CityOutline guide

Mabul

Island in Malaysia

Photo: (WT-shared) Robert Biuk-Aghai, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Mabul Island (Pulau Mabul in Malay) is a small island off the south-east coast of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. The island is known as one of the best muck diving (viewing exotic and/or small organisms in the sediment at the bottom of the ocean) destinations in the world.

Where to eat, drink and stay

Sleep11 places

Budget

Billabong Scuba
Is a backpackers lodge with diving facility/Sipadan permit. Accommodation range from RM 70 - RM 120 with all meals during stay. Sipadan permit available. English, French, Chinese guides on site. Aircon room/attached bathroom/basic room available. Diving package from RM 300 to 1600.
Phone
+60 89-781866
Scuba Jeff SipadanRM 40 but it's very dirty. Sometimes there's even no running water during the day for toilets or washing.
Offers budget accommodation.
Price
RM 40 but it's very dirty. Sometimes there's even no running water during the day for toilets or washing.
Check-in
anytime
Check-out
noon
Address
Mabul Island
Phone
+60 178614391
Website
scubajeffsipadan.com
Uncle Chang's Sipadan Mabul Dive LodgeRM 80 per person per night including all meals
Price
RM 80 per person per night including all meals
Directions
book at Uncle Chang's office right on the causeway in Semporna next to the Dragon Inn or at the second office near the dive shops at Semporna town, and get your transfer to the island arranged
Website
ucsipadan.com
Big John ScubaRM 70
Nice homestay and diveschool with friendly staff. person/night
Price
RM 70
Phone
+60 142843723
Summer Friends Homestay
An accommodation with diving, snorkelling and hiking packages at Mabul, Sipadan, Kapalai and Bohey Dulang. Accommodation rate is at RM 70 per person per night with meals and snacks.
Website
facebook.com

Show all 11

Mid-range

Borneo Divers Mabul Dive Resort
Website
borneodivers.info
Scuba Junkie/Mabul Beach ResortRM 450-500 dive Sipadan, RM 250-300 dive other island
Price
RM 450-500 dive Sipadan, RM 250-300 dive other island
Check-in
2PM
Check-out
11AM
Website
scuba-junkie.com
Seaventures Dive Resort
An old accommodation barge (not an oil rig) that has been converted to a dive resort, just off the north shore of Mabul
Website
seaventuresdive.com
Sipadan Mabul Resort
Website
sipadan-mabul.com.my

Splurge

Mabul Water Bungalowsstarts at US$394 per non-diver for 2 days, 1 night twin share
Price
starts at US$394 per non-diver for 2 days, 1 night twin share
Website
mabulwaterbungalows.com
Sipadan Water Village Resortstarts at US$425 per person for 2 days, 1 night twin share
Very nice chalets on stilts above the water, but very pricey.
Price
starts at US$425 per person for 2 days, 1 night twin share
Directions
fly into Tawau, then get picked up at the airport for transfer to the resort
Phone
+60 89 784227, +60 89 784228, +60 89 797008, +60 89 797009
Website
swvresort.com

Getting there and around

Getting there

Make your way to Semporna, then take a boat from there. The journey takes about 30 minutes by speed boat, 1½ hours by slow boat. Resorts and lodges provide boat transfers for their guests.

Read in the guide

Getting around

Mabul is small enough to be explored entirely on foot. There are no roads or cars. Boats take visitors to various diving and snorkeling sites around the island.

Read in the guide

Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

Tawau Airport

Tawau · Regional · TWU

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Read before you go to Mabul

Articles and travel topics about Mabul and Malaysia.

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Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandThe island is covered in palm trees and fringed with fine beaches. It is a famous diving spot for divers, both international and local alike, and is well known as the macro diving paradise.

Get inMake your way to Semporna, then take a boat from there. The journey takes about 30 minutes by speed boat, 1½ hours by slow boat. Resorts and lodges provide boat transfers for their guests.

Get aroundMabul is small enough to be explored entirely on foot. There are no roads or cars. Boats take visitors to various diving and snorkeling sites around the island.

SeeMabul possesses beautiful sandy beaches lined with coconut palm trees. However, the indiscriminate throwing of litter by the local fishermen does much to detract from this beauty, particularly on the island's west side.

DoScuba diving - While its famous neighbour Sipadan is a home to large pelagic species, Mabul is the place to find the smaller macro species.

BuyBesides small shops in resorts and lodges there are no shops on the island.

EatResorts and lodges provide their guests all meals. Very much overpriced for what you really get, like everything in Mabul, while the local people are so poor. It's a shame.

DrinkResorts and lodges provide drinks to their guests. Other than that there are no choices on Mabul.

SleepThere are several resorts in the island, all overpriced and very expensive for Malaysia (even for the dorms) as there are no local guest houses but only big resorts.

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Mabul" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Mabul Island", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: (WT-shared) Robert Biuk-Aghai, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Mabul" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Summary from the Wikipedia article "Mabul Island", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia

Photo: (WT-shared) Robert Biuk-Aghai, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage