.
The fishing boat sits at a maximum depth of around 20 meters. It's a substantial wreck with clear internal passages — well worth swimming through for a little exploration.
Inside the wreck, avoid making large movements — you don't want to kick up silt or knock into anything and hurt yourself.
Without a Flash Light switched on, it's actually a little spooky in there.
A shot inside the wheelhouse is a must — just watch out for sharp edges that might catch you off guard.
The wreck is teeming with life — you might even spot a large Grouper lurking in a corner!
Schools of fish kept us company throughout — what a lively dive!
Kapalai Island：house reef
This was hands down the Editor's favourite dive site of the trip! The sandy bottom is dotted with small artificial structures — miniature "houses" installed as artificial reefs — and the marine life here is extraordinary. Glassfish, batfish schools, and butterflyfish accompanied us as we drifted through this charming little underwater village, while nudibranchs and tiny shrimps hid in the reef waiting to be found. This site is an absolute must for anyone who loves macro photography.
A Lionfish surrounded by glassfish — like a glamorous queen draped in a long white veil.
The visibility wasn't the best on this particular dive, which was a slight shame — but the dive guide told us every visit brings something different. On lucky days, Stingrays have made an appearance. Every dive here is like opening a surprise box — you never quite know what's waiting for you (laughs).
Peering inside, fish are crammed in there having what looks like a very serious meeting — the cutest thing you'll ever see (squealing).
Not murky water, not floating particles — that's a solid mass of glassfish. Utterly mesmerising!
Semper's Nudibranch Pteraeolidia semperi — that soft pink-purple hue is pure feminine charm.
A nudibranch of the genus Tyrannodoris sp. — spotted this vivid little creature from quite a distance away.
Hypselodoris variobranchia — these two were pressed up close together, looking like they were swapping the latest gossip.
Mataking Island：garden of Eden
"A girl's secret garden" couldn't be a more fitting description for this site. Sweeping fields of pink soft coral sway gently in the current, and sea turtles drift by to join the party at any moment.
Dives here are typically done as drift dives, letting divers effortlessly glide alongside the sea turtles. That said, neutral buoyancy is still essential — one careless moment and you could land on the coral!
Sea turtles in Semporna are everywhere — spotting 10 or more in a single dive is entirely normal!
Completely unafraid of humans — but still, be careful never to touch them.
Drifting alongside a sea turtle over a vast field of pink soft coral — pure romance!
Mataking Island：wreck point
In addition to the wreck of "Mataking No. 1," this site is also home to Malaysia's very first underwater post box. Head to the resort to purchase a special postcard and waterproof rubber stamps, then swim down and drop your card in the box. An underwater postal worker dives down once a week to collect the mail and send your postcards on their way.
The Editor wrote a postcard on this dive — now comes the exciting wait to see when it arrives (wonder how long it'll take?).
Mataking No. 1 is a wooden cargo vessel that belonged to the resort. After it was retired from service, the island owner decided in March 2006 to sink it alongside the post box — serving both as an artificial reef and as an underwater photo opportunity for divers. It rests at approximately 25 meters.
Mataking No. 1 lies quietly tilted on the sandy bottom — lonely-looking from a distance, but up close you realise it's surrounded by schools of fish keeping it company.
The marine life around the wreck was spectacular. On this dive we encountered two bluespotted ribbontail rays, a dopey-looking bumphead parrotfish, countless glassfish, and a massive battalion of Grouper escorting us the whole way.
You can freely swim in and out of Mataking No. 1's interior — just be sure to keep your neutral buoyancy in check!
A bumphead parrotfish tucked shyly beneath the hull — so goofy and endearing.
Join the Editor on a full lap around Mataking No. 1!
Timba-timba Island：turtle highway
True to its nickname — the Turtle Highway — Timba-timba Island delivers sea turtles at every turn, in every direction, at every moment. They will literally swim right into your path. And these turtles are completely, utterly, totally unafraid of humans. They'll just sit there and let you pose for a photo with them (though in fairness, they've probably just decided we're not worth the effort of moving for).
There is some current at this site — nothing too powerful, but you'll need a decent level of stamina to handle it.
The Editor kept a respectful distance — the last thing you want is to startle the poor thing.
This turtle was nearly as big as the Editor! Just look at that massive tail!
This dive was fairly shallow, and during the three-minute safety stop at 5 meters, this little cutie turned up and quietly kept the Editor company the entire time.
A bluespotted ray — whoosh — and it's gone!
After reading all of the above, has your impression of Semporna changed?
Every island, every dive site has its own personality — endlessly fun to explore, and endlessly rewarding to photograph. Next time you visit, don't limit yourself to Sipadan alone. The surrounding islands are absolutely worth slowing down for and discovering for yourself!
- Dive Shop：52Hz Dive Shop 鯨音潛社
