A turtle-and-barracuda island in the open ocean.
The dive
A pinnacle rising 600 m from the seabed: Barracuda Point spins a tornado of jacks and barracuda, turtles are everywhere, and bumphead parrotfish patrol at dawn.
When to go
April–December offers the calmest seas and best visibility; permits are capped daily, so book the island well ahead.
Readiness
Advanced-level site — suits Advanced Open Water divers and up. Typical requirements:
Not sure you're ready? Read our readiness guide or check yourself in the planner.
Logistics
| Getting there | Domestic flights + boat; permit-limited. Fly to Tawau (TWU) via Kota Kinabalu, transfer to Semporna, then boat to Mabul/Kapalai resorts. Sipadan diving is permit-limited. |
|---|---|
| Where to stay | Island dive resort. Stay on Mabul or Kapalai; day-boat to Sipadan on your permit days, with muck diving the rest. |
| Operator to look for | Reviewed resorts holding daily Sipadan permits with experienced wall-and-current guides. |
Sources
Links checked 29 September 2026. They cover the site's location, protection status and background. Costs, difficulty and season windows are ScubaRogue's editorial estimates, so confirm them with your operator before you book. How we research
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