Sipadan. An island explored by Cousteau. A dream of divers. But a dream in military custody for the safety of tourists and saving the reef.
For crazy dive
Sipadan, a small island off the coast of Borneo in East Malaysia, is one of the diving spots most famous in Asia. Reputation deserved.
Of course, it is better to love fish to enjoy the place as it deserves ...: D
School of jacks to Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
I am hopelessly addicted to bubbles and fish, I returned to Sipadan for the third time in July 2013, after two first trips in 2006 and 2009.
I've posted a few articles on this new journey of 2013:
To see what it looks like underwater → Sipadan underwater images
To see a shark up close → Sipadan: a video, a shark, one minute
To see my journey in July 2013 in Borneo → Dive into the blue Borneo
This is where and how we go?
Some small practices and geographical information to start because I am inundated with emails asking me information about Sipadan ...: twisted:
Sipadan is a tiny island situated in East Malaysia, northern Borneo, close to the border with Indonesia. The island is part of the Malaysian state of Sabah.
Significant advantage of this fabulous diving spot is its ease of access, via Tawau Airport: there including direct connections to Kuala Lumpur in Peninsular Malaysia, and Kota Kinabalu in East Malaysia on Borneo (see sites of Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines).
Kuala Lumpur - Tawau.
MAS Wings flight, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines for domestic flights. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Once in Tawau, you have to go to Semporna, the port where the boats to Sipadan and Mabul, the neighboring island. The journey by road takes about an hour.
Crossing Semporna to Mabul takes about one hour too. Then it takes another twenty minutes to reach the island of Sipadan same (beware, provided that there are waves, time is easily doubled crossings).
An oceanic island explored by Cousteau
Sipadan, when we approach, it looks like this:
Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
The pontoon Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
The pontoon Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Turquoise water and white sand ... "wow" effect guaranteed when it's bright sunshine.
Sipadan is a very special island. This is the only oceanic island in Malaysia. This means that it is not just a tip in the extension area of a continent but an island of volcanic origin, created by the activity of the earth's crust at the seafloor.
Sipadan itself is very small. The island is perched on a large coral reef, on top of an ancient volcano.
This forms a sheer underwater dizzying, that sinks to about 600 m below surface. These special geological conditions favored an abundance of sea life and underwater biodiversity incredible. (Click images to enlarge.)
Sipadan. Cup île.Les dive sites in Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Malaysians Clement Lee and Samson Shak, the British and American Ronald Holland Randy Davis are considered the "discoverers" of underwater wonders of the island and the "pioneers" of diving at Sipadan. In 1984, they started it the first commercial diving operation, which still exists, Borneo Divers.
But it is the French Jacques-Yves Cousteau who is famous on the island after its passage with the Calypso in 1988 Amazed, he would have said, in substance: "I've seen places like Sipadan, but it was there 45 years. What we have here is a work of art intact. "
At Sipadan, Cousteau went on to direct a documentary called The spectrum of the Turtle (1989), whose spectacular images of the cave houses a cemetery turtles, skulls and shells with white sandy bottom, marked the spirits. There is a rational explanation for this grave turtles: lost in the bowels of the cave, they are reported to have died from suffocation after failing to return to the surface to breathe.
Turtle Tomb Cave. Sipadan, Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
I do not call myself Cousteau and I only visited the entrance to the Turtle Tomb Cave, a large room in the dark intimidating. I still shot a little video that I'll post in an upcoming article ...
An island under surveillance
Sipadan is also known outside the small world of diving because of the dramatic story of the hostages in Jolo in 2000.
Twenty people - a group of foreign divers and Malaysians - were kidnapped in Sipadan by Filipinos of Islamist separatist group Abu Sayyaf kidnapped and then taken on the island of Jolo, not far away, in the extreme south of the Philippine archipelago.
Since then, the Malaysian army has deployed men to Sipadan and the surrounding islands. They are always there, patrols plying the waters of the region. Tourist safety is ensured, but it's still a bit weird to see guys with weapons and fencing on the white sandy beaches ... I already spoke to during my first visit in 2006.
UPDATE 15/05/2014: Following many questions I am asked about security in Semporna / Mabul / Sipadan after new tourist kidnappings that occurred in November 2013 and April 2014, two resorts in isolated regions, I published a long commentary compiling some info on this topic, you can read the end of this link:
→ http://petitesbullesdailleurs.fr/2013/12/15/plongeurs-security-sipadan/comment-page-1/#comment-6754
A soldier on duty on the small island of Sibuan, off Semporna. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2006.
A soldier on duty on the small island of Sibuan, off Semporna. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2006.
Various measures were taken also for the environmental protection of Sipadan and its reef, after the island in dispute with neighboring Indonesia, was officially attributed to Malaysia in 2002, closing a few hotels built on Sipadan same in 2004; introduction of a quota of divers and snorkelers (swimmers flippers mask snorkel), limited to 120 per day.
Inside the registrar of Sipadan, the list of dive operators allowed, and, for each, the number of permits granted for the day. Total: 120 (Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013)
Inside the registrar of Sipadan, the list of dive operators allowed, and, for each, the number of permits granted for the day. Total: 120 (Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013)
Today, most tourists divers staying on Mabul, Sipadan neighboring island - where accommodation, from the cheap to chic, crammed around the village. Others make the day trip from Semporna, the port on the mainland Borneo.
→ Read also: A brief history of Pulau Sipadan
Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
The only permanent residents are now Sipadan-military rangers and some lizards and lizards not shy ...
The post-military rangers in Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Varan in Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
These measures seem to be working - so far as I can judge the scale of my three visits, a few years apart (2006, 2009, 2013) ...
In terms of safety, the tourists soon returned - and an impressive business grew around diving, Mabul and Semporna.
In environmental terms, the marine life on the reef of Sipadan remained spectacular! It comforts after my disappointment and Maratua Sangalaki, Indonesian side of Borneo.
Panels on the pontoon Sipadan outline the rules to be observed in the marine reserve of the island. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Panels on the pontoon Sipadan outline the rules to be observed in the marine reserve of the island. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
controlled freedom
At Sipadan, each visitor must first disembark and sign the permit before it can dive, swim or walk. Each vessel has a flag for the day, it can be identified as being allowed to sail around the island.
Signing the register at Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
It is illegal to ride on the island beyond a small to large beach near the jetty and the perimeter area managed for divers under the trees - with tables, wooden louvers and health. Much to ensure peace turtles laying eggs on the sand all around the island, to keep tourists in sight.
The atmosphere is most unusual heavy. Returning to the island between dives to eat, rest, take pictures memories ...
The portion of the allowable range to tourists at Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Lunch break between dives at Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
On site, the military-rangers, often thongs but with weapons at hand, watching the comings and goings of tourists, between naps.
Sometimes the siren sounds when an intrepid or dizzy ventured beyond the limit. Better not laugh with it, warn the guides before landing a group. An offense and it's the boat that finds himself not only expelled but forbidden to dive ...
: - I need regular.
Admit that which would have meant shame ...
Source : petitesbullesdailleurs
For crazy dive
Sipadan, a small island off the coast of Borneo in East Malaysia, is one of the diving spots most famous in Asia. Reputation deserved.
Of course, it is better to love fish to enjoy the place as it deserves ...: D
School of jacks to Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
I am hopelessly addicted to bubbles and fish, I returned to Sipadan for the third time in July 2013, after two first trips in 2006 and 2009.
I've posted a few articles on this new journey of 2013:
To see what it looks like underwater → Sipadan underwater images
To see a shark up close → Sipadan: a video, a shark, one minute
To see my journey in July 2013 in Borneo → Dive into the blue Borneo
This is where and how we go?
Some small practices and geographical information to start because I am inundated with emails asking me information about Sipadan ...: twisted:
Sipadan is a tiny island situated in East Malaysia, northern Borneo, close to the border with Indonesia. The island is part of the Malaysian state of Sabah.
Significant advantage of this fabulous diving spot is its ease of access, via Tawau Airport: there including direct connections to Kuala Lumpur in Peninsular Malaysia, and Kota Kinabalu in East Malaysia on Borneo (see sites of Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines).
Kuala Lumpur - Tawau.
MAS Wings flight, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines for domestic flights. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Once in Tawau, you have to go to Semporna, the port where the boats to Sipadan and Mabul, the neighboring island. The journey by road takes about an hour.
Crossing Semporna to Mabul takes about one hour too. Then it takes another twenty minutes to reach the island of Sipadan same (beware, provided that there are waves, time is easily doubled crossings).
An oceanic island explored by Cousteau
Sipadan, when we approach, it looks like this:
Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
The pontoon Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
The pontoon Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Turquoise water and white sand ... "wow" effect guaranteed when it's bright sunshine.
Sipadan is a very special island. This is the only oceanic island in Malaysia. This means that it is not just a tip in the extension area of a continent but an island of volcanic origin, created by the activity of the earth's crust at the seafloor.
Sipadan itself is very small. The island is perched on a large coral reef, on top of an ancient volcano.
This forms a sheer underwater dizzying, that sinks to about 600 m below surface. These special geological conditions favored an abundance of sea life and underwater biodiversity incredible. (Click images to enlarge.)
Sipadan. Cup île.Les dive sites in Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Malaysians Clement Lee and Samson Shak, the British and American Ronald Holland Randy Davis are considered the "discoverers" of underwater wonders of the island and the "pioneers" of diving at Sipadan. In 1984, they started it the first commercial diving operation, which still exists, Borneo Divers.
But it is the French Jacques-Yves Cousteau who is famous on the island after its passage with the Calypso in 1988 Amazed, he would have said, in substance: "I've seen places like Sipadan, but it was there 45 years. What we have here is a work of art intact. "
At Sipadan, Cousteau went on to direct a documentary called The spectrum of the Turtle (1989), whose spectacular images of the cave houses a cemetery turtles, skulls and shells with white sandy bottom, marked the spirits. There is a rational explanation for this grave turtles: lost in the bowels of the cave, they are reported to have died from suffocation after failing to return to the surface to breathe.
Turtle Tomb Cave. Sipadan, Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
I do not call myself Cousteau and I only visited the entrance to the Turtle Tomb Cave, a large room in the dark intimidating. I still shot a little video that I'll post in an upcoming article ...
An island under surveillance
Sipadan is also known outside the small world of diving because of the dramatic story of the hostages in Jolo in 2000.
Twenty people - a group of foreign divers and Malaysians - were kidnapped in Sipadan by Filipinos of Islamist separatist group Abu Sayyaf kidnapped and then taken on the island of Jolo, not far away, in the extreme south of the Philippine archipelago.
Since then, the Malaysian army has deployed men to Sipadan and the surrounding islands. They are always there, patrols plying the waters of the region. Tourist safety is ensured, but it's still a bit weird to see guys with weapons and fencing on the white sandy beaches ... I already spoke to during my first visit in 2006.
UPDATE 15/05/2014: Following many questions I am asked about security in Semporna / Mabul / Sipadan after new tourist kidnappings that occurred in November 2013 and April 2014, two resorts in isolated regions, I published a long commentary compiling some info on this topic, you can read the end of this link:
→ http://petitesbullesdailleurs.fr/2013/12/15/plongeurs-security-sipadan/comment-page-1/#comment-6754
A soldier on duty on the small island of Sibuan, off Semporna. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2006.
A soldier on duty on the small island of Sibuan, off Semporna. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2006.
Various measures were taken also for the environmental protection of Sipadan and its reef, after the island in dispute with neighboring Indonesia, was officially attributed to Malaysia in 2002, closing a few hotels built on Sipadan same in 2004; introduction of a quota of divers and snorkelers (swimmers flippers mask snorkel), limited to 120 per day.
Inside the registrar of Sipadan, the list of dive operators allowed, and, for each, the number of permits granted for the day. Total: 120 (Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013)
Inside the registrar of Sipadan, the list of dive operators allowed, and, for each, the number of permits granted for the day. Total: 120 (Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013)
Today, most tourists divers staying on Mabul, Sipadan neighboring island - where accommodation, from the cheap to chic, crammed around the village. Others make the day trip from Semporna, the port on the mainland Borneo.
→ Read also: A brief history of Pulau Sipadan
Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
The only permanent residents are now Sipadan-military rangers and some lizards and lizards not shy ...
The post-military rangers in Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Varan in Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
These measures seem to be working - so far as I can judge the scale of my three visits, a few years apart (2006, 2009, 2013) ...
In terms of safety, the tourists soon returned - and an impressive business grew around diving, Mabul and Semporna.
In environmental terms, the marine life on the reef of Sipadan remained spectacular! It comforts after my disappointment and Maratua Sangalaki, Indonesian side of Borneo.
Panels on the pontoon Sipadan outline the rules to be observed in the marine reserve of the island. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Panels on the pontoon Sipadan outline the rules to be observed in the marine reserve of the island. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
controlled freedom
At Sipadan, each visitor must first disembark and sign the permit before it can dive, swim or walk. Each vessel has a flag for the day, it can be identified as being allowed to sail around the island.
Signing the register at Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
It is illegal to ride on the island beyond a small to large beach near the jetty and the perimeter area managed for divers under the trees - with tables, wooden louvers and health. Much to ensure peace turtles laying eggs on the sand all around the island, to keep tourists in sight.
The atmosphere is most unusual heavy. Returning to the island between dives to eat, rest, take pictures memories ...
The portion of the allowable range to tourists at Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
Lunch break between dives at Sipadan. Borneo, Malaysia, July 2013.
On site, the military-rangers, often thongs but with weapons at hand, watching the comings and goings of tourists, between naps.
Sometimes the siren sounds when an intrepid or dizzy ventured beyond the limit. Better not laugh with it, warn the guides before landing a group. An offense and it's the boat that finds himself not only expelled but forbidden to dive ...
: - I need regular.
Admit that which would have meant shame ...
Source : petitesbullesdailleurs
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