Experience true exclusivity at the Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort, the only accommodation on Kapalai Island.
| At a glance | |
| Location: | Kapalai Island |
| Pricing: | Luxury |
| Type: | Floating |
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The Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort is an upmarket water village resort built entirely on stilts over the shallow sandbanks of East Malaysia’s Kapalai Island,
Resting on a mile-long shoal of blinding white and powdery sand, the floating resort is the only structure on the island.
With an exterior designed to resemble a traditional Malay village, the floating resort exudes an unstinting charm in a natural and tranquil environment.
All chalets here feature private balconies and sun terraces, and are linked by miles of wooden walkways adorned with tropical flowers.
The 60-odd over-the-water chalets here are equipped with all the amenities expected of a resort of this stature, including bathrooms with shower and bathtub, basic toiletries and coffee and tea making facilities.
Sumptuous meals are served buffet-style under a terraced, open structure, while a large sundeck allows guests to immerse in the cooling sea breeze over an evening drink.
The Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort is an eco resort whose waste management practice was made into a case study in 2011 by the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism as part of an effort to conserve and preserve the natural environment of islands marked as tourist destinations in the country.
Snorkelling & diving
The calm waters and supreme visibility, coupled with the wide array of marine life, provide amazing opportunities for snorkelling in Kapalai.
The Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort is an accredited PADI Dive Resort. The resort’s fully loaded dive centre offers a variety of PADI courses including Discover Scuba Diving, Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Introduction to Night Diving.
Dive sites in Kapalai can be reached in mere minutes by speedboat with some of them accessible just by swimming from the dive center pier.
Those ready to take on more than Kapalai’s excellent muck diving scene may take a short speedboat ride (~20 minutes) to go diving in Sipadan (the world-famous dive site), Mabul and other nearby islands, including Si Amil or Danawan.
The Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort is one of 12 dive operators granted Sipadan permits from the state (full list here).
It is also one of several resorts in the area that offer unlimited shore/house reef diving.
Facilities & activities
Facilities and activities here include ocean kayaking, a game room, souvenir shop and internet access.
See on map
Kapalai Island is accessible by speedboat from Pulau Mabul (~15 minutes away) and Semporna (~45 minutes away), a coastal town in mainland Sabah.
With its unique combination of sun, sea, sand and a serene backdrop, Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort is an ideal destination for both divers and non-divers seeking an escapade in the tropics.