Water village resort
Built entirely on stilts over the shallow Ligitan sandbank, Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort offers immediate access to the Celebes Sea and macro diving right off the jetty.
Welcome
Built on stilts over the Ligitan sandbank an hour off the Sabah coast, the resort has 59 wooden chalets connected by boardwalks. You will find immediate access to the Celebes Sea, with macro diving available directly from the jetty. A white sandbank emerges at low tide, giving you a temporary beach for walks before the ocean reclaims it.
You will find immediate access to the Celebes Sea, with macro diving available directly from the jetty.
A white sandbank emerges at low tide, giving you a temporary beach for walks before the ocean reclaims it.
Our view
The water village stands on stilts over the sunken Ligitan Reefs.
The resort has 59 wooden chalets with private ocean-facing balconies and en-suite bathtubs.
You have direct access to a house reef known for flamboyant cuttlefish and mandarin fish.
The speedboat transfer from Semporna takes 45 to 60 minutes.
The resort suits dedicated divers and photographers seeking isolation above the water.
The rooms
Chalets stand above the shallow reef, with Water Chalet and Water Chalet - Include Extra Bed configurations.
sleeps 2 to 3 · ocean-facing balcony
Each wooden chalet features an en-suite bathroom with a hot-water shower and a standalone bathtub where divers warm up after a long day underwater.
sleeps up to 4 · ocean-facing balcony
This configuration adds a rollaway bed for up to 4 people, with a private ocean-facing balcony, air-conditioning and en-suite bathtub.
private sun loungers
Your private ocean-facing balcony has sun loungers, with green and hawksbill turtles observed beneath the stilts on most stays.
hot-water showers and bathtubs
Each chalet has an en-suite bathroom with toiletries, a hot-water shower and a standalone bathtub for warming up after diving.
typically a queen and a single bed
Every room provides twin or triple sharing. They typically feature a queen and a single bed to accommodate dive buddies or couples.
Dining
The resort takes care of your meals, power and transfers throughout your offshore stay. Fresh bathing water is shipped entirely from the mainland. Meals are served buffet-style in the central open-air restaurant and feature Southeast Asian flavours alongside home-style international dishes.
Marine life
Kapalai's house reef shelters macro life including mandarin fish, while white-tip reef sharks and manta rays are seen at Sipadan on most stays.
Where it is
Rates on enquiry: no prices are published.
3 nights at the resort give you time for boat diving between your arrival and departure days.
Ask about thisPractical matters
The resort sits on a sunken reef. A mile-long white sandbank is exposed at low tide and provides a temporary beach but the ocean covers it completely at high tide.
Yes. Every Water Chalet features modern air-conditioning units and overhead ceiling fans.
No. Sabah Parks has required all Sipadan divers to hold an Advanced Open Water certification since October 2022.
The package includes tea, coffee, filtered water and sweet cordials. Alcoholic beverages and carbonated soft drinks are not included.
Getting there
The journey begins at Tawau Airport. You take a land transfer of 70 to 90 minutes to the operator's private jetty in Semporna. From there, a scheduled speedboat crosses the Celebes Sea in 45 to 60 minutes depending on the tides. Travel and health insurance is advised, and cover that includes emergency evacuation is sensible.
Alternatives
Alternatives include Mabul Water Bungalows for villas and a spa, Sipadan-Mabul Resort for island accommodation, Mataking Reef Dive Resort for wall dives, and Pom Pom Island Resort for marine conservation.
Our view
Tell the team when you want to dive at Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort and they will help secure your permits and wooden chalet.
