Contents(11)
- The Nomads of the Sea — The Bajau People
- Island-Hopping Snorkel Fun
- Mataking Island
- Pandanan Island
- TimbaTimba Island
- Shipwrecks, Underwater Villages — Surprises Around Every Corner
- Mabul Island：paradise 2
- Kapalai Island：house reef
- Mataking Island：garden of Eden
- Mataking Island：wreck point
- Timba-timba Island：turtle highway
This completely unintimidated sea turtle is probably thinking: "Are you done photographing me yet?"
If you've traveled all the way to Semporna and think Sipadan is the only place to dive, think again! There are more than eight surrounding islands where you can dive a different site every single day, experiencing the unique character of each one. Your biggest worry every morning will probably be: which island do we go 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 Playing Field?), the other nearby islands are absolutely not to be overlooked — each has its own distinct personality. In addition to abundant fish life, vibrant coral, and fearless sea turtles, you'll also find a spectacular shipwreck and 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 total: two days on the outer islands (three dives each day), the final day reserved for two dives at Sipadan, plus one day of snorkeling, soaking up the sun, and hopping ashore for photos. It was a perfect balance — after each day of diving, we headed back to town to shower, then caught the sunset and sat down to dinner.
The boats here are more like speedboats, with room for about 10 passengers.
When diving in Semporna, someone will help you swap your gear as soon as you surface — all you need to do is enjoy the scenery!
The Nomads of the Sea — The Bajau People
On the way out to sea, you'll pass several "water villages" — houses perched high on wooden stilts, with children playing in front and sometimes jumping straight into the water below. Most of the people who live here are the stateless, sea-nomadic Bajau people, drifting between the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. They have no identification, no nationality, and sometimes travel into town to beg, paddling small boats up to tourists to sell freshly caught seafood. Every time we saw them, we couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for how fortunate we are.
The houses look extremely basic; the living conditions are poor, and rubbish is everywhere.
This dive trip wasn't jam-packed with dives, because the Editor honestly finds four or five dives a day exhausting when diving abroad — three dives a day is the sweet spot. There's still time after diving to go ashore and take some photos, which makes for a wonderfully full day!
The power of the sun — everyone came back with their own unique swimsuit tan lines to take home as souvenirs (laughs).
Sample itinerary
Island-Hopping Snorkel Fun
Beyond scuba diving, there's always snorkeling and freediving for those Instagram-worthy shots. Without all the heavy gear, you can jump in whenever the captain spots a good location — which is itself a real test of the captain's skill and experience. A seasoned captain can read the surface and already know where the fish schools and big animals are lurking below.
Mataking Island
Three times the size of Sipadan, Mataking is surrounded on all sides by a dazzling variety of corals. The moment you dip your head below the surface, you'll be awestruck by the vast panorama before you. Note that half of Mataking is a private resort, so be aware that you cannot go ashore on the beach without prior permission.
If you're lucky, you might encounter an enormous sea turtle!
Pandanan Island
Located to the northeast of Semporna, not far from Mataking. Although there are many military personnel stationed on the island, they are extremely friendly to visitors and will greet you warmly! The water is crystal clear — poke your head under and within barely 2 m you're surrounded by coral and fish. Just make sure to keep your buoyancy in check so you don't accidentally touch the coral.
Colourful coral paired with schools of little fish — what a mood-lifter.
We spotted so many Clownfish here — absolutely adorable (heart melting).
Pandanan Island's beach is the quintessential "picture-perfect beach" — fine white sand, glass-clear water, a lush green forest backdrop, the sun blazing overhead, and not a cloud in the sky. The scenery is so stunning that before you know it, you've filled up your memory card from shutter-happy snapping!
No colour grading, no filters — isn't it genuinely beautiful? (Though five minutes walking in that scorching sun and you're already getting sunburned.)
TimbaTimba Island
Isn't the name just adorable? In addition to the same crystal-clear waters as the other islands, TimbaTimba also boasts an incredible abundance of fish. The moment the boat stops, you can leap right in — just remember to check the depth first so you don't touch the bottom!
Even just snorkeling together with friends is an absolute blast!
Afternoon thunderstorms are common in Semporna, but they arrive and pass quickly — no need to worry too much.
There are plenty of day-trip island-hopping snorkel packages available online that take you to three islands, let you snorkel and take photos, and provide a simple packed lunch of rice, vegetables, and meat — perfectly decent! Friends who are interested can book directly online.
The Editor loves the rice here — it has a firmer, slightly chewy texture. But why is the chicken also so firm and dry? (laughs)
Shipwrecks, Underwater Villages — Surprises Around Every Corner
There are a tremendous number of dive sites around Semporna. Year-round water temperatures sit between 27 and 29°C, and the topography is richly varied. Beyond the seemingly endless coral, the region also carries the title of "World's No. 1 Wall Diving Destination" — on one side a sheer wall, on the other a bottomless expanse of deep blue. Maintaining good neutral buoyancy is absolutely essential when diving here.
The open ocean drops away on your left — keep a close eye on your dive computer and stay in control of your buoyancy.
All diving in Semporna is done by boat dive (as is the case in most international destinations), and virtually all the boats here are the same speedboat style. For safety, a back-roll entry is recommended.
Mabul Island：paradise 2
This site is home to the famous "Paradise 2" shipwreck — a fishing vessel originally confiscated by the Malaysian government after Philippine fishermen were caught poaching in Malaysian waters. Since the vessel had no further use, it was sunk to serve as an artificial reef. The boat has three decks and is quite large; you can freely swim in and out of the cabins, though you'll need to keep your buoyancy controlled to avoid stirring up the silt inside.
The deepest point of the wreck is around 20 m. It's a sizeable fishing vessel with clear internal passageways — well worth swimming inside to explore.
Inside the cabin, avoid any large movements — you don't want to kick up silt or accidentally injure yourself on something.
Without a Torch switched on, it's actually a bit eerie in there.
A shot inside the captain's quarters is a must — just watch out for sharp edges that could cut you.
The wreck is teeming with life — sometimes a large Grouper is lurking in a corner!
Fish schools drop by to keep us company from time to time — so lively!
Kapalai Island：house reef
This was hands-down the Editor's favourite dive site of the entire trip! The sandy bottom is dotted with small artificial structures — little "houses" fenced off to serve as artificial reefs — and the marine life is incredibly rich. Glassfish, batfish schools, and butterflyfish accompanied us on a tour of this charming underwater village, while nudibranchs and tiny shrimp could be found hiding on the reef at every turn. This spot is an absolute must for anyone who loves macro photography.
A Lionfish wreathed in glassfish — like a stunning Lionfish dressed in a long white veil.
The visibility wasn't the best on this particular dive, but the dive guide told us the surprises are different every time. On lucky days, Stingray sightings are not uncommon. Every dive is like opening a mystery box — you never know what's waiting for you down there (laughs).
Peering inside, a mass of fish gathered together looking like they're gossiping — the cutest scene imaginable (screaming).
It's not murky water or floating particles — it's an entire cloud of glassfish. Utterly mesmerising!
Pteraeolidia semperi nudibranch — its soft lilac hue is impossibly delicate and feminine.
A Tyrannodoris sp. nudibranch — spotted this vividly coloured little creature from across the reef.
Hypselodoris variobranchia nudibranch — these two were pressed close together, looking like they were sharing some juicy gossip.
Mataking Island：garden of Eden
"A maiden's secret garden" is the perfect description for this dive site. An entire expanse of pink soft coral sways gently in the current, and sea turtles drift in and out to join the scene.
Drift diving is the usual approach here, letting divers glide effortlessly alongside the sea turtles. That said, maintaining neutral buoyancy is critical — you really don't want to accidentally land on the coral!
Sea turtles are everywhere in Semporna — seeing more than 10 on a single dive is perfectly normal!
Completely unafraid of people — but please remember not 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 also features Malaysia's very first underwater post box. You purchase a special postcard and waterproof rubber stamps from the resort, then swim down and drop them in the box. A dedicated underwater postman comes to collect the mail once a week and mails your postcard on your behalf.
The Editor wrote a postcard this time — eagerly looking forward to the day it arrives (wonder how long it'll take!).
Mataking No. 1 is a wooden cargo vessel that belonged to the resort. After it was taken out of service, the island owner decided in March 2006 to sink it alongside the post box, creating an artificial reef and a fun underwater attraction for divers. It rests on the sandy bottom at around 25 m.
Mataking No. 1 lies quietly on its side in the sand — it looks a little lonely from a distance, but up close you realise it's surrounded by a crowd of fish!
The marine life around the wreck is equally impressive. On this dive we encountered two bluespotted ribbontail rays, dopey-looking humphead parrotfish, countless glassfish, and a whole army of Grouper escorting us along.
You can freely swim in and out of Mataking No. 1's cabins — just keep a close eye on your neutral buoyancy!
A humphead parrotfish hiding under the hull — adorably dopey-looking.
Follow the Editor on a lap around Mataking No. 1!
Timba-timba Island：turtle highway
Aptly nicknamed the "Turtle Highway," Timba-timba truly delivers — at any moment, in any direction, a sea turtle will appear out of nowhere and block your path. And these turtles are com-plete-ly un-fazed by humans. They'll just sit there calmly and pose for photos (though it's probably more accurate to say they simply can't be bothered to move).
There is some current at this site — nothing fierce, but you'll need solid stamina to handle it comfortably.
The Editor didn't dare get too close — didn't want to startle it!
This sea turtle was almost as big as the Editor! Check out that enormous tail!
This dive was shallow, and during the 3-minute safety stop at 5 m, this little cutie appeared and quietly kept the Editor company for the entire stop.
A bluespotted ray — whoosh — it darts away!
After reading all of the above, has Semporna surprised you beyond your expectations?
Every island, every dive site has something different to offer — we played hard and photographed even harder! Next time you visit, don't limit yourself to Sipadan alone. The surrounding islands are absolutely worth slowing down for and exploring at your own pace.
- Dive shop: 52Hz Dive Shop 鯨音潛社
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a BlueTrend dive trip different from an unknown, no-name dive group?
Choosing us means full peace-of-mind protection and a smooth experience from start to finish. Every trip we run holds to three things.
First, full legal protection and a professional dive leader: we strictly follow Taiwan's travel regulations and provide complete travel-agency liability insurance, travel insurance, trip-inconvenience insurance and dive insurance. Every group is accompanied by a certified, foreign-language dive leader who joins you on both the dives and the land itinerary, liaising seamlessly with local dive shops and operators on your behalf to keep things running smoothly — the person our travellers trust most.
Second, fully licensed with secure payments: every payment goes into a licensed travel agency's account, with multiple safe payment channels (bank transfer, credit card and more) and a legal collect-and-remit receipt, so every transaction is open, transparent and protected, avoiding the fraud and dispute risks of transferring money privately to an individual.
Third, hand-picked quality we vet in person: every trip, dive site and partner shop is scouted on the ground by our own team, from the guides' professionalism and safety standards to the food, lodging, environment and service details on land, all vetted by us so you don't get caught out.
I want to sign up for a dive trip. Are there certification-level or logged-dive requirements?
Each dive site is different, so the entry bar varies. 'Bali Tulamben', for instance, is relatively beginner-friendly. 'Malapascua in the Philippines' is also beginner-friendly, but since thresher sharks tend to cruise between 20 and 30 metres, we recommend AOW certification with 20+ logged dives to enjoy this trip comfortably. For 'the Maldives' or 'Palau', we suggest AOW with 50+ logged dives for a more relaxed experience. If you're not sure whether your experience fits the trip you want, message us and our dive editors will assess it and help you find the trip you'll feel safest on.
Can I join if I'm signing up alone? How are rooms arranged?
Plenty of our travellers sign up solo! For rooms and beds, we prioritise pairing you with a same-gender traveller, and if you'd rather have your own space you can pay the difference to upgrade to a single room. For the diving, our professional leader will pair you with a suitable buddy, and with the happy vibe on our trips you'll quickly make a great group of dive friends. Many people sign up alone, make new friends, and end up organising the next trip together!
Does the trip fee include dive insurance, gear rental, taxes and instructor tips?
It depends on the trip, the destination's regulations and the local operators. Every BlueTrend dive trip has a detailed web page with a clear 'included / not included' list, transparent and with no hidden charges. All payments are collected by a licensed travel agency, with a standard-form contract for your protection.
I'm a new diver / haven't dived in a long time — will I fall behind the group?
Before you complete your booking, our team assesses a suitable trip based on your certification level and experience. Before departure, we strongly recommend taking time to refresh in Taiwan with an instructor, or a fun dive to get your feel back. On the trip itself, our professional dive leader groups and pairs everyone by experience, keeps a close eye underwater on travellers who need extra care, and steps in to help right away.
Will the photos and videos taken during the trip be shared with us?
During the dives, 'safety' is always the leader's top priority, so whenever it's suitable and safe the leader will capture great shots and record the best moments. During or after the trip, we compile a cloud album for all travellers to download, so you go home loaded with memories!
Besides your scheduled trips, can you arrange a private group charter or independent travel for me and my friends?
Absolutely! Besides group trips, we also arrange private group charters and independent travel. We can communicate, enquire and coordinate services with local operators based on your needs, saving you time and effort and taking the language barrier off your plate, to tailor the smoothest, most reassuring dive trip just for you. Contact our LINE support and our editors will arrange it for you!
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