Built on stilts above a shimmering sandbank in the heart of the Sulu Sea, Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort is a unique water village where exotic marine life glides beneath your feet. As the winner of our 'Dive Resort of the Year' award, Kapalai offers an extraordinary blend of luxury, adventure, and eco-conscious hospitality, making it the ultimate destination for divers and ocean lovers.
Immerse yourself in the resort’s pristine surroundings, nestled on the mile-long Ligitan Reefs, where every day brings new discoveries. Spend your mornings exploring world-class dive sites around Kapalai, Mabul, and the legendary Sipadan Island, home to awe-inspiring wall dives and swirling schools of barracuda and jackfish. After your underwater adventures, unwind on your private balcony or the Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort's secluded sandbank, soaking up the sun with the gentle sea breeze as your companion.
For macro enthusiasts, Kapalai is a dream come true. Shore diving is complimentary, allowing you to explore the thriving house reef at your leisure. Don't miss the enchanting mandarinfish mating ritual at dusk, a mesmerising spectacle visible right beneath the resort's jetty. Snorkellers will be equally captivated, with easy access to coral gardens, replete with turtles, reef sharks, and myriad tropical fish.
Beyond diving, indulge in freshly prepared meals featuring the catch of the day, savour post-dive snacks, and enjoy personalised service in an intimate, uncrowded setting. With a strong commitment to sustainability, Kapalai Dive Resort ensures that its eco-friendly practices preserve the rich marine ecosystem for future generations.
Special perks of our Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort 'Dive & Stay Packages' include:
* Sipadan dive permits guaranteed with just a 3-night stay for access to one of the planet's best dive sites.
* Unlimited house reef diving, perfect for night dives and macro photography.
* Guided dives at Mabul, where rare critters like giant frogfish and crocodilefish thrive.
* Effortless snorkelling exploration straight from the resort.
For both seasoned divers and first-timers eager to embrace the underwater world, Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort promises an unforgettable escape where luxury meets adventure. Dive in, relax, and let the ocean's wonders captivate you.
The rooms at Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort emphase a peaceful, close-to-nature experience, with the sound of gentle waves and vibrant marine life right beneath you. The focus is on relaxation, scuba diving, and enjoying the untouched beauty of the surroundings.
The resort consists of 89 wooden water chalets built on stilts above the turquoise waters of the Celebes Sea, offering direct access to the water. The traditionally-designed chalets feature a rustic yet elegant Borneo-style architecture with thatched roofs, wooden floors, and large windows to maximise natural light and sea views. Each room has a private balcony or sun deck with seating, perfect for relaxing, enjoying the sea breeze, and watching marine life below.
Each chalet features air conditioning and ceiling fans to ensure comfort in the tropical climate. All rooms include modern bathrooms with hot water showers. The interiors are simple yet cosy, with wooden furnishings and neutral tones that blend with the natural surroundings at Kapalai.
All the chalets at Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort have:
- Air conditioning and fans
- Sea view, beachfront balcony with chairs
- Private hot water shower and bath
- Towels, hairdryer and toiletries
- Daily housekeeping
- Personal safety box
- Bedside table and lamps
- Mirror and shelves
- Fridge
- Seating area
- 220 volt UK-style power points
- Fire extinguisher
Kapalai Dive Resort guarantees a visit to Sipadan Island with a minimum 4-day/3-night scuba package. For 2 trips, guests must book a 6-day/5-night scuba package. When park permit availability allows, guests will embark on a 3-tank dive trip to Sipadan at 6 am. All Sipadan dives are conducted in the morning, with refreshments served between dives, and the dive boat returns to the resort in time for lunch. Breakfast, towels, drinks, and snacks are provided. Important notes:
- All guests must hold at least an Advanced Open Water certification and have a minimum of 15 logged dives to dive at Sipadan.
- Guests who wish to dive at Sipadan more frequently may purchase additional permits upon arrival, subject to availability.
- Permits to Sipadan Island are not available for non-divers or snorkellers.
On non-Sipadan days, the resort offers a 3-dive schedule around Kapalai, Mabul, or Si Amil. Single-tank boat trips depart Kapalai at 8 am, 10:30 am, and 2:30 pm. After each dive, guests return to the resort for surface intervals and refreshments. Note: Trips to Si Amil include towels, drinks, and snacks.
Dive boat specifications:
* 7 x 35-40 ft (10-12 m) monohull twin-engine speedboats (150/250 HP)
* Maximum capacity: 10 divers per boat. A dive guide accompanies all trips
* Safety equipment includes life vests, ring buoys, fire extinguishers, a first aid kit, and emergency oxygen (additional oxygen is available at the resort)
* Except for the morning Sipadan and Si Amil trips, boats return to the resort between dives
* Average boat journey time: 15 minutes
Additional dive opportunities:
* Jetty day dives (during daylight hours) / Sunset dives (5:30 pm) to observe mandarinfish / Night dives (6:30 pm)
These dives are free of charge and require a dive buddy in front of the dive centre. In-house dive rules:
• No gloves allowed, • No solo diving, • Minimum 1-hour surface interval between dives, • No alcohol consumption between dives.
Dive centre facilities:
* Small coffee shop
* Towels counter, showers and toilets
* Storage for dive gear
* Freshwater tank for gear washing / separate tank for underwater cameras
Safety information:
The nearest recompression chamber to Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort is located in Semporna (45 minutes away) on the Sabah mainland. Chamber use is costly, so we strongly advise diving safely and securing appropriate dive insurance. Please bring your insurance details.
For non-diving emergencies, a hospital is available in Semporna.
Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort is a unique overwater haven, designed for divers seeking proximity to legendary sites alongside peaceful relaxation. Built entirely on stilts above a shallow sandbank, the resort offers direct access to a thriving house reef from your chalet steps. This architectural choice creates an immersive experience where the marine environment is a constant, gentle presence beneath you. The atmosphere is focused and tranquil, perfectly tailored for post-dive respite and appreciating the natural surroundings.
The central social hub is a spacious, open-air pavilion housing the restaurant, bar, and lounge. This area, offering internet access, is where guests gather to relax in hammocks, enjoy satellite TV, or simply gaze at the horizon from the sun deck. Beyond the structured environment, the resort encourages a connection with the water through the use of sea canoes for personal exploration of the reef and sandbar. A small gift shop caters to incidental needs, ensuring your stay remains comfortably self-contained.
Resort facilities include: Overwater restaurant and bar - Guest lounge with satellite TV and hammocks - Sun deck with panoramic views - Sea canoe/kayak usage - Internet access in lounge/restaurant/office areas - Direct private access to Kapalai house reef - Gift shop
Refuelling after a day exploring the legendary reefs of Sipadan or the house reef of Kapalai is a seamless part of the experience at Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort. All meals are served as an informal buffet in the resort's striking open-air pavilion, a central gathering point perched directly over the turquoise lagoon. The setting provides panoramic ocean views and a natural breeze, making it the perfect spot to log your dives and share the day's encounters.
The cuisine is a varied mix of Chinese and Western dishes, designed to satisfy divers' appetites with fresh salads, seafood, grilled items, and comforting staples. The daily schedule is arranged so that dive trips and meal times dovetail effortlessly. On days dedicated to diving at Sipadan, a packed lunch is provided to maximise your time in the water. Evenings are relaxed, often featuring the chance to enjoy a drink from the bar as the sun sets over the Celebes Sea.
The culinary focus is on providing ample, flavoursome sustenance in a stunning, convivial setting, ensuring you are well-prepared for each underwater adventure.
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MORE PACKAGE DETAILS
Special offers: Packages prices have been discounted by 6% until further notice. Offer closes: 31 Dec 2050
Special rates apply for Malaysians and expatriates with Malaysian work permits. Please contact us for details at info@dive-the-world.com.
Destinations:
Sipadan Island (Diving environment: wall diving, drift diving, advanced divers, very popular; Highlights: shark action, turtles, schooling fish/big pelagics),
Mabul (Diving environment: beginner & advanced divers, very popular; Highlights: great macro life/marine diversity), and
Kapalai (Diving environment: beginner & advanced divers, very popular; Highlights: great macro life/marine diversity).
Resort diving includes:
Dives (as detailed in the packages above), unlimited self-guided jetty dives (day and night), boat rides to sites, experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 10 divers per guide), tanks, weights and weightbelts, drinking water, hot drinks, snacks.
Diving excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own):
Scuba equipment (USD 38 per day), Sipadan park permit fees (advanced certified divers only: USD 111 per day, not transferable) payable in advance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).
Optional extras:
Extra boat dives (Kapalai and Mabul), additional Sipadan day trips (incl. park fees and diving service: USD 242 per day, including sales tax), dive computer, scuba insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased on site are subject to change.
Important note: All divers at Sipadan must take their passport and diving license (minimum cert. level: advanced, plus at least 15 logged dives), or a printed copy of it, to the Sipadan Island marine park office for presentation. The Sabah Parks authorities will not accept a digital copy of a diving license; divers that are unable to verify their qualification status will not be permitted to dive. Permits to Sipadan Island are not available for non-divers or snorkellers.
Resort accommodation includes:
Bed, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinking water, hot drinks, snacks, round trip transfers (for minimum 2 nights stay) from Tawau airport/hotels and Semporna hotels (near Semporna jetty).
Accommodation excludes (mandatory):
8% sales and service tax (SST) on package prices above (payable in advance), Malaysian tourism accommodation tax - USD 2 per room per night. Single supplement on single travellers only, payable in advance. Semporna jetty fee (USD 2 per tour booking). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.
Single Supplement:
This is a compulsory additional charge on single travellers at Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort for the sole occupancy of double/twin accommodation.
Optional extras:
Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, internet access. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.
How to get there:
The resort is located on a sand bar called Kapalai. It is a 45 minute speedboat ride from the port of Semporna. Kapalai will provide a return transfer from Tawau Airport to Semporna and Mabul.
Land transfer times from Tawau Airport to Semporna are 8 am and 10:30 am. Boat transfer times from Semporna to Kapalai Resort are 9:30 am and 12:30 pm. If you arrive late then you must wait at the airport for the next available transfer (which could be a few hours) or overnight in Tawau or Semporna. Only if you arrive on the morning flight will it be possible to dive that day.
Boat transfer times from Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort to Semporna are 11 am and 1:30 pm. Land transfer times from Semporna to Tawau Airport are 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. Please allow 3 hours between resort departure and your flight departure time.
Note that special transfers can be arranged for groups. Individuals/couples can arrange private transfers at additional cost.
For more information on how to get there, including airlines, see our Malaysia resorts travel section.
Dive clubs and group discounts:
5% off from the package price for 3 adults sharing in a chalet.
Groups of 9 guests or more - 1 extra person can join free of charge.
Add-on package:
If this is your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Malaysian Borneo, we highly recommend extending your journey with a 2-night add-on stay at Sepilok Nature Lodge near Sandakan, Sabah. This immersive jungle experience complements your island escape perfectly, offering a thrilling encounter with Borneo’s iconic wildlife, including the unforgettable orangutans of Sepilok.
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