FAQs

• All Sipadan dive and snorkeling tours - see below Sipadan's FAQ too.  

NOTE: Sipadan is closed for the month of November for reef recuperation. 

• Land and boat transfers through Tawau and Semporna 

• Special food requests 

• Extra bedding requests 

Sipadan Diving permits. REQUIRES:  

• Minimum Advanced Certification, plus, 2 dives in Mabul 

• During low season, 2 days, ideally more days, advanced bookings. 

• High season starts with Chinese New Year and advanced bookings with more days is highly recommended.  

• NOTE: Sipadan is closed for the month of November.

We can organize land transfers to Semporna and boat transfers from Semporna jetties to our Mabul homestay. 

• Tawau Airport (TWU) is 57.36 kms away. 

• Lahad Datu Airport (LDU) is 93.02 kms away.

• Check-in from 02:00 PM until 06:00 PM

• Check-out from 06:00 AM until 12:00 PM

• But we're pretty flexible about these times too. 

We do not provide Wifi, but we provide electricity almost 24/7. 

During the day, we usually switch to smaller generators with less noise. 

We also have some international adapters for visitors. 

We DON'T provide wifi but mobile reception works - grab an eSIM online or a local SIM before arriving. Maxis or CelcomDigi works best & available at KLIA1 & KLIA2, U Mobile SIMs have poor reception here. 

Usually we get 2, 3 or 4 out of 4 bars reception with speeds of up to 40Mbps. Strongest cell signal (reaching up to 1Mb/sec) is from the top platform, right next the our flag.  The mobile cell tower comes from Sea Ventures (the decommissioned oil reg).

But rain, bad or hot weather will affect this, so it's almost 24/7 reception, but not 100% of the time. 

Our food is home-cooked for every meal and feature fresh, local ingredients. The menu typically includes: 

• Vegetables (locally sourced and seasonal). 

• Local curries (mild and flavorful). 

• Rice (a staple in Indonesian cuisine). 

• Fresh seafood (fish is a mainstay, caught daily by local fishermen and sometimes ourselves). 

• For breakfast, freshly made pancakes, noodles and eggs. 

• 24/7 hot water and tea, but no coffee. Coffee can be purchased in the village here. 

• Vegetarian or vegan meals available on request. 

• We can also based on special requests like village bought seafood with advance notice. 

If you have dietary restrictions or special requests, please let us know in advance so we can accommodate your needs as we may need to purchase items from the mainland. 

• We have 24/7 hot tea and hot water to make coffee, but no coffee. 

• Coffee can be purchased in the village here or in Semporna. 

Mabul is a small island in the Celebes Sea, so it's mainly water activities here.
In addition to our world-class scuba diving, we offer:

• A ful range of Scuba Diving Courses.  

• Snorkeling all around Mabul island. 

• Fishing excursions around the island. 

• Cards, UNO, checkers are here too. 

• A stroll to the local bar after dives. 

• Hammock snoozes with fresh island coconuts gazing out into the sunset. 

• Yes, everyday weather and conditions permitting. We will take you diving even if it's only you! 

• All divers start with a Check-out dive at Paradise 1 dive site. 

• Absolutely! Snorkeling off our deck and around Mabul is incredible, and the island vibe is perfect for relaxing. 

• We also provide fishing excursions too and we can cook up your fresh catch!

• Shared lounge/TV area

• Ocean Front Terrace

• CCTV in common areas

• Airport to Semporna pier return transfers (booked in advance)

• Other shuttle services (booked in advance).  

Yes! We collect rain water and we have well water for showers and cleaning.
Its an island though, so do be conservative with it. Thanks. 

English, Filipino, Japanese, Malay

Kids 3+ count as grown-ups here for bedding (we'll add a cozy extra bed for a small fee). And guess what? Once they turn 8, they can try scuba diving too. If they are 10+, they can get certified in scuba and dive with the family!

We are committed to preserving Mabul's pristine environment. You can help by: 

• Taking all non-organic waste with you when you leave. 

• Using reef-safe sunscreen to protect the coral reefs. 

• Minimizing plastic use and bringing reusable water bottles or containers. 

• Unfortunately, sourcing larger water bottles from Semporna has proven unreliable, so please excuse our use of regular water bottles.  

Here’s a quick checklist: 

• Insect repellent (for the mosquito magnet types). 

• Reef-safe sunscreen (to protect the marine environment). 

• Snorkeling or diving gear (if you prefer your own equipment). 

• Light clothing for warm weather and a light jacket for cooler evenings. 

• Essential toiletries and medications.

• Any basic essentials, as Mabul village has very limited in offerings. 

Yes. Please ask the staff here. 
We have given them the opportunity to earn extra on the side. 

The local Bajou villagers pass by terraces in their canoes almost daily. They offer fresh-off-the-tree coconuts & seafood for sale, which we can cook up by special order. At Mabul village you can also find stores selling: 

- Snacks and drinks. 

- Basic Toiletries (soap, shampoo, etc.). 

- Simple groceries (rice, canned goods, etc.). 

For anything beyond the basics, we recommend bringing it with you from Semporna

No hen, stag or similar parties. Although, we might suddenly start a jam session. 

Also, no hairdryers, water heaters & as we are Muslims, no pork. 

Our 2 friendly cat mascots! Akin takes time to warm up, but they're both superrrr (excuse the PUN) affectionate cats... So keep your doors closed if you don't want them bunking in your room.