Sipadan Water Village Resort
- Resort Location: Mabul Island - Over the Water
- Number of Rooms: 45
- Diving: Sipadan, Mabul, and Kapalai
- Prices: from $1,080.00 U.S. per person (4 days / 3 nights)
- Dive Type: Boat and Shore Dives
- Nitrox: No
- Packages and Prices
Contrary to what the name suggests, Sipadan Water Village Resort is not located on Sipadan Island, but on the nearby island of Mabul, on the east coast of Sabah. It is called a "Water Village" because the entire resort is built over the Celebes Sea on stilts made of local ironwood and connected to a nearby beach by a long wooden pier.
Built to the highest standards in the local Bajau design the resort has achieved near utopian accommodation in its over the water layout. The resort consists of 45 luxurious en-suite chalets, modern dive center, open air bar / lounge, a magnificent restaurant, and a gift shop. The entire resort is exquisitely decorated and offers impeccable and personalized service. An outstanding choice for divers seeking the ultimate in luxury while diving the best sites around Sipadan, Mabul, and Kapalai Islands. A Dive Adventures Asia Top Pick!
Gallery | Packages and Prices | How to Get There | Itinerary | Resort Layout
A Chalet For Everyone
With 45 exquisitely decorated chalet style rooms sitting only 1 meter above the sea, there is something to suit the needs of everyone. All the chalets are built of natural materials in the style of the local Bajau architecture. Each chalet is spacious and has wide sliding doors that open onto the room's private deck overlooking the tranquil waters of the Celebes Sea.
Sipadan Water Village Offers Four Sizes of Chalet: 6 Junior Chalets (552 sq. ft - 2 twin beds), 33 Standard Chalets (714 sq. ft. - twin or double bed), 2 Deluxe Chalets (1,068 sq. ft. - king size bed), and 4 Grand Deluxe Chalets(1,508 sq. ft - 2 queen size beds).
Each Chalet Features all the Comforts of Home:
- Ceiling fan
- Private bathroom with hot water shower
- Bath (Deluxe & Grand Deluxe only)
- Toiletries, towels & hairdryer
- Sliding doors opening on to a private balcony
- Mini bar fridge with free drinking water
- Tea & coffee making facilities
- Sofa, desk and chairs
- Dressing table and mirror
- Reading lights
- Wardrobe
- Fire extinguishers
- The Grand Deluxe Chalet also has a balcony jacuzzi - spa bath.
The Deluxe and Grand Deluxe Chalets are outstanding it you want the ultimate in comfort and space, ideal for a family or a honeymoon. The best value for the money, would be the Standard Chalets. The Standard Chalets are the size of a small condominium and extremely well done. For the best sea views and the newest accommodation request the Sipadan Wing, if available.
Entertainment, Dining, and Common Areas
Sipadan Water Village is perfect for those divers who love the outdoors and the open sea. The enormous open air restaurant is where you will enjoy your breakfast while the sun is rising and where your hot and fresh dinner is served alfresco while the sun sets on the Celebes Sea. A variety of international and asian cuisine is prepared daily using fresh spices, fruits, vegetables, and seafood. All meals are served buffet style, so eat as much as you like. Coffee, Tea, Drinking Water, and Snacks are always available between meal times free of charge.
The resort reception area comes complete with an amazing open air lounge and bar. Make yourself comfortable on one of the cozy over stuffed lounge chairs and enjoy the sea breeze. This is our favorite spot to have an evening cocktail or two as we reminisce about the days of diving.
A Dive Center with it All!
Designed with comfort and convenience in mind, the dive center is staffed and operated by experienced dive professionals with varied backgrounds. All dive personnel are specially trained in the marine ecology of Mabul Island and are more than happy to show divers the local macro attractions as well as impart their knowledge of the local marine environment. The enthusiasm and dedication of the dive staff is evident in their interaction with guests, always with special attention on educating divers and promoting the safety and protection of the amazing ecosystem around Sipadan and Mabul.
The dive center is responsible for all in-water activities, scuba training, and education. The center opens daily at 7.00 am and is equipped with individual lockers for your valuables, a drying area for your diving equipment, lockable camera room with charging facilities and power adaptors, hot showers and toilet facilities complete with towels, and a huge common area. The common area is where divers can indulge in complimentary snacks, hot coffee, and tea while perusing the comprehensive library on marine life that is available in a variety of languages.
Diving activities are conducted from custom-built fiberglass dive boats that carry up to 12 passengers. Each boat is accompanied by a boatman and dive staff..
PADI Dive Courses and introductory dives are available upon request.
Sipadan Water Village Resort Gallery
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We Have Been There! |
Rooms With a View |
Open Air Living |
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Reception on the Water |
Bring Your Dive Gear |
Afternoon Walkways |
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Dining Alfresco |
Buffet Style All You Can Eat |
The Food Is Outstanding |
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Enjoy a Cocktail in the Lounge |
Smiling Faces |
Seaside Bar |
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Grand Deluxe Chalet |
Deluxe Chalet |
Standard Chalet |
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Huge Dive Center |
Custom Dive Boats |
A Tank for Everyone |
Sipadan Water Village Resort Packages and Prices 2010 - 2011
Length of Trip |
Grand Deluxe Chalet |
Deluxe Chalet |
Standard Chalet |
Junior Chalet |
Total Dives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Days / 3 Nights |
$1,295.00 U.S. |
$1,200.00 U.S. |
$1,140.00 U.S. |
$1,080.00 U.S. |
8++ |
5 Days / 4 Nights |
$1,600.00 U.S. |
$1,475.00 U.S. |
$1,395.00 U.S. |
$1,315.00 U.S. |
11++ |
6 Days / 5 Nights |
$1,905.00 U.S. |
$1,750.00 U.S. |
$1,650.00 U.S. |
$1,550.00 U.S. |
14++ |
7 Days / 6 Nights |
$2,210.00 U.S. |
$2,025.00 U.S. |
$1,905.00 U.S. |
$1,785.00 U.S. |
17++ |
8 Days / 7 Nights |
$2,515.00 U.S. |
$2,300.00 U.S. |
$2,160.00 U.S. |
$2,020.00 U.S. |
20++ |
9 Days / 8 Nights |
$2,820.00 U.S. |
$2,575.00 U.S. |
$2,415.00 U.S. |
$2,255.00 U.S. |
23++ |
10 Days / 9 Nights |
$3,125.00 U.S. |
$2,850.00 U.S. |
$2,670.00 U.S. |
$2,490.00 U.S. |
26++ |
Dive Packages Starting Daily | Bookings, Enquiries, or Information- Contact Dive Adventures Asia
Reserve Your Space with Only a 30% Deposit and Pay the Balance 60 Days Prior to Departure
Resort Packages (based on 2 guest sharing) Include: all prices are per person and include accommodation, all meals, most drinks (drinking water, coffee, tea, etc.), round trip transfer Tawau - Semporna, round trip speed boat transfer Semporna - Resort. There is a surcharge of 180 Malaysian Ringgit for land transfer after 18:00 hours. Please note that you must arrive in Tawau prior to 14:00 to make it to the resort the same day. If you arrive after 14:00 you will need to overnight in Semporna and transfer to the resort the following day. Groups of 5 or more guests will receive 6% off of the dive package price, and groups of 10 guests or more will receive an additional 1 extra space free of charge. Please contact Dive Adventures Asia for non-diver rates!
Diving Packages Include: professional dive master services, 3 boat dives daily with one dive to Sipadan, Kapalai, and Mabul when possible (except on arrival and departure days), unlimited mabul house reef dives, scuba tanks, weights, weight belt. When permits are available there will be more than one dive at Sipadan but this cannot be guaranteed.
Additional Charges: Equipment rental and national park fees are not included in the above prices and can be paid for upon arrival. Equipment rental is generally $25 U.S. per day for a full set of equipment, depending on availability. Sipadan National Park fees are $13.00 U.S.per day, approximately. PADI diving courses, and alcoholic beverages can be paid for at the resort. Guided Sunset (mandarin fish mating) and guided night dives are available upon request if you have 50 logged dives with at least one night dive.
How to Get There: Sipadan is located off the east coast of Sabah / Borneo, Malaysia's eastern most state. Direct flights are available to Tawau and Kota Kinabalu on Sabah from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and Singapore. The closest airport to Sipadan is Tawau, it is approximately one hour from Semporna jetty by mini van. Semporna is the speed boat departure point to Sipadan, Kapalai, and Mabul Islands.
Sipadan Water Village Resort t is located along the northern beachfront of Mabul Island. It is a 40 minute speedboat ride from the port of Semporna. The resort will provide round trip transfer from Tawau Airport to Semporna and Mabul Island. You have the option of arriving in Tawau by plane or in Semporna overland.
Recommended Tawau arriving flights:
Malaysia Airlines, MH2121, 07.00-07.45 hrs from Kota Kinabalu
Air Asia, AK5152, 07.20-10.05 hrs from Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia Airlines, MH 3093, 10:15-10:55 hrs from Sandakan
Malaysia Airlines, MH 2660, 08:20-11:10 hrs from Kuala Lumpur
Air Asia, AK 6122, 12.20-13.10 hrs from Kota Kinabalu
Malaysia Airlines, MH2137, 13.15-14.00 hrs from Kota Kinabalu
Air Asia, AK 6153, 12.00-14.30 hrs from Singapore
*Please note that flight times are approximate and can be changed by the airlines.
Daily boat transfers from Semporna Jetty to the resort occur at approximately 09:00, 11:45, and 15:30.
Boat diving on arrival day is only possible if your depart on the transfer boat from Semporna at 09:00. If your flight arrives Tawau after 14:00 you will need to overnight in Semporna for pick up the following day. Pick up can be arranged after 14:00 for a small surcharge.
Tawau departure flights:
Air Asia,AK5153, 10.30-13.15 hrs to Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia Airlines, MH3092, 11.15-11.55 hrs to Sandakan
Malaysia Airlines, MH2661, 11.50-14.30 hrs to Kuala Lumpur
Air Asia, AK 6123, 13.35-14.25 hrs to Kota Kinabalu
Malaysia Airlines, MH2134, 14.40-15.25 hrs to Kota Kinabalu
Air Asia, AK6127, 16.40-17.30 hrs to Kota kinabalu
Air Asia, AK2665, 17.50-20.30 hrs to Kuala Lumpur
Air Asia, AK5155, 18.00-21.00 hrs to Kuala Lumpur
Air Asia, AK5157, 21.10-23.55 hrs to Kuala Lumpur
Air Asia, AK6116, 21.35-22.25 hrs to Kota Kinabalu
Malaysia Airlines, MH2148, 21.40-22.25 hrs to Kota Kinabalu
Transfer times from Sipadan Water Village to Tawau Airport are 06:30, 11.00 and 14.00 hrs. Please plan at least 3 hours between resort departure and flight departure time.
Note that you will have to stay overnight in Tawau or Semporna if you arrive or depart on any flight which is not mentioned above. Unscheduled or private boat transfer can be arranged with an additional surcharge for individuals and groups.
Sipadan Water Village Resort Sample Itinerary
The itinerary of Sipadan Water Village Resort is meant to deliver the very best diving of Sipadan, Kapalai, and Mabul Islands within the time allotted for the dive package. The schedule will consist primarily of 3 boat dives daily with one dive to Sipadan, Kapalai, and Mabul. When park permits are available there will be up to 3 dives per day at Sipadan Island.
Sample Itinerary
Day of Arrival - (First day at Sipadan Water Village)Flight arriving Tawau Airport prior to 14:00. Transfer from Tawau to Semporna by mini van, followed by transfer from Semporna to the resort by speed boat mid day. After checking in and a relaxing snack or meal get geared up for a check-out dive at the SWV house reef, followed by dive at your discretion later in the afternoon. Maybe a night dive as well. Dinner will be served over the water while your watching the sunset. 2~Dives
Diving Days - Sipadan, Kapalai, or Mabul
- 3 Boat Dives per Day + Unlimited Unguided House Reef Dives
Day of Departure ( Last Day at Sipadan Water Village)
After breakfast and morning snorkeling you will be transferred by speed boat to Semporna and then transfer to Tawau airport my mini van. There is no diving the last day at the resort.
Note: This does not represent an exact itinerary, it is approximate only. Every dive package is different. Itineraries depend on current conditions, time of year, weather, dive guide, and guest preferences. We do our best to put you at the best sites possible on every dive.
We take no responsibility for scheduling or itinerary changes due to changing weather, political situations, natural disasters or other events beyond our control. We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for any kind of trip you do anywhere in the world. We also recommend that you have DAN or other diving accident insurance up to date and current in case of an unanticipated evacuation or other treatment that may not be covered by your regular insurance.
Sipadan Water Village Resort Layout
Dive Packages Starting Daily | Bookings, Enquiries, or Information- Contact Dive Adventures Asia