Scuba Diving at Mabul Island

Mabul Island first became popular due to its close proximity to Sipadan Island. However in the last few years, it has gained its own recognition as one of the best “muck diving” sites in the world. Mabul Island is a small oval shaped island surrounded by sandy beaches and perched on the northwest corner of a larger 200 hectare reef. The reef is on the edge of the continental shelf and the seabed surrounding the reef slopes out to between 25 to 30m deep.

Mabul is arguably one of the richest single destinations for exotic small marine life anywhere in the world. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, mimic octopus and bobtail squids are just a few of the numerous types of cephalopods to be found on Mabul’s reef. The sight of harlequin shrimp feeding on sea stars and boxer crabs waving their tiny anemone pom-poms are just a small example of the endless species of crustaceans. Many types of gobies can be found including the spike-fin goby, black sail-fin goby and metallic shrimp goby. Frogfish are everywhere. Giant, painted and clown frogfish are all regularly seen. Moray eels and snake eels of many types can be seen along with almost the whole scorpionfish family. It would be quicker to to list the species not found at Mabul-crazy critters are in abundance at this magical macro site!

Mabul Island Dive Sites

Popular dive sites around the island include:

• Coral Reef Garden
• Crocodile Avenue
• Eel Garden
• Froggy Lair
• Lobster Wall
• Nudibranch Centre
• Panglima Reef
• Ray Point

See available accommodation.