LOCATION:
The only boat jetty in Sipadan. To be exact, the jetty is fronting the former Borneo Divers and Pulau Sipadan Resort. Swim out in the shallow water for about 5 meters before you arrive at the drop off.

As of 2005, all resorts on Sipadan have been dismantled and no overnight stays are allowed to protect the delicate marine ecosystem. Visitors are advised to stay in resorts at either Mabul (30 minutes), Kapalai (45 minutes) or Semporna (1 hour 15 minutes).

DESCRIPTION:
The drop off goes as deep as 600 meter (1800 ft)! At the fringes between the shallow and the deep blue darkness lies one of the world's best teeming marine life!

There were tremendous amount of interest just 10 m below the surface for snorkelers. There were big-eye trevally, Moorish idols (Zanclus cornutus), longfin bannerfish, fox-faced rabbitfish, the great barracudas, moray eels, coral cod, parrotfish, unicornfish, pyramid butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis), ornate butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus), Harlequin sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodontoides), oriental sweetlips (Plectorhinchus orientalis), etc.

And yes, there are turtles EVERYWHERE! If I wasn't mistaken, most if not all of them were of the green turtle variety (Chelonia mydas), unless I missed a hawksbill or two. At first I didn't believe what I read, but after seeing so many turtles, I started to wonder if there is any other place like this in the world. I even got the chance to touch an old turtle.

The corals are not in the best shape, but people go here to see the turtles, barracudas, reef sharks and teeming marine ecosystem. The sea anemones are healthy and colorful. Staghorn corals, table corals, etc are also visible. And look out for the beautiful red gorgonian sea fan and stinging hydroids at the drop-off fringes. 

MY RATING: