Tag Archives: snorkelling

Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding in Sapi Island, Sabah

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(Update (Jul 2015): This activity has stopped until further notice.) I wish I had tried it earlier. Stand-Up Paddleboarding (S.U.P in short) is such a fun new way to explore the beauty of our sea and corals, as if it is specifically designed for beautiful islands of Sabah. Imagine how it feels to ride on a “sea bicycle” that allows us to cruise around the island freely, even for non-swimmers. Stand-Up Paddleboarding is getting popular in many countries and Paddle Below the Wind has introduced this trendy watersport to Sabah since Aug 2014.


Pic: The sea of Sapi and Gaya Islands look impressive, but S.U.P will let you see something better than this.

Stand-Up Paddleboard uses surf style board and an adjustable long paddle, like a cross between kayak and surfboard. Besides paddling to any spot you like, you also can surf with S.U.P. It’s a great exercise too because you can paddle, surf and snorkel with S.U.P. I tried it the first time with my brother-in-law from Australia and S.U.P is his favorite trip during his 2-week stay in Sabah.


Now you can experience Stand Up Paddle Boarding in Sapi Island, which is only 10-minute boat ride from Kota Kinabalu City (KK). The best time for Stand Up Paddle Boarding is between 9am and 11am, when the sea is calm and clear. The visibility is superb when the morning sun lights up everything under the sea at 45° angle.

If you prefer watching video, you may check out this 3-min video of my SUP trip in Sapi Island:

S.U.P at Sapi Island

To go to Sapi Island is easy, just hire a boat from one of the 3 boat terminals in KK City. Though Paddle Below the Wind accepts walk-in customers, it’s better you tell them what time you come in advance (see contact info near the end of this article).


Pic: The S.U.P booth of Paddle Below the Wind is just next to the reception building at the entrance of Sapi Island.


Pic: S.U.P booth on Sapi Island. Kayak is also available for rent there. Just approach their staff to sign up for a S.U.P tour. You will fill up an indemnity form and meet your S.U.P instructor.


Pic: the route of S.U.P at Sapi Island. I tried Area 1 (left in yellow circle), which has a lot of corals, an excellent location for snorkelling.


My instructor is Richard from Wales UK and also the owner of Paddle Below the Wind. He has been kayaking and surfing all over the world for many years. While travelling in Sabah, he fell in love with Nora, a Sabahan, now they are married with two lovely kids. Before the 1-hour S.U.P tour, we walked to the beach 10 Metres away for a 10-minute S.U.P lesson in shallow water.


Stand Up Paddle Board is wider than surfboard, it’s about 10 to 12 feet long and weighs about 10Kg, light enough to be carried by most girls in one hand. This cool toy costs more than RM4K.


Pic: you can secure your snorkel gears, water bottle and other things under the diagonal strings. Note the small black socket where you can mount your GoPro camera for action shots.


Pic: A long leash links the board to my ankle, making S.U.P my personal life raft.


Richard taught us the basic paddling techniques and poses (standing, kneeling and sitting). I prefer to stand because it gives me a higher vantage point to see the underwater world better.


As a beginner, at first I struggled a bit to stand on the floating board. To balance well, you have to look at your front instead of your feet. We got used to it within 10 minutes and paddled away. The board becomes more stable while moving. The sea was calm so I didn’t fall into the water even once.


Very soon we were already far away from the shore. It was a sunny day and I could see everything more than 5 Meters deep under the surface. I could even see scuba divers.


It’s a wonderful experience to be able to look at the thriving corals under my feet. My S.U.P was like gliding on a glass on top of a coral garden. My first reaction was, “WOW! I didn’t know Sapi has so many corals”. Boat is forbidden to enter this zone (but S.U.P can) because it’ll crush the corals in shallow sea.


Pic: It was me busy taking photos far behind Richard. Thanks Richard for being patient lol.

I was so excited by the stunning view. It’s nature in its best. The coral area is big and dense, probably spanning across a sea area of over 200 Meters. Despite going to Sapi Island so many times, this is something totally new to me. I stopped paddling many times to take photos like crazy. Remember to bring your smartphone or camera (with Waterproof Case) or you will regret.


It’s so hard for me to keep calm seeing these blooming corals, which is far away from beach and unnoticed by ordinary tourists who are already happy with white sandy beach.

Snorkelling

We paddled to a few best snorkelling spots about half a KM from “tourist beach”. The corals there are mostly pristine and not damaged by any tourist activity.


Pic: you can pick your favorite snorkelling spot.


Pic: Be careful with where you enter the water, avoid stepping on corals in shallow water or you will risk damaging the corals and cut yourselves.


The water is so crystal clear that we can take decent photos of coral even with cellphone. There are corals in variety of shapes and colors. I saw table corals, staghorn corals, yellow spiral corals, lettuce corals, brain corals, etc. and many schools of fishes foraging among them.


I’m so happy to see Nemo, parrot fishes and giant clam.


Our S.U.P also reached a few “hidden” beaches without much effort, which is only accessible to tourists who are willing to trek a long distance on slippery rocky trail along the coast. If you want, you can make a round trip to explore the whole Sapi Island, which takes about 20 to 30 minutes by S.U.P.


When I indulged in photographing the corals and fishes, Richard signaled me to come to him, like he found something interesting. We saw a big monitor lizard in the water, with a fish in its mouth. We tried to get closer to have a good look then we found another small monitor lizard sunbathed on a boulder on the beach. This is a view you won’t find near the beach full of tourists.


Pic: You also can rest on the board.

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding is addictive. Honestly I didn’t have enough of it and wish to do it all day long.

Info & Booking

The fee to experience Stand-Up Paddle Boarding by Paddle Below the Wind in Sapi Island is RM130 (≈US$40) per person, which includes:

  • 10-minute lession
  • 1-hour of guided S.U.P
  • Snorkel, mask and life jacket

Note: Entrance ticket to Sapi Island and Return boat transfer (between Sapi Island and KK) are not included.

S.U.P tour is available from 9am to 1:30pm on Sapi Island. You may contact Nora or Richard for info and booking:
Tel: +60 17-8960341
E-mail: paddlebelow@gmail.com
Website: www.paddlebelowthewind.com
Facebook: BorneoSUPpaddlebelowthewind
To stay comfortable during S.U.P, please wear sunblock lotion, hat and sunglass.

S.U.P at Tanjung Aru First Beach

Paddle Below the Wind also offers S.U.P and surfing lessons at Tanjung Aru First Beach (required booking in advance). For only RM40 (≈US$12) for a 45-min trial session, you can “de-stress” yourselves after work and enjoy the sunset view.

More Photos

Please feel free to check out my photo album if you want to see more photos:

Photos taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Island Sunset Cruise off Kota Kinabalu City

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Sunlight can’t enter a room full of furniture, similarly, we need more spaces sometimes to light up our hearts. That’s why I like the sense of freedom in sunset cruise. The feeling of watching sunset from the vast open sea is very different. On the land, sunset is only a nice background to mark the end of day. On the ocean, you are like an audience standing on the stage of sunset for its magic moment.


Pic: our cruise boat, Hydian Way

Kota Kinabalu City (KK) has nice sunset and our beautiful islands are just a few Kilometers away, so all we need is a boat for the trip. For the New Year Sunset Cruise Gathering, Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society chartered a cruise boat which could accommodate up to 50 people.


Hydian Way looks like a double-decker bus of the sea. It’s a 60-feet passengers cruise boat designed for short distance tour cruise. The lower and upper decks are flat surface with many chairs and tables, so passengers can carry out any activity and enjoy open view of the sea, exactly what we need for a leisure ride. Most area is sheltered from rain and hot sun, another plus.


Pic: lower and upper decks of Hydian Way. The toilet and bathroom are at the rear of lower deck.

We departed around 5pm from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal and headed to the sea and islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Everyone was so excited onboard, we explored around as this was our first time experience on sunset cruise. The boat has an area of 1,500 square feet.


Most seemed to like upper deck better, where we could see the surrounding on higher vantage point and enjoyed the sea breeze. Lower deck is more stable and suitable for those who are prone to seasick. Anyway, the swaying motion wasn’t strong when the boat was moving.


I also walked around to find the best viewpoint. After a while, everyone was settling down and started their romantic or family time.


Pic: our boat leaving KK and head to the sun!


Pic: a cruise ship in Sabah Port. I wonder how it feels to see sunset from that huge ship.


It had been raining in past few days, we didn’t know if the sunset view would be nice. The sky was cloudy, so I didn’t expect a spectacular sunset. As long as it didn’t rain, I was happy.


Even if the sunset wasn’t nice, we still had nice food onboard. Yeah, check out that BBQ lamb, it’s the one of the highlight man.


Everyone’s spirit is high. For company annual dinner, you may consider organizing a sunset cruise party. Conventional dinner in hotel is just boring and everyone wants to leave after meal.


Pic: the sunset is about to start. When the sun moved closer to the horizon, the sea water turned into silvery blue, an interesting color that only can be seen from open sea.


Then the boat brought us behind Sapi Island, where we could snorkel (snorkelling gears provided onboard). It was a bit cool probably due to the recent rainy season, so only one person doing it. Just to let you know that you can have this activity, and the boat can take you to snorkelling spot far away from crowded tourist area. If it was a hot day, I would take a swim.


Our barbecue chicken wings and satay were ready, just in time for the sunset. With free flow of soft drink, it couldn’t be better.


Pic: satay for the sunset!


Pic: more BBQ food. Wish you were there.


We were so happy about the exceptional view of sunset. In fact, we thought of postponing the trip because of the possible bad weather, now we have no regret.


Alex, the owner of the boat, was happy too. We were the only group on the open sea that day, this sunset view was exclusively for us.


We were busy taking and posting sunset photos to our Facebook. Some even updated their profile photos with sunset as background. Bet these photos got many likes and made their friends envious.


Pic: the magic moment with the most intense colors, cloud and sea were painted with rosy colors but only lasted a few minutes.


After the sunset was over, our boat moved further and anchored in open sea for next activity, fishing. The crews had prepared fishing rods and bait for us.


We caught a few snapper and grouper. However, the fishes were too small, so we released them back into the sea after photo taking. If we were lucky, we would have BBQ fishes.


Though we have no BBQ fish, there’s something better waiting for us. Our BBQ lamb is ready. We started second round of feasting. The lamb was roasted slowly, so the meat was kept juicy inside, very yummy.


For buffet dinner, we also had fried noodles, curry chicken, butter prawns, mixed vegetables, salad and sweet & sour fish. The BBQ just now was more like high tea lol.


Our eyes and mouth were satisfied, next it’s the turn for our ears. Let’s have some music. The boat has karaoke set in lower deck, so you can show your talent. Your voice will be broadcast to upper deck too, so nobody could escape from your performance, unless they jump into the sea. Sing as loud as you can, because there no neighbour will complain you.


We had fun until 8:30pm, then we had to go home at last. Watching night view of KK city is the last part of our trip. The bustling KK looks like a sleepy city from a distance.


Instead of heading straight to the port, our boat cruised slowly along the shoreline of KK, to have closer look of KK city night.


To be honest, though lovely, the night view of KK is not as magnificent as big cities. Anyway, I don’t see this every day, so I still enjoy the moment.


Pic: Le Meridien Hotel and Sinsuran Night Market are the brightest section of the KK night view.


Pic: Sinsuran Night Market with busy hawkers and customers. Guess they didn’t know they were being watched.


Pic: KK Waterfront Esplanade won my award as the most colorful night view of KK, haha.

Overall, this is a delightful trip and a luxury to me, who spend most of my time living and working in a world as small as an office cubicle and bedroom. I bet you will enjoy such tour.


Pic: 40 passengers and 40 happy faces

Joining a Sunset Cruise

You can either join a tour or organize a party yourselves. The following are the packages and prices for tours by Hydian Way (as of Jan 2015). You can download their brochure for full details.

Type of Tour Activities Fee
Morning Cruise
(10am-2pm)		 Snorkeling, Fishing, Lunch with free flow of drinks RM249 per person (≈US$70)
Sunset Cruise
(5pm-7pm)		 Night Cityscape, Sunset Viewing, Refreshments RM199 per person (≈US$56)
Sunset Cruise with Fishing
(4pm-8pm)		 Fishing, Night Cityscape, Sunset Viewing, Refreshments RM249 per person (≈US$70)
Private Chartered Customized
Hydian Way can host up to 50 people (30 would be the most comfortable size)		 Rental Fee: RM2,500 to RM5,000 (≈US$700 to 1,400) for 4 hours

For booking and enquiry, please contact Huang Long Travel & Tour (皇龙旅行社) at:
E-mail: info.hydianway@gmail.com
Tel:: +60 16-557-0211 (Terita – Marketing Manager), +60 13-863-1982 (Melessa – Sales Manager)
Address: Ground Floor, Premier Golf Center, Jalan Istiadat, Kompleks Sukan Likas, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

More Photos

The photos in this article are small. You may browse my photo album for bigger and better photos:

Related Posts

I had tried sunset cruise with different types of boats too. You may check them out and compare the experience:

Photos taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Sepanggar Island (Pulau Sepangar), the new island destination of Kota Kinabalu

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To enjoy a weekend on island, people of Kota Kinabalu city (KK) always visit Sapi, Manukan or Mamutik Islands. Though Sepanggar Island (Pulau Sepangar) is only 12 minutes by boat ride from KK, it was like a “nobody island.”


Twice the size of Manukan Island, Sepanggar Island looks like a giant manta ray from the sky (see location map) and ten of thousands of motorists see it from the busy road along Tanjung Lipat every day, but most don’t even know the name of this big island.


Pic: beach of Sepanggar Island


Sepanggar Island has all the elements such as nice beach and swaying cocnut trees to be a tropical island destination. When the neighbouring islands get really crowded with tourists, Traverse Tours sees the potential, they develop Sepanggar Island into a new attraction and name it Mari Mari Sepanggar Island.


Now you have another choice of island, besides those in nearby Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Instead of promoting Sepanggar Island as a cheap and mass tourist destination, this island is meant for visitors who want to stay away from the noisy crowd and chillax at a tranquil seaside.


You can laze around its white sandy beach and do nothing, or you can try scuba diving, discovery scuba diving (no diver license required), snorkelling, kayaking, fishing and jungle trekking. Sepanggar Island is a protected forest reserve and covered by thick tropical rainforest. The highest point is 160 Meters, where you can have a panoramic view of Likas Bay, Sepanggar Bay and Kota Kinabalu city. I haven’t explored their jungle but I think its undisturbed forest has interesting fauna and flora waited to be seen.


Pic: you can see Kota Kinabalu city from Sepanggar Island. The night view should be nice.


Last month I was in a 1-hour fishing trip around Sepanggar Island in the morning. My travel agent prepared the fishing rod and bait for me.


Pic: the sea of Sepanggar Island is also a fishing spot for local fishermen. There are 8 dive sites near this island.


Our boat passed by Sepanggar Island Water Village. The water was so clear and we saw a juvenile turtle swimming among corals.


Pic: Sepanggar Island Water Village (Kampung Pulau Sepangar)


We caught a few fishes about the size of a palm. You would get big fish if you are lucky.


We enjoyed our lunch buffet after the fishing trip.

Then we just relaxed at the beach side and felt the gentle breeze.


Pic: from the beach, you can see Mt. Kinabalu at the left and Gaya Island at the right.


Pic: Dive Centre (left) and Activity Centre (right) of Mari-Mari Sepanggar Island. They also have proper toilet, changing room, lockers, activity hall and dining area for the guests.


Pic: Forestry Department doesn’t encourage them to cut the trees so the centre is inside lush wood. Surprisingly there was very few mosquitoes during my visit.


Pic: for student group who wants to overnight on the island, there is a wide sleeping area to accommodate them.

Island Accommodation (Chalets)

The island has 1 unit of Beach Chalet (Double bed) and 5 units of Hill Chalets (3 units with Double Bed, 2 units with Twin Bed). All rooms are equipped with attached bathroom & soap dispenser, stand fan and towel rack/bar. Beach Chalet is near the beach and has great sea view. If you love to be surrounded by trees, you may stay in Hill Chalets on the slope but you need to take a short walk to the beach.


Pic: Beach Chalet with nice sea and night view of KK city.


Pic: Beach Chalet

All chalets can accommodate up to 3 people but it is a tight fit, so they recommend just 2 Adults + 1 Child for the Hill Chalet while the Beach Chalet can accommodate 3 Adults.


Pic: Hill Chalet inside the forest

As all facilities depend on solar power, electricity usage is kept to a minimum and there are no charging options in the room. However, they have a charging station at the reception area where you can charge your electrical appliances safely.


Their Beach Chalets and Hill Chalets have opened and now available for booking. You may download the Pre-Summer Promotion package for details (valid from 11 May – 30 Jun 2015).

IMHO, Sepanggar Island is a suitable playground to organise small private beach party and group outing. You can enjoy BBQ and beer at the beach, watching sunset and KK city night view and then spend a night on the island.

How to get there

The tour to Sepanggar Island starts from RM180 (≈US$57). To visit the island, below is the contact of the agent:
Company: Traverse Tours
(The tour operator has a counter (No.12) in Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, where their boat departs to Sepanggar Island)
E-mail: sales@mantananiisland.com, mantanani@traversetours.com
Tel: +60 13-883 4921 (Hotline), +60 88-260 511, +60 88-260 522
Website: www.mantananiisland.com
Facebook: Mantanani-Kechil-Island-Sabah-Borneo


However (I wish I don’t need to mention this), I need to tell you that you will see rubbish on the sea and other corners around Sepanggar Island. Most of these garbage are from the water villages of Gaya Island. I hope the government will relocate those villagers ASAP to inland, to solve the littering problem once and for all, because it is also affecting other nearby islands and island resorts. Other than that, the service and location of Mari-Mari Sepanggar Island is great, so it deserves to be the next popular destination.

More Photos

You may check out album of Sepanggar Island for more photos.

Photos taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Accommodation on Mabul Island (Pulau Mabul)

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It is Sipadan Island that makes what Mabul Island (Pulau Mabul) is today. Ever since Sipadan becomes a world-class dive site, divers from all over the world flood Mabul, which is only 30 minutes (15 Kilometres) away from Sipadan by boat ride.


Sipadan doesn’t have any accommodation on the island. To dive in Sipadan, divers and tourists can stay on Kapalai Island or Mabul Island nearby. Another reason is – Semporna is a small town (on mainland) that has no night life, and it takes more than an hour to reach Sipadan from there, very inconvenient for divers who plan to spend a few days diving in Sipadan and other islands of Semporna.


Mabul has become an “island of accommodation” as it has over 10 lodges and resorts, with room rates range from RM65 to RM1,000+ (≈USD20 – 300+) per night. Whether you are backpackers looking for cheap hostel, or honeymooners who want perfect vacation, Mabul has the ideal place for you. You may check out the list of accommodations on this page.


Pic: water village of Mabul Island

*Note: The prices are for your quick reference only. They may or may not include dive package, meals, land / boat transport, dive permit, etc., and the rates can be higher in peak season. Please check with the individual accommodation for detail and latest info.

Recommended Accommodations

I recommend the following accommodation based on my experience and feedback from others. Just a sharing of my personal view.

Budget: Uncle Chang Backpackers Lodge

Uncle Chang is a very friendly and sociable dude who likes to hang around with his guests for a smoke or beer in his lodge. He always wants his guests to feel at home. Sometimes I wonder if he opens this lodge just to party with guests.


Pic: Uncle Chang Backpackers Lodge

Anyway, his face and pony tail has become the trademark logo of the lodge. The lodge provides clean and comfortable basic accommodation. You can pay extra to get an air-conditioned room or chalet. At night, I like to sit on the boardwalk, to see turtles, baby sharks, cuttlefish and other seafood marine animals foraging under my feet (while the rest drank and sang Karaoke through the night).


Pic: BBQ seafood dinner at the lodge

Yes, you can arrange a diving trip to Sipadan with them. Same as Uncle Chang, the staffs are also very friendly and accommodating.


Pic: staffs and guests saying goodbye

Room Rate*: RM70 (Dormitory Room) – RM140 (Chalet) (≈USD21 – 42)
E-mail: world@ucsipadan.com, unclechang99@hotmail.com
Website: www.ucsipadan.com
Facebook: Uncle Chang’s Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge
Tel: +60 17-8950002, +60 89-786988
Office Address: P.O.Box 37, 91307 Causeway Road, S.O.T.C. Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia.

Mid-Range: Borneo Divers Mabul Resort (BDMR)

If you want something better than budget lodge but not too high-end and pricey, Borneo Divers Mabul Resort (BDMR) might be the one for you. BDMR is established since 1984 and run by 5-star PADI dive operator, so I’m confident about their quality of service.


Their 30+ units of chalet (with attached bathroom and hot shower) are air-conditioned and constructed of hardwood in a local style. When I was inside, the feel is like a standard hotel room, though not luxurious, it’s cozy.


Pic: sundeck at the jetty


Pic: swimming pool of BDMR, also a spot to conduct open water diver course.

BDMR is probably the accommodation with the most complete amenities on Mabul. From Wifi, dining hall, event hall, restaurant, mini bar, dive station, small shop to swimming pool, basically it is a 3-star hotel on island, except that it has no parking lot for cars, lol. If you want to host a function with over 100 people on Mabul, I can’t think of other places better than BDMR.


The food there is buffet style and great in variety (western and local food). The 1st night I had steamed boat and 2nd night a BBQ beach party. I gained some weight after the stay. During meal time, the resort is like an United Nations, as there are tourists from Europe, America and Asia. And we played some games together in the party. I felt great to be there, really.

Room Rate*: (Online Booking available) RM1,440 (≈USD400) for 3-day non-dive package
E-mail: information@borneodivers.info, reservations@borneodivers.info
Website: www.borneodivers.info
Facebook: Borneo Divers Mabul Resort
Tel: +60 88-222226, +60 88-221340
Office Address: 9th Floor, Menara Jubili, 53 Jalan Gaya, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

High-End: Sipadan Water Village Resort (SWV)

This classy resort is built over water on strong ironwood stilts and extends a few hundred Metres to the sea. To me, it looks like a floating palace on Mabul Island. Their 45 water bungalows are designed beautifully in Bajau architectural style and come with private sundeck.


You will be impressed to see their layout in Google map later, the resort is so huge that it looks like an island by itself, equipped with 5-star dive centre, dining hall, bar lounge, SPA area, etc.


To be honest, I never stay there before so I don’t have much to write here. As it earns TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence 2013, it won’t be a wrong choice to spend your honeymoon on Sipadan Water Village Resort. I’ll feel like a king if I were there.

Room Rate*: RM3,800 (≈USD1,150) for 4 day 3 night
E-mail: info@swvresort.com
Website: www.swvresort.com
Tel: +60 089-751777 (Kota Kinabalu), +60 89-950023 (Tawau), +60 89-784100 (Semporna), +60 89-792231 (Mabul)
Office Address: TB231, Lot 8, 1st Floor, Town Extension II (Wisma MAA Building), 91000 Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia.

The following is an useful Infographics for divers to make better choice on accommodation (created by Asia Diving Vacation):

Other Accommodations

There are many other nice accommodation on Mabul too, and they could be better choice for you than my recommendation.

Seaventures Rig Dive Resort

It is hard not to notice this resort on the sea horizon 0.7 KM away from Mabul island, and that’s why they are on the list of unique hotels by TripAdvisor. This PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Resort is a re-purposed oil rig and now complete with dive centre, game room, conference lounge, bar, etc. From their photos, I thought they built a space station on the sea.


Room Rate*: Start from RM2,730 (≈USD827) for 4 day 3 night dive package
E-mail: info@seaventuresdive.com
Website: seaventuresdive.com
Facebook: Seaventures Dive Resort
Tel: +60 88-261669, +60 88-251 669
Office Address: G23B, Ground Floor, Wisma Sabah, Jalan Tun Razak, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Sipadan Mabul Resort (SMART)

Owned by Explore Asia Tours Sdn. Bhd., Sipadan Mabul Resort has 45 wooden duplex chalets near the beach.


See the lush coconut trees? These are planted by the resort over the years, now the trees add a very nice touch to the tropical ambiance of this resort.

Room Rate*: Package starts from USD401 (2 day 1 night)
E-mail: mabul@po.jaring.my, mabul@streamyx.com
Website: www.sipadan-mabul.com.my
Facebook: SipadanMabulResortSMART
Tel: +60 88-486389
Office Address: Lot A-1-G, Block A, Signature Office, KK Times Square, Off Coastal Highway, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Mabul Water Bungalow (SMART)

Another floating resort beside Sipadan Water Village Resort, with 15 units of wooden-type bungalows built on stilts. This resort also wins Tripadvisor’s Certificate of Excellence 2013.

Room Rate*: Start from RM2,000 (≈USD606) for 2 day 1 night non-diver package (Twin Share)
E-mail: mabul@po.jaring.my, mabul@streamyx.com
Website: www.mabulwaterbungalows.com
Facebook: Mabul Water Bungalow (SMART)
Tel: +60 88-486389
Office Address: Lot A-1-G, Block A, Signature Office, KK Times Square, Off Coastal Highway, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Scuba Jeff Guest House

A budget lodge run by a friendly diver named Jeff, who wants to share the beauty of Mabul by offering affordable stay to tourists.


Room Rate*: Start from RM65 (≈USD20) per night
E-mail: scubajeffsipadan@gmail.com, scubajeffsipadan@hotmail.com
Website: scubajeffsipadan.com
Facebook: Scuba Jeff Mabul
Tel: +60 19-5355229, +60 17-8614391
Office Address: 1st Floor, Lot 18, Block C, Semporna Seafront New TownShip, 91308 Semporna Sabah Malaysia

Big John Scuba

A lodge with 8 basic rooms with twin/double beds, attached bathroom and fan. Big John Scuba is quite well-known among HK and China tourists, and it earns very good reviews in TripAdvisor.


Room Rate*: RM90 (≈USD27)
E-mail: bigjohnlim@hotmail.com, bigjohnscuba1@gmail.com
Facebook: BIG-JOHN-Scuba
Tel: +60 14-2843723, +60 89-785399
Office Address: Jalan Kastalam No. 1 P/S 124, Semporna 91308, Sabah, Malaysia.

Mabul Beach Resort (Scuba Junkie)

Scuba Junkie wins the heart of many backpackers and sea turtles. They are the winner of 2012 Responsible Tourism Award (Best in Protection of Natural Areas and/or Wildlife Conservation) and own a 5-star PADI dive centre. Mabul Beach Resort has 24 en suite rooms situated on the beach front. You have a choice from basic dorm room to VIP air-con room.


Pic: office of Scuba Junkie in Semporna town

Room Rate*: RM110 (dorm) – RM485 (VIP room) (≈USD28 – 122)
E-mail: info@scuba-junkie.com
Website: www.scuba-junkie.com
Facebook: Scuba Junkie
Tel: +60 89-785372, +60 89-782372
Office Address: Block B Lot 36 Semporna Seafront, 91308 Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia.

Billabong Scuba

A wooden stilt house that offers basic / budget homestay. Air-conditioned room with attached bathroom is available (at higher rate of course).


Room Rate*: RM70 – RM250 (≈USD21 – 76)
E-mail: bsds.sipadan@gmail.com, sip.billabong@gmail.com
Website: www.billabongscuba.com
Tel: +60 89-781866
Office Address: Lot 28, 1st floor, block E, Seafront New Township, Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia.

Spheredivers Lodge

A budget lodge with 7 Units of twin sharing rooms. Family room available.


Room Rate*: RM890 (≈USD270) for 3 day 2 night dive package
E-mail: azharspheredivers@gmail.com
Website: www.spherediverslodge.com
Facebook: Spheredivers
Tel: +60 19-6657043

Sipadan Dive Centre Mabul Lodge

This lodge has 4 rooms equipped with 3 single beds (triple share) and ceiling fan, and 7 beach-front chalets equipped with 2 single beds (twin sharing), ensuite bathroom and air-conditioning.

Room Rate*: (Online Booking available) RM100 – RM165 (≈USD30 – 50)
E-mail: sdc@sipadandivers.com
Website: www.sdclodges.com
Facebook: sdcmabul
Tel: +60 88-240584
Office Address: Sipadan Dive Centre Sdn. Bhd., Lot No. A1103, 11th Floor, Wisma Merdeka, Jalan Tun Razak, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Seahorse Sipadan Scuba Lodge

A relatively new lodge that offers budget dorm and standard rooms.


Room Rate*: RM80 – 120 (≈USD24 – 36)
E-mail: infosshs@gmail.com
Facebook: Seahorsesss
Tel: +60 89-782289, +60 12-2797657
Office Address: Lot A1, 1st Floor, New Township Seafront, 91308 Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia.

Arung Hayat Lodge (Mabul)

This lodge has been in business since 1999. Besides accommodation, they also offer sea sports activities such as diving, snorkeling and day trip to most islands of Semporna.

Room Rate*: (Online Booking available) RM90 – 210 (≈USD27 – 64)
E-mail: sipadanadventures@gmail.com
Website: arunghayatsemporna.com, ahrscuba.com
Facebook: Arung.Hayat
Tel: +60 12-8229984 (mobile), +60 89-782846 (office)
Office Address: Jalan Pinggir Bakau, Peti Surat 245, 91308 Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia.

The following are a few more other accommodations that I don’t have much info:

  1. Mabul Backpackers Longhouse & Dive Centre
  2. My Scuba Diver’s Mabul Homestay
  3. Summer Friends Homestay

Below is a location map of the accommodation on Mabul Island:

View My Sabah Map in a larger map


Please note that a successful booking of accommodation on Mabul doesn’t guarantee you a trip to Sipadan. The number of visitors (include divemaster, snorkeler and picnicker) to Sipadan is limited to 120 people per day, so it’s demand over supply. Some resorts bundle the Sipadan trip with accommodation package, and some lodges sell Sipadan diving day tour (3 dives) for about RM400 (≈USD120) and above. Please contact them for info.


After checking out their websites with photos and read some reviews in TripAdvisor.com, you shall have a good idea which one to go for. Please note some accommodations listed here may not have proper license for occupation or land/boat transport for their guests. In case bad thing happens, that might affect your insurance compensation. If a fully insured tour is your top priority, you can always contact Sabah Tourism Board to check if your operator is licensed, before the booking. Last advice – set your expectation right, you will get what you pay for. Good luck and enjoy your stay!

Which one is your favorite accommodation?

Photos taken in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Sands Spit Island (Pulau Kalampunian Besar) of Pulau Tiga Islands

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I’m so happy to come back to Sands Spit Island again. In my first visit, I said Sands Spit Island had one of the Most Beautiful Beaches of Sabah . After one year, I still say the same.

Sands Spit Island (Pulau Kalampunian Besar in Malay language) is a small island between Snake Island and Survivor Island of famous Pulau Tiga Islands Park. It was used to be a sand bar without any vegetation. Today it has grown so big that nobody thinks it’s only a sand bar.


Pic: landing on Sands Spit Island, the island far behind is Snake Island


Pic: thanks to Edward and Candy (from Borneo Starcruise) for bringing me here.


The long sandy beach of Sands Spit Island stretches over one Kilometer. The beach is so pristine and nearly 100% paved by white sand, the dust of heaven. Some gives this island another nickname “Long Beach Island” (which is more marketable).


The water here is also crystal clear and shallow, very suitable for swimming and snorkeling.


Sands Spit Island is isolated from civilization, so you are cut off from any interruption such as Internet. It is a great place for family to have a “pure” vacation, as parents won’t be “phubbed” by their children who are busy looking at their smartphone, LOL.


More and more travel agents know the beauty of Sands Spit Island and introduce it to their customers. If you visit Pulau Tiga Island, you must drop by this island.


In my second visit, I decided to explore the far end of the Sands Spit Island to see what’s there.


There were a few busybodies joining me too. 🙂 There were some tiny sandflies around this area. Just stay nearer to the sea to avoid them.


Pic: there is a narrow sand bar connecting to a small island far away.


During low tide, you can walk over to another island.


It’s kind of fun to stand in the middle where sea waves washing from both sides.


Look mom! I can split the sea like Moses.


Two families met and took a group photo.

You may watch the short video below to see the waves in motion:


After swimming and walking, we rested under the shade of the trees.


There is no man-made structure on this island, so Edward set up a canvas shelter and picnic area.


We had our lunch (fried noodle, fried egg, curry chicken, meat dumpling) on the island. The food tasted so good after we had some activities. Tourists from other group even asked us if the food was for sale.


Pic: enjoying meal in sea breeze of Sands Spit Island.


Everyone is happy. It just can’t get any better.


Too bad we had to leave at last, but we can always come back.


The fun hasn’t ended yet. Edward brought us for a Mud Volcano SPA on Pulau Tiga Island (Survivor Island) nearby.


We got all dirty after the mud bath. Now we had excuse to go to the beach again.


Pic: washing ourselves in the sea

If you would like to have fun like us on Sands Spit Island, you may book a tour with Borneo Starcruise.

More Photos

www.flickr.com

Related Posts

Pulau Tiga, the Survivor Island
Snake Island and Sands Spit Island

Photos taken in Kuala Penyu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Snorkeling in Sipadan Island

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Being described as an “Untouched Piece of Art” by Jacques Cousteau, Sipadan Island is always high on the chart of best dive sites and frequented by scuba divers from all over the world. To promote Sipadan, travel agents like to use underwater photographs of divers, as if the only way to see the beauty of Sipadan is to wear over 30 pounds of diving gears and sink to the sea bottom.

So, is swimming and snorkeling in Sipadan just a waste of time? Read on, you will see that Sipadan is also best for snorkeling.


Sipadan is the only oceanic island of Malaysia and its reef is built on a volcanic seamount which rises steeply from a surrounding seabed more than 500 Meters in depth. In brief, Sipadan is a mushroom-like island in the deep ocean. This 13.5-Hectare island, which takes only 20 minutes to walk one round, looks like an ordinary tropical island, but there is a lot of going on under its water.


Pic: the deep blue seawater is the 500 Meters drop. Sound scary, but a lot of corals bloom on its steep wall and become “hanging garden”, which is famous for Wall Diving.

In my last visit to Sipadan, I snorkeled in 3 sites, which are only 3 to 6 Meters deep and not far from the island.

If you prefer to watch video, the following is the 2.5-min video of my snorkeling tour in Sipadan:

Site #1: Mid Reef

The visibility of Mid Reef is good in the morning. The water is about 3 Meters deep, so I can get a close and clear view of flourishing hard corals.


Pic: big fan coral, which is bigger than me.


Pic: 500-Meter drop at the left

Fishes like to congregate near the edge of island. I saw thousands of reef fishes in different colors and sizes in coral reefs, like butterflies among the flowers. A popular TV host from National Geographic Channel once said he was dazzled by the fishes here LOL.


I also spotted a live giant clam about 3 feet in wide. Due to overfishing, it is extremely rare to see such a big one in the wild.


A school of Barracuda just appeared in front of me, as seen in tourism brochure. This magnificent view was totally unexpected because I thought I only can see this in deep water.

Site #2: Turtle Tomb

I was so happy with what I saw. Quickly I proceeded to the next site, the Turtle Tomb.


The sunlight was getting bright so the visibility is superb. My underwater camera could record everything clearly.


It was not too long for me to find a sea turtle swimming gracefully, then came the second, third and fourth one. Sea turtles are just everywhere. Surprisingly, they didn’t bother about my presence so I could see their natural behaviour up close.


Some turtles were resting at the bottom. Like the one above was just a few feet below me. To avoid disturbing it, I stayed still and let current pushed me away. It looked fairly relax and didn’t try to hide or flee.


Then I noticed something big and dark moving under me. It was a group of Bumphead Parrotfish foraging around corals.


Can you believe it? Nearly hundred of Bumphead Parrotfish were so close that our fins almost touched them.


I only saw Bumphead Parrotfish in seafood dinner before, without knowing that it is such a fascinating creature.

Site #3: Barracuda Point

I had my lunch after two snorkeling trips. After a short rest, I couldn’t wait to get back to the water again.


Sipadan is located in Coral Triangle, which is also known as Amazon of the Sea and important habitat to over 3,000 coral fish species and 76% of world’s coral species.


When I thought the best part was over, I saw a big swarm of “something” coming to my way.


My goodness, it is a school of Jackfish, probably ten of thousands of them. This is crazy!


A guest swam to them and soon engulfed by wall of Jackfish. Before this, I thought such view was something only happened in my dream. I strongly recommend you to watch the video.


The fishes didn’t look stress though we were really close, a result of long years of full protection by this marine park.

In conclusion, the snorkeling experience in Sipadan is almost as good as diving. However, to see richer variety of corals and bigger sharks, you still have to dive deeper. Every diver says they regret to dive in Sipadan. Why? Because they have seen the best (Sipadan), other dive sites can’t impress them anymore. So I advise you to keep Sipadan as the last. 🙂


In case you wonder how Sipadan got its name. The name is from the word Siparan, which refers to a dead body of a person named Si Paran, whom had been found restlessly on the beach of Sipadan.

Visit Sipadan Island

To visit Sipadan Island (Pulau Sipadan in Malaysia language), you need an entry permit from Sabah Parks, the management of Sipadan Island Park. To reduce the impact to the environment, Sabah Parks imposes a daily quota of 120 people to Sipadan. The tour is always fully booked, so you need to apply at least 3 months in advance. The easiest way is to get a licensed dive operator to arrange the diving trip for you, they also can book the accommodation and provide the airport transfer.


Pic: the reception counter at the jetty. Everyone must register here before entering the island. You will be denied entry if you don’t have a permit.


Pic: the boardwalk to Sipadan Island. Do you notice the big tall tree? It is a huge strangler fig tree (see photo below).


Pic: The island has adequate amenities such as public toilet for tourists.


Pic: there is a few shelter and benches for you to rest and have meal.

You may watch the 90-sec walking tour video to see the surrounding of Sipadan:

FYI, there is a Turtle Hatchery on Sipadan.

More Photos

www.flickr.com

Do you know any other nice spots for snorkeling, besides Sipadan? Please share with us.

Photos taken in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Lankayan Island, Living next to Turtles & Sharks

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Tell me, what would your dream tropical island look like? Is it an island with sandy beach and beautiful sea under blue sky? Well, there are hundreds of such islands in the world, but when you dive in their sea, many islands only have underwater desert with very few marine lives present.

Lankayan Island (of Sabah, Malaysia) is more than sandy beach and crystal clear seawater. It is an island “approved” by sea turtles and sharks, a paradise for both tourists and wildlife. Please read on to see why or you may watch the beautiful photo slide show of Lankayan. Lankayan Island is only 5 hectares, about the size of 10 soccer fields. You only need 15 minutes to walk one round of this island. Though Lankayan is tiny, it is one of the important marine protected area and turtle nesting sites.


Look at the white sandy beach and turquoise-colored sea of Lankayan. Everyone smiled when they reached this dreamy destination. 70% of the island are covered with lush Pandanus sp trees.

The Corals

Coral reef is the rainforest of the sea and a habitat for over 2,000 reef fish species. Out of 700 coral species in the world, 400 live in our sea. Coral is very sensitive to pollution, destructive fishing, global warming, etc.


You don’t need to go far for snorkeling. Just jump off from the jetty and you will swim among high density of colorful corals.


Say Hi! to Nemo of Lankayan. This photo was taken in water less than 1 Meter deep. Lankayan has huge area of shallow costal reef. During low tide, the water only reached my waist even though I was more than 30 Meters away from the shore.


Pic: a lonely Barracuda swimming near the beach.


Besides coral reef, the wide sea grass bed also attracts foraging turtles and fishes. Visitors can swim, snorkel, dive and kayak in Lankayan. The dive center of the island also offers basic and advanced PADI scuba diving courses there.

The Chalets

Lankayan Island Dive Resort is the only accommodation on Lankayan Island and it is luxurious.


They have 23 wooden seafront chalets that face the sea (mostly at sunrise direction), and the beach is just a short walk away.


The chalets are on twin or triple sharing basis and include water heater, air-conditioning, mini-refrigerator, safe with 4-digit PIN, etc. I just love the warm ambiance created by wooden structure. But the best part is – the resort is eco-friendly, it uses Hydroponics Treatment System to treat effluent from resort before discharging it.


The super sea view of the balcony. Needless to say more..

You may watch the 4-min walking tour video of Lankayan below:


I waked up at 5:30am to take photos of sunrise at the balcony. Too bad the sky was gloomy. However, I saw something more interesting. A number of juvenile black-tip sharks were foraging in front until 6:30am. Btw, Whale Shark sighting from Mar to May is also a highlight of Lankayan.


Two sea turtles and a school of Jack Fish were passing by too.

Turtle Hatchery

What impresses me the most is the turtle conservation project and the number of turtle hatchery on Lankayan. Selingan Turtle Islands Park is the most popular turtle nesting site of Sabah but it is always fully booked. Lankayan is the next best alternative (good chance of sighting but no guarantee).


The peak months of turtle nesting are from Jul to Oct. The two common sea turtles that nest on Lankayan are Green Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle.


I was there in July, and the turtle hatchery area is full.


If you want to observe turtles, you can hang the wood tag on your door knob (blue tag for turtle nesting and yellow tag for hatchling release). Their staff will knock your door to inform you.

Releasing Turtle Hatchling

Once the baby turtles emerge from sand, the staff will release them ASAP for better survival rate. They will not wait for everyone to start the “show”, just to remind you.


It takes turtle hatchling 3 to 7 days to dig and get out of the sand by group effort. The baby turtles were still so hyperactive despite long hours of digging.

You can see the baby turtles in video below:


There were 125 baby turtles to be released. The guests were so excited, as if they were becoming parents. To avoid predators to predict the release, the staff picked a random location to free the baby turtles. We were asked not to move as the turtles would run all over the place.


Pic: the race started and all the hatchling vanished into the sea in minutes. In year 2011, Lankayan released about 40,000 hatchling. Sounds like a big number, but less than 1% will survive to adulthood.

Turtle Nesting

Around 9pm in second night, I heard people busy moving outside my chalet, with chattering mixed with excitement. Then a staff told me that there was a green turtle nesting nearby. I grabbed my camera and joined a group of enthusiastic guests to see turtle laying eggs. We were asked to be quiet and keep a distance, as the turtle would turn back to the sea if it was disturbed. Photo taking with flash is also not permitted (that’s why my photos look dark).

We stayed still and silent around the turtle, observing the event with the aid of a dim torchlight, as if we were witnessing a sacred ceremony. It took the mother turtle half an hour to unload all her 50 to 80 eggs into the pit she dug. Then she covered the hole with sand. I was showered by sand each time she scooped sand to the back. The staff said turtle purposely spread the sand all over the place to cover the smell, so the predators can’t pinpoint the nest.


It was a long and slow process. The turtle would stop and take a breather once in a while, as if she was sighing. Finally she was done and headed back to the sea. In year 2011, there were 500 nesting on Lankayan Island.


The staff dug out the turtle eggs to transfer them to hatchery. The eggs look like ping-pong (actually it’s soft, like a sac than shell)! Sabah is one of the few Malaysian states that bans the trading of turtle eggs. Unfortunately, turtle eggs are still being sold illegally. In Sandakan, if someone shows an OK finger sign to you, that means he wants to sell you turtle eggs.


The staff also lets us touching the turtle egg. Sadly, Peninsular Malaysia still consumes turtle eggs today. For example, Terengganu was used to be an important nesting site of leatherback turtle. Due to egg consumption by human, its population drops 99% since 1960s, and now leatherback is a critically endangered species.


To protect the eggs from predators, the staff transferred the eggs to hatchery. The hatchlings will emerge after 50 to 60 days. I really appreciate what Lankayan does for the environment.


Above are some turtle nesting statistics in case you are curious.

Reef Guardian Exhibition Center

Lankayan forms SUGUD Islands Marine Conservation Area (S.I.M.C.A.) with Billean and Tegaipil, two nearby islands in Sulu Sea and Coral Triangle. SIMCA covers an area of 46,300 hectares of open sea, shallow coastal reef and sea grass bed. Reef Guardian is the manager of SIMCA and they have an exhibition center on Lankayan.


This building is also a “Combat Center”. They have radar to detect fishing boat that intrudes the marine protected area. Many countries completely destroy their corals and overfish. When their sea has nothing left, they come to our water to steal.


Pic: Sea turtle has existed more than 210 millions years, but human can wipe them out very soon.

Reef Guardian is open daily 8am-12:30pm, 2pm-4:30pm and 8pm-9:30pm. A 15-min video presentation about SIMCA is played on every Mon, Wed & Fri at 12:30pm. You may visit this center to see some interesting photographs and specimens about marine ecology. Do donate some money to fuel their combat.

Lankayan Restaurant

With panoramic sea view, the new Lankayan Restaurant makes meal time a very enjoyable experience. The design is modern but it won’t block nature away from you. You can listen to the sea and feel the sea breeze inside.


Good food, good view… everything in Lankayan is designed to make you lazing around.


I love the colorful sofa. The atmosphere is soooo.. relaxing.


They have good variety of local and western food. Every meal is different from the last one so you won’t feel bored. Just to name a few, BBQ chicken wings, fried noodle, pudding, prawn, lamb… If I’m not mistaken, the food is halal (for Muslim).


Pic: beautiful sunset over Sulu Sea


Pic: Lankayan is one of the few places in Sandakan where you can see Mt. Kinabalu, the highest mountain of Malaysia.

More Photos

Want to see more beautiful photos? Check out my Flick photo album then.

Created with flickr badge.

How to Get there

Lankayan is 85 KM at north-east of Sandakan city (location map). The boat ride from Sandakan Yacht Club to this island takes about 1.5 hours.

To visit Lankayan, you need to book a tour with the following agent:
Pulau Sipadan Resort & Tours Sdn. Bhd. (License: KPL 2536)
Website: www.lankayan-island.com
Facebook: lankayanresort
Tel: +60 88-238113 / +60 89-673999
Address (Office):
Kota Kinabalu City (KK): Block B, 1st Floor, Lot B-1-1, Plaza Tanjung Aru, Jalan Mat Salleh, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Sandakan City: Block C, Ground Floor, Lot 38 & 39, Mile 6, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

Lankayan has 35 dive sites, you may arrange a scuba diving trip with Asia Diving Vacation too.

Would you agree if I say Lankayan is the most beautiful island of Sabah?

Photos taken in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

4 Dangerous Sea Creatures to avoid at the Beach

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I was sad about the news of a cute Japanese boy, Reo, who was killed by jellyfish in last new year eve, just 3 days before his fifth birthday. Such incident is not new and I had mentioned the danger of jellyfish in my article Dangerous Animals of Sabah in 2011. As more tourists flow to the beautiful islands of Sabah, by knowing the following hidden threats, you can avoid a joyful island trip being turned into a tragedy.

1. Jellyfish

Jellyfish is the No.1 creature to avoid in water. Though you should stay away from ALL of them especially those with long tentacles, not all jellyfish is fatal. The species that have killing tentacles, particularly to children and elder people, are the Box Jellyfish (Chironex sp., aka Sea Wasp) and Ubur-ubur Merah (Red Jellyfish).


Pic: Box Jellyfish that killed the boy

Dr John Madin, a tropical marine ecology expert from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, identifies three of 16 jellyfish species found in the waters off Sabah’s west coast as deadly; they are: Chiropsalmus quadrigatus, Chiropsalmus quadromunus and Carybdea rastoni, which are belong to the box-jellyfish family locally known as “balung api”.

Unfortunately, jellyfish is hard to spot due to its translucent body. You may not know its presence until you feel the acute burning sensation of its stung. Even though some says there is a “Jellyfish Season”, you should stay vigilant at ALL TIME in the sea. Remember, we are sharing the nature with wildlife, and the ocean is not our backyard swimming pool.


Pic: popular island destinations in Sabah have warning signage about jellyfish.

There are over 300,000 visitors to all Sabah islands annually, so 1 or 2 cases of attacks suggests that such incident is not common. Even so, most tour guides and travel agents will aptly warn the tourists. If you still very worry, you may wear full body swimming suite. Sabah ladies seldom get stung by jellyfish because our shy females always wear T-Shirt and long jean, a lame swimming outfit but prevents stung.


Pic: not all jellyfish are life-threatening

If you are stung by a jellyfish, rinse the wound with vinegar (acetic acid) and seek medical care immediately. Vinegar can deactivate the stinging cells but it is NOT a CURE to neutralize the toxin. Most life guards on islands have vinegar standby. Someone may advise you to rub sand on wound or wash with urine. Don’t Do it, as these unproven measures can worsen the situation.

2. Sea Urchin

Watch your steps in the water, as sea urchin is quite common among corals in shallow sea. Its needle-like and poisonous spines can puncture your skin and cause swelling and serious pain.

“It was one sting right in the tip of my toe. My toe hurt like hell for the rest of the day.”, horhay_achoa (Internet user)

The worst case is – the spines penerate deep under your skin and break off. You will need hospital to remove the spine fragments for you. The toxin is usually not deadly, but certain people may have allergic reaction to it.

3. Stonefish

Stonefish is one of the most venomous fish in the world. I shivered when I read the excruciating pain of a stonefish victim below.

“…the pain can be so severe that it felt as if your leg got chopped off…”, LK (a natrualist)

A friend whose hand was stung by a stonefish, said, “my hand was like in boiling water for 3 days.”


Pic: can you spot the stonefish?

The nasty dorsal fin spines on the back of stonefish are not the only dangerous thing. What makes stonefish truly dangerous is its perfect camouflage that looks like stone. This fish doesn’t come after you and bite you. It just sits quietly among the rocks, without warning, a person would step on it accidentally and punctured by its spines filled with potent neurotoxins. If untreated, the victim can die.

When you walk in the water of rocky shore, just wear shoes and shuffle your feet while walking. If you are stung by stonefish, just go to hospital quickly for anti-venom and I believe you will need a lot of painkillers.

4. Stingray

Stingray is like a fish that holds a dagger. Stingray shocked the world when it pierced the heart of Steve Irwin (aka “The Crocodile Hunter”) with its barb in 2006. Swimming with stingray was used to be an exciting activity of divers and now we know it’s unwise to mess with stingray.


Pic: stingray, note its barb at the tail.

Luckily, stingray is not common in popular beach frequented by tourists. When settling, stingray will hide itself under the sand and hard to see. If you are the first one entering the water of a remote beach, you may shuffle your feet to avoid stepping directly on a stingray, and don’t walk into murky water.

“…It was like something had injected acid into the top of my foot… i could hardly breathe because of the pain… two of my toes were litrally going to ‘blow up’, the burning inside my foot was extreme – my foot is still bruised and swollen…”, Lucy13

When being stepped on, stingray will stab your foot with its sharp barb near the base of the tail. Its sting also injects protein-based venom that causes extreme pain (can last for hours). Its barb is so hard that it can puncture boots. Normally the stung is not fatal, but if you experience nausea, breathing problem and other unpleasant symptoms, look for a doctor fast.

Other Deadly Marine Animals

The list goes on, like banded sea krait, striped eel catfish, lionfish, blue-ringed octopus… Well, don’t worry, all of them are passive and won’t harm you unless provoked. Leave them alone and you will be safe.



Pic: Lionfish


Pic: striped eel catfish is small but scuba divers are very afraid of them.


Pic: banded sea krait is highly curious but not aggressive.

How about Shark?

Oh ya, shark, I almost forgot about shark because it is my least concern. You find mostly small sharks in Sabah ocean. The bigger sharks live in deeper water of Sipadan Island (Reef Shark), Lankayan Island (Bull Shark) and Layang-Layang (Hammer-Head Shark). They are more like a delightful sighting for scuba divers than man-eaters. Again, just leave them alone and you shall be fine. They have plenty of food in our sea, so human is not on their menu.

More Safety Precautions

Always keep an eye on your children who play in the sea. Actually you should worry more about drowning than those creatures. Let them put on life jacket.

Before having fun swimming and snorkeling, always check with the guide or resort staff on the sea safety and consult them what to do if accident happens. Besides, throw them some “What-If” questions about emergency cases. If they look blur and lack of training (e.g. CPR), you should be prepared for any accident and know where is the nearest hospital, and do express your concern to their management.

Sabah is perfectly safe for your island holiday if you are aware of the potential danger. The dangerous marine creatures are just part of the vibrant ecosystem of our sea. Asking question like “do you have nice beach without jellyfish?” is same as asking “do you have beautiful jungle without snake?” If you want it 100% safe, please swim in bathtub at home then.

Have you heard any terrible story caused by these creatures? Please tell me more.

Photos taken in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo