LOCATION:
This snorkeling site is exactly west of Sipadan. To get your bearing right, the only jetty in Sipadan is facing just about north. Access to West  Ridge is by boat for about 10 minutes from the main beach at Sipadan. A rather strong surface current for snorkeling.

DESCRIPTION:
The rough surface current made it a tiring affair. I also found that the corals were quite deep, hence the experience was less enjoyable.

Nonetheless, I spotted 2-3 hawksbill turtles  here. Quite a rarity to find them in Sipadan waters. Trying to chase the turtles could lead you further adrift into the deep water. That is why you wear a life jacket though, for your own good.

There were some colorful hard and soft corals and they created quite a decent underwater garden. The visibility was not that good, about 10 metres at most. I spotted a rare lined surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus ), a school of Moorish idols (Zanclus cornutus) and gold-band fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea), etc

Overall, I feel that the snorkeling at Jetty Drop-off  is more suitable for most of us due to the relative ease of getting into the water and the amount of marine life one could see in such a tiny space.

MY RATING: