Sipadan Island Diving Holidays
Kapalai Tourist Information
Kapalai was once an island but is now no more than a sand bar, only a thin strip of which rises above the water at low tide. The gorgeous stilted Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort sits over the shallows here.
From Kapalai island, Pulau Sipadan is at 10 o'clock and Mabul at 2 o'clock, and the sandbar enjoys a serene peace and calming tranquility that can sometimes be missing from its better known neighbouring islands.
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How to Get There
Flight - Boat Transfer
The recommended flight from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau leaves at 7:00 hrs and arrives at 7:45 hrs with Malaysia Airlines (www.MalaysiaAirlines.com). This is the flight that Kapalai Resort favours and guests will be collected here and driven for around 1 hour to Semporna, where the resort boat will transfer you the 45 minutes to the resort.
Later flights are available but can cause problems with transfers (there is often one at 15:30 hrs) and will almost certainly mean no diving on the first day.
There are direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau with Air Asia (www.AirAsia.com) (07:20-10:05 hrs), and from Johor Bahru (07:50-10:35 hrs), but these may mean a long wait for pick up, or an overnight in Semporna and pick up from your hotel next day at 08:00 hrs. You can stay at the Seafest Hotel or Dragon Inn in Semporna.
Guests who will be flying within 24 hours after departure from the resorts may be subject to diving restrictions on the last day.
Flights back from Tawau are Malaysia Airlines to Kota Kinabalu (14:40-15:25 hrs or 21:00-21:45 hrs). If you do not wish to stay overnight in Kota Kinabalu, you can fliy direct to Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia (10:30-13:15 hrs or 21:00-21:45 hrs) or back to Johor Bahru (11:10-13:45 hrs).
Note - flight times are subject to change. Please refer to the airline web sites to check for changes and for booking information.
Sightseeing and Adventure
Kapalai is a delightful secluded resort, built over water on stilts, so as you can imagine there is only a limited amount to explore. Snorkelling around the shallows is of course a popular pastime. Mostly, guests of Kapalai concentrate on diving, eating, sunbathing, or just relaxing with a good book.
Interested?
If you're keen to explore the beckoning waters of Kapalai and nearby Sipadan, then click below to check your options now for:
Be sure to book in plenty of time to avoid limited choice! The best diving opportunities are booked by repeat customers who book well in advance to ensure their reservation!
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