Experience the pinnacle of indulgence at Mabul's most exclusive overwater retreat, where world-class diving and 5-star comfort unite. Each air-conditioned bungalow at Mabul Water Bungalows features premium furnishings, satellite TV, minibar, in-room safe, and a sprawling private balcony with panoramic ocean views. For added space, opt for a Villa Suite - perfect for couples or families.
The resort dive centre arranges 3 daily boat dives - 2 dives at Sipadan (subject to permits), home to reef sharks, turtles, bumphead parrotfish, and swirling tornadoes of barracuda, or dive at Mabul or Kapalai to spot frogfish, mandarinfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, and other rare critters. Unlimited shore dives are available at your leisure on some of Mabul's favourite sites. Make use of the nitrox facility to extend your bottom times.
Snorkellers can join the daily dive boats to discover the areas best sites, or stay at the resort and explore the house reef. When not diving, relax at the shared Sipadan Mabul Resort facilities, including a pool, jacuzzi, sea kayaks, and beach volleyball.
Dive and stay packages are inclusive of all meals, seamless transfers from Tawau Airport to your overwater haven, and private sunset decks and direct reef access from your bungalow.
Why Wait? Dive into luxury at Mabul Water Bungalows, where every detail is planned for an unforgettable Sipadan diving adventure.
24 high quality stilted Water Bungalows, 5 Borneo Villa Suites (14x9.5m / 46x32 ft), 1 Bougainvilla Suite (17x12m / 56x40 ft), 1 Royale Villa Suite (19.5x15m / 64x50 ft), and 1 Family House, sit over the clear shallow waters, providing easily the highest grade accommodation in Mabul. Enjoy the spacious dual aspect private balcony offering panoramic vistas of blue sea and the palm fringed island of Mabul.
The Water Bungalows are 12x7.5m / 40x23 ft, 12 have double bed, 4 with twin beds, and 8 with triple beds. Each bungalow is exquisitely furnished with contemporary furniture and décor.
Suites come with a large oceanfront bathroom and Jacuzzi, private access to the sea, and a large living room. The Royale Villa is designed for 4 guests.
The Family House is the only 2-story building. The bottom unit is a Borneo Villa Suite, the upper story is a Water Bungalow. The staircase is outside the building. This family house will be reserved for guests in the same group that want to stay in villas.
Each accommodation is exquisitely furnished with:
- Remote control air-conditioner and ceiling fan
- Private bathroom with hot water shower
- Toiletries, towels and hairdryer
- Spacious private balcony with panoramic view
- Wifi internet access
- Colour TV with satellite channels
- Daily housekeeping
- Coffee/tea making facilities
- Mini fridge and in-room safety box
- Bedside cabinet & reading lights
- Wardrobe and shelves
- 24-hour 220v electricity supply, UK-style 3-prong sockets
- Fire extinguisher
The daily aquatic adventures at Mabul Water Bungalows offer unforgettable experiences in some of Malaysia's most spectacular marine environments. Here's what they offer.
Morning & Afternoon Dive Excursions
* Kapalai & Mabul Exploration:-
• Kapalai trips (15 min boat ride): 8:30 am departure
• Mabul excursions (5-10 min ride): 11 AM & 2:30 pm
• Complimentary: Fresh towels & drinking water
* Si Amil Special (available upon request):-
• Si Amil journeys: 8 am & 10 am
• Afternoon Mabul dive: 2:30 pm
• Includes: Towel service & hydration
Sipadan Dive Adventures (permit required)
* Standard Sipadan Experience:-
• Morning departures: 8 am & 10 am (25 min transit)
• Afternoon option: Mabul at 2:30 Ppm
• Provisions: Towels & bottled water
* Early Bird Sipadan Special:-
• Sunrise dives: 6 am & 8 am
• Midday return: Mabul at 11 am
• Bonus: Breakfast included
Important: Sipadan access requires Advanced Open Water certification. While we strive to secure permits for all guests, availability depends on daily quotas. The resort manages permit distribution equitably and assists with applications.
Shore Dive Opportunities
• House Reef access: Daily 6 am - 7 pm
• Included in dive packages (buddy system applies)
• Professional guides available
• Minimum certification: Advanced Open Water
Island Hopping Getaways (additional cost)
* Northern Island Circuit:
• Destinations: Mataking/Timba-Timba/Pandanan
• Departure times: 8 am, 10 am, 1:30 pm
• Package includes: Lunch provisions, towel
* Southern Island Tour:
• Highlights: Bohey Dulang/Mantabuan/Sibuan
• Departure times: 8 am, 10 am, 1:30 pm
• Package includes: Lunch provisions, towel
Note: Visitors are responsible for island entrance fees. We recommend bringing additional spending money.
The Marine Fleet
Dive Vessels (11 total):
• Powerful engines ranging 115-250 HP
• Maximum capacity: 12 divers
• Professional guide ratio: 4 divers per guide
Transport Boats (6 available):
• Standard vessels (12 person capacity)
• Premium options (up to 39 passengers)
Dive Center Amenities
* Full equipment rental services
* Refreshment stations with showers
* Retail dive shop
* Secure gear storage
* Cleaning facilities
* Nitrox filling station
Safety Assurances
* Emergency oxygen systems
* Comprehensive first aid resources
* Trained safety personnel on-site
Note: Cave diving operations are currently suspended.
Enjoy a massage in the Spa Center, relax by the pool or in the Jacuzzi. For some physical exercise you could explore the island's shores by sea kayak or play a game of beach volleyball. There is also great snorkelling right at the resort!
Mabul Water Bungalows guest facilities include: Restaurants & bars - Use of SMART facilities (Swimming pool, Jacuzzi, volleyball, basketball) - Technical diving - Guest Jacuzzi - Ocean kayaks - - Fishing trips / island hopping - Free usage of (1 GB daily limit) - Spa Center / Massage - Gift shop - Laundry
Location: Mabul Island, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia
At Mabul Water Bungalows you can expect 3 buffet-style meals daily, served in the airy dining pavilion restaurant. The food served here comprises a selection of Chinese, Asian and Western cuisine. BBQ is provided daily, and Sashimi is provided 3-4 times a week. You can watch the Sun go down and have a drink at the jetty bar.
The dive schedule is planned in accordance with meal times to ensure a comfortable and well-paced experience. On non-Sipadan days, the boat returns to the resort for lunch. When visiting Sipadan, guests will be provided with a packed lunch to take on the boat.
Restaurant opening hours:
Breakfast: 6 - 8 am
Lunch: 12 - 2 pm
Dinner: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Meals available:
- Seafood and Sashimi
- Meat - beef and chicken
- Stir fried dishes
- Vegetables, soups and salads
- Rice and noodles
- Fresh coconut juice
Complimentary buffet breakfast - fruit juice, coffee, tea, toast, cakes, croissants, pancakes, fruit, cereals, eggs, sausage, rice, noodles and soup.
Vegetarian food is available. If you have any dietary issues or are vegan, please inform us in advance at the time of booking.
"
Great service and very helpful. Answering all the questions we have. Diversity of options. I don't have much to complain about, it was good and I would love to have a trip with you again." -
Ahmad Abu Serrieh , Palestine, 4 November 2024 ...
"
Staff were friendly and accomodating , some boat skippers not too safety focused. Biggest disappointment is the lack of pollution CARE - very disappointing to see general lack of control regarding pollution. Current management policy seems to purely focus on income volume - overcrowding , lack of food at meals, very monotonous meal menus. General overall low state of repair - only fortunate that we booked a land based chalet having quietness, but very dirty with refuse being allowed to burn as disposal - again lack of management policy for a supposedly upper rated resort and associated price." -
Peter Burton, South Africa, 27 June 2022 ...
"
Wow! What an incredible and amazing experience. The Mabul Water Bungalows are a dream. And, the scuba diving beyond words. The Mabul Water Bungalows staff are so nice and very professional. I would return in an instant and only wish I had stayed a month!" -
Luis Garcia, USA, 6 September 2018 ...
"
All was fantastic! MWB staff were all very friendly, wonderful facilities and top equipment." -
Susan Hagsteiner, Switzerland, 2 October 2017 ...
"
Accommodations were fantastic, food was average, service was excellent, boats were dive friendly, dive boats were punctual. The diver to dive master ratio should be smaller, we had up to 8:1 , too many divers for the dive master to look after and for everyone to see all the creatures, etc..." -
Tom Sikorski, USA, 5 November 2015 ...
"
Our divemaster Ryan was great, he spotted the tiniest creatures and always kept an eye on us during strong current. The accommodation is lovely and staff are helpful and always smiling. Overall we had an amazing trip and would definitely recommend this place to other divers!" -
Niina Marose, Singapore, 6 August 2014 ...
"
The diving was SUPER-visibility so so cuz it rained a lot (expected) but wow-the diversity was amazing. I don't think we can dive anywhere else now!" -
Gina Wu Lee, USA, 1 January 2014 ....
"
Good service was provided, relaxed for the divers with itinerary shown, tanks provided and dives organised. Staff were friendly and helpful. Scuba equipment was of reasonable quality, but clearly not new and should not be allowed to age too much (for example zippers worked but flaps of torn/aged cloth was interfering). Divers appreciate a full experience. So talks about the ecology would be good." -
John Deadman, Australia, 14 July 2013 ...
"
The resort is well run, the room was very nice, the dive boats, airport pickup and transfers all went smoothly and the food was good. The dive instructor my wife had was very good, and they made it possible for my wife to dive Sipadan which was much appreciated." -
Randy Wacker, Canada, 28 February 2012 ...
"
The accommodation is really really good, the place is so elegant and fancy while when I first came in they introduced me to every one and how the diving program is running, the rooms are super clean with a fancy balcony facing the wonderful sea." -
Meshal Al-Omar, Kuwait, 22 February 2012 ...
"
Extremely friendly staff, dive master knowledgeable and able to see tiny things underwater (only visible to us with the help of our camera...). The dive experience is somewhat mitigated with the dive master taking us to the same point more than once, but dives at Sipadan made us forget every other dives. And some of us with over 300 dives (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian ocean) still consider Sipadan part of their TOP 10 dives in the world." -
Maxime Poulin, France, 19 September 2011 ...
"
The accommodation was fine and the dives were well planned and executed. Facilities and equipment were satisfactory. We dived 3 out of 5 days at Sipadan which was incredibly lucky - we were delighted with this." -
Victoria Pearson, UK, 8 September 2011 ...
"
On arrival at Mabul Water Bungalows, we were assigned a dive master who would act as our guide for the duration of the holiday. Our divemaster's name was Deniah and she was fantastic. Very friendly and attentive and really made an effort to show us everything, from the tiniest nudibranch to submarine sized groupers, she obviously had expansive knowledge of all the dive sites and knew exactly where to look.
I also did my PADI Advanced Open Water course whilst staying here and I have to say my instructor was brilliant. His name is Patrick Chong and is easily the best instructor I've had. He really helped me nail my buoyancy and taught me a variety of different fin kicks that I didn't even know existed! He was very attentive and totally put me at ease. The diving timetable was very organised and well structured and there was not a moment where I felt I wasn't being looked after. I knew exactly where and when I had to be and what dive site we were going to the day before, all my equipment would have been set-up for me and already on the boat waiting for me.
The rest of the staff were also really friendly and the service we received was impeccable. I rented a BCD, regulator (1st and 2nd stage), octopus and SPG and had no problems. The on-site facilities were of an excellent standard, especially the spa." -
Alexander Hislop, UK, 2 August 2011 ...
"
Catered to our every need. Excellent caring dive master, we were had with the same dive master which worked well. He knew you personally and checked when required. Resort manager and all staff were welcoming and friendly." -
Mark Galaz, Australia, 23 June 2011 ...
"
Picked up quickly, just us in the boat and we were dropped at the Mabul Water Bungalows jetty (which was much better than the last time we stayed when we were dropped at the other SMART side). Cold towels and welcome drinks, lunch, smooth check in process, received the room we requested and the whole stay was extremely good." -
Clee Nataliea Lowther, UK, 1 October 2010 ...
"
Their service was absolutely wonderful - from diving to dining to everyday 'good mornings' - we were in doubt whether to choose SMART (beach resort) or the Mabul Water Bungalows - and we are so not regretting our decision, it was truly excellent." -
Gry Anna Nordensgaard, Runberg, Denmark, 28 September 2010 ...
"
The equipment we rented was of very good quality, the staff was very helpful and friendly and the facilities in an excellent condition. Most of all, out of our 4 days at the resort we got to dive at Sipadan during 2 days. We had a great time!" -
Tatiana Matejskova, Rep. of Slovakia, 6 July 2010 ...
"
The Mabul Water Bungalows is a beautiful place, very well done, spacious, clean and well maintained. The service was always warm and helpful. The dive masters and diving help was also outstanding, and Sipidan lived up to its billing as one of the diving wonders of the world. Although the food was very well done for a buffet, for me the buffet style does not provide as satisfying of a meal as when food is cooked to order." -
James Hannan, USA, 29 June 2010...
"
Excellent dive master (Ronny) and boatmen. A professional and dedicate team." -
Cindy Chan, Hong Kong, 15 December 2008 ...
"
All the staff at Mabul Water Bungalows were fantastic. It started with Eva the manager and her hospitality, spread to everyone else from there." -
Jon Hoffman, USA, 18 November 2008 ...
"
This was probably the best dive operator I have used - from the staff professionalism and friendliness to the organization and preparation of diving equipment ahead of dives." -
Stuart Thomson, Korea, 6 June 2008 ...
"
Amazing diving, beautiful surroundings, fantastic accommodation." -
Emily Thompson, United Kingdom, 18 July 2006 ...
"
Diving: Top Class; People: Lovely; Boat Crew / divemaster: really good; boats: good; Accommodation: excellent. We would definitely return." -
Victoria Marriott, United Kingdom, 21 January 2006 ...
"
Our trip to Mabul Water Bungalows Resort was excellent and the dive services also excellent." -
Madlyn and Tom, USA, 3 December 2005 ...
"
Everything was done for me, I didn't have to lift a finger, all my gear was put together at the beginning and taken apart at the end. I didn't have to lug any equipment around, all my fins, weight belt etc were on the boat at the beginning of each dive. I didn't even have to think about it." -
Michelle Le Herissier, Channel Islands, 12 November 2005 ...
MORE PACKAGE DETAILS
Special offers: Packages prices have been discounted by up to 10% until further notice. Offer closes: 31 Dec 2050
Destinations:
Sipadan Island (Diving environment: wall diving, drift diving, advanced divers, very popular; Highlights: shark action, turtles, schooling fish/big pelagics),
Mabul (Diving environment: beginner & advanced divers, very popular; Highlights: great macro life/marine diversity), and
Kapalai (Diving environment: beginner & advanced divers, very popular; Highlights: great macro life/marine diversity).
Resort diving includes:
Dives (as detailed in the packages above), unlimited self-guided shore and night dives on house reef, boat rides to sites, experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 5 divers per guide), tanks, weights and weightbelts, Semporna jetty fees, drinking water, hot drinks, snacks.
Diving excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own):
Scuba equipment (USD 41 per day). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).
Optional extras:
Extra boat dives (Mabul / Kapalai), boat dives at Sipadan (incl. conservation fee and diving permit: USD 210 per day incl. sales tax), scuba computer, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (USD 10 per tank), dive insurance, soft drinks. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased on site are subject to change.
Important note: to dive at Sipadan, all divers must take their passport and diving license (minimum: advanced certification), or a printed copy of it, to the Sipadan Island marine park office for presentation. The Sabah Parks authorities do not accept a digital copy of a diving license and divers that are unable to verify their qualification status will not be permitted to dive.
Resort accommodation includes:
Bed, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinking water, hot drinks, snacks, roundtrip transfers from Tawau airport/hotels only, internet access. Villas (but not bungalows) also include 1 assorted fruit basket and bottle of wine per visit, sales and service tax (SST) on package prices.
Accommodation excludes (mandatory):
Sabah tourism accommodation tax - USD 2 per room per night. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.
Single Supplement:
If you are a single person you must normally pay in advance for a single supplement, but you may be able to share at non-peak times (peak times are: Chinese New Year season, Easter season, first week of May, mid-autumn season, July - August, first week of
Optional extras:
Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.
How to get there:
The resort is located on the northern side of Mabul Island, just a 40 minute speedboat ride from Semporna. The resort will provide a return transfers from Tawau Airport/hotels to Semporna and Mabul.
Arrival Transfers:
- Tawau Airport -> Semporna: 9 am • 11 am • 3:30 pm
- Semporna -> Resort: 10 am • 12:30 pm • 4:30 pm
* Diving on arrival day is only possible if you take the 10 am boat.
Note: Flights must arrive by 3 pm to catch the last transfer (4:30 pm); otherwise an overnight stay in Tawau/Semporna is required.
Departure Transfers:
- Resort -> Semporna/Tawau Airport: 7 am • 11 am • 2 pm
* Allow 3+ hours between resort departure and flight time.
Note: Flights before 10:00 AM require departing the resort a day earlier.*
Private Transfers:
- Exclusive boat transfers for individuals/groups are available (additional fee).
Guests already in Semporna:
- Meet the 10 am boat at Seafest Hotel/Marina Jetty by 9:30 am. Missed transfers can join the next scheduled departure (12:30 pm or 4:30 pm).
Need more travel details? Explore airlines and gateways in our Malaysia dive resorts travel section.
Dive clubs and group discounts:
Groups of 10 guests or more - 1 extra person can join free of charge.
Add-on package:
Make your dream trip even more unforgettable with an exclusive 2-night Sepilok Nature Lodge add-on near Sandakan. Immerse yourself in the wild as you witness orangutans in their pristine rainforest home - a truly magical experience and the ultimate highlight of any Borneo visit.
Click to view product. Special discounted trips highlighted in yellow
Mabul Beach Resort
Sipadan Kapalai Resort
Borneo Divers Resort
Mabul Water Bungalows
Seaventures Dive Rig
Sipadan Mabul Resort
Sipadan Dive Day Trips
