The first thing you notice when the speedboat slows down off Mabul is the colour of the water. It goes from the dark, choppy blue of the Celebes Sea to a pale aquamarine in less than a minute, and the change is so abrupt it looks photoshopped.
Then Sipadan Mabul Resort appears: a row of wooden chalets in a coconut grove on the south-eastern tip of the island, with the jetty running out into the reef.
Read also: Seaventures Dive Rig Sipadan Review: 7 Top Things to Know
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Sipadan Mabul Resort SMART Reviews
This is Sipadan Mabul Resort, known locally as SMART. It is one of the original land-based dive resorts on the island and the closest accommodation to the legendary Sipadan dive site, just 15 kilometres south.
Sipadan is the reason most divers come to Sabah, but Mabul itself is one of the world’s top muck diving destinations, and you can dive both from the same boat in the same day from this Mabul dive resort.
Stay at Sipadan-Mabul Resort for unlimited house reef muck diving off the jetty and the closest beach access to Sipadan’s famous turtle walls.
Mabul Island Resort Location
Sipadan Mabul Resort opened in 1993 and was one of the first dive resorts on the island, alongside Borneo Divers Mabul Resort. The property runs through a coconut grove fronting directly onto the Celebes Sea, with 45 wooden chalets spread across the land, a long jetty leading out to the reef, and an over-water dining and bar pavilion above the lagoon.
Book Mabul Water Bungalow 3 Days 2 Nights Full Board Package for Couples
Mabul is small. You can walk the perimeter of the island in under an hour, and SMART takes up a significant slice of the south-eastern corner.
The location is sheltered, the beach in front of the resort is white sand, and the house reef begins at the end of the jetty. The neighbouring Bajau Laut sea-gypsy village is a 10-minute walk along the beach, which is worth doing at sunset.
Sipadan Mabul Resort Chalets and Room Types
The Sipadan Mabul Resort has 45 chalets in total: 22 standalone units and 23 semi-detached units. All are air-conditioned and come with Wi-Fi, mosquito screens, hot showers, and a small terrace that faces either the coconut grove or the beach.
There are three room categories: Standard Chalet, Standalone Chalet, and Suite Chalet.
The chalets are wooden with rustic finishes that match the village character of Mabul. The standalone units near the beach are the closest you get to a barefoot beach hut feeling, while the suites are the upgrade pick for couples and longer stays.
If an over-water bungalow is non-negotiable for you, the neighbouring Mabul Water Bungalows is the most well-known overwater option on the island, though SMART’s beachfront chalets offer the same proximity to the house reef at a lower price point.
PADI and NAUI Diving Courses at SMART
Sipadan Mabul Resort runs a full range of diving courses through both PADI and NAUI certification bodies, from Open Water beginner level through to Divemaster. Refresher courses are available for divers who have not been in the water for over a year.
For non-divers and first-timers, the Discover Scuba Diving experience lets you try a guided dive in the lagoon without any prior certification.
Snorkelling is also available for guests who want to explore the house reef without scuba gear. The reef begins at the jetty and runs along the front of the resort, which means you can be in the water within 30 seconds of leaving your chalet.
Important to know: divers heading to Sipadan must hold Advanced Open Water certification or higher, so most first-timers complete their AOW course at SMART before the Sipadan permit day.
How Do You Get a Sipadan Diving Permit?
You get a Sipadan diving permit through your dive resort, which applies on your behalf to Sabah Parks Management. As of 2026, around 252 permits are issued per day (up from 176 in previous years), allocated among the licensed dive operators in the region.
You cannot apply independently. Permit fees vary by nationality and operator, with current rates around RM250 per day for Malaysians and RM350 for non-Malaysians, plus a conservation surcharge.
Most resorts require a minimum 3-night stay to guarantee a permit, and divers must hold Advanced Open Water certification or higher.
Sipadan Mabul Resort Packages and Prices
The Sipadan Mabul Resort packages are sold as all-inclusive dive or non-dive bundles instead of per-night rates. Book Mabul Water Bungalow 3 Days 2 Nights Full Board Package for Couples
Diver Packages
- 6 days, 5 nights: from USD 1,516
- 9 days, 8 nights: from USD 2,214
- Each extra day: around USD 257
Non-Diver Packages
- 2 days, 1 night: from USD 545
- 5 days, 4 nights: from USD 925
- Each extra day: around USD 212
What’s Included in Mabul Island Resort Package
- Return transfers between Tawau, Semporna Jetty, and the resort (van + speedboat)
- All meals and drinking water throughout the stay
- Excluded: alcohol, fresh juices, and carbonated drinks
Diver Package
- 3 boat dives a day at Mabul and nearby islands, accompanied by a divemaster
- Guaranteed 3-dive Sipadan day if your permit clears
- Unlimited jetty diving on the house reef
Important to Know
- Sipadan is closed to all diving every November for reef recovery, so plan trips for December through October.
- The Sipadan Mabul Resort price may have shifted since publication. Confirm directly with the resort when you book.
Book your stay at Sipadan-Mabul Resort for unlimited house reef muck diving off the jetty and the closest beach access to Sipadan’s famous turtle walls.
Resort Facilities Beyond Diving
The resort has a jacuzzi whirlpool spa with a view over the beach, a swimming pool in the coconut grove, a buffet dining hall, and a bar that opens late and serves cold beer, wine, and a coconut drink they pour straight into a fresh husk.
The dining hall is the social heart of the resort. Most guests eat at shared long tables, which is how you meet the other divers and find out where the good sightings have been.
Other on-site activities include ocean kayaking, beach volleyball, table tennis, and snorkelling trips to nearby reefs. The sunsets from the western jetty are the best on the island, and the resort runs cultural visits to the nearby Bajau Laut village for guests interested in the island’s living community.
Read also: Bajau Laut Mabul: 7 Rare Facts on the Sea Gypsies of Borneo
How to Get to Mabul Island from Tawau
You get to Mabul Island from Tawau Airport by taking a bus, minivan, or taxi for about 90 minutes to Semporna town, then a speedboat from Semporna Jetty for around 35 to 45 minutes depending on weather.
Sipadan Mabul Resort arranges and includes all of these transfers in every booking. Fly into Tawau Airport (TWU) from Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu before 2pm if you want to catch the same-day boat to Mabul.
Contact and Booking
- Address: Sipadan-Mabul Resort, Pulau Mabul, 88100 Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia
- Contact number: +6088-486 489
Reef Conservation at Sipadan
The 252-permit-per-day cap at Sipadan is a real conservation measure. The island was declared a protected area in 2004 and all overnight resorts were physically removed in 2005 to protect the reef.
An annual closure every November allows the wall, the turtle population, and the famous schooling barracuda to recover. Choosing to dive Sipadan responsibly, through a permit-holding operator like Sipadan Mabul Resort, supports the local marine economy that keeps the protection in place.
Reef-safe sunscreen, no touching, and no fish feeding are all standard practice with the SMART dive masters.
This Sipadan Mabul Resort review is based on a stay at the property, with permit information and package details verified against the resort and Sabah Parks Management.
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