Introducing Semporna & Pulau Sipadan
Though not a particularly appealing town, Semporna does have a lively waterfront market and a mosque attractively framed against the waters of the Celebes Sea.
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Most of Semporna’s visitors are en route to/from Pulau Sipadan, a small island 36km offshore that’s regarded as one of the world’s best dive sites. Divers take exhilarating plunges off a 600m limestone wall, while snorkellers can expect to have sea turtles and other marine creatures glide under them.
Since the beginning of 2005, Sipadan has been under Parks & Wildlife management and there’s no longer any accommodation or dive operators on the island. The number of divers allowed at Sipadan is limited to 120 per day and there have been some complaints that this isn’t transparently or fairly enforced.
There’s an ATM-equipped branch of Maybank opposite the mosque.
Last updated: Oct 20, 2008
Thorn Tree forum discussion
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RE: Big John Scuba
by marijn83 11 September 2011
Just in case someone is having the same doubts and finds this topic, I dived with Big John and it was a really nice diveshop. Good crew,…
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Re: 2 weeks in Sabah
by trurzy 07 September 2011
Even if you don't normally book in advance (like we normally don't), you need to for Sabah. Admittedly we were travelling in August, but…
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Re: 2 weeks in Sabah
by trurzy 07 September 2011
Even if you don't normally book in advance (like we normally don't), you need to for Sabah. Admittedly we were travelling in August, but…
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