Scuba Diving in Sipadan Island

Turtle Cavern

Turtle cavern is a complicated site with the entrance to the cavern located at about 18 m. Sipadan diving is famous for its population of both green turtles and the smaller hawksbill turtles.

It was at one time speculated that the cavern was their mausoleum and that they came to this site to die. However, a more accurate representation, is that the turtles became lost in the caverns at night and drowned. Sipadan Island’s resort operators insist that all Borneo divers to this system of interconnecting caverns must be accompanied by a local dive master.

Inside the cavern you will see the skeletons of those previous entrants who failed to find the exit and perished. Deeper penetration of the system reveals the cavern as home to shoals of fish specifically adapted to the low light environment of the further reaches.

Turtle Cavern Reef Basics: Cavern diving
Depth: 14 - 22m
Visibility: Zero if silt is stirred up, please be careful!
Currents: Gentle
Surface conditions: Calm
Water temperature: 26 - 30°C
Experience level: Advanced divers only
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving season: All year round
Distance: 12 km (25 minutes) south from Mabul and 10 km (18 mins) southwest from Kapalai
Access: Mabul and Kapalai dive resorts

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