Between Sipadan and Mabul Island lies a sand bar known many years ago as Kapalai Island. Unfortunately, erosion has taken its toll and now the sand bar sits on top of the reed known as the Ligitan Reefs, a very extensive stretch bordering the deep and vast Celebes Sea.

Sipadan-Kapalai Resort is actually a water village style resort built above the water. All structure are erected on water and guests are able to observer the antics of squids and neddlefish from their chalet balcony.

The underwater scene together with nearby Mabul offers some of the best ‘muck-diving’ in the world. Rare subjects such as flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, sea moths and mating mandarin fish are seen on a regular basis. Giant frogfish, ribbon eels, harlequin ghost pipefish and crab-eye gobies are seen on many of the dive sites.

The jetty dive itself has plenty to offer including leaf scorpion fish, pink-eye gobies, ammonium shrimps and the comical antics of the mantis shrimp. Other frequently seen creatures such as crocodile fish, lionfish and scorpion fish are almost ignored as being too common.