How island hopping from Semporna works
Island hopping here means a boat day from the Semporna waterfront. You visit a few islands, snorkel or dive, and come back in the afternoon. There is no single standard route and no public daily ferry ring. Every tour is an operator's own product, so the stops, the food and the fees differ.
One point confuses many visitors. Only some of the popular islands lie inside Tun Sakaran Marine Park. The park charges its own fees, and those fees do not apply to islands outside it. Check which islands your tour visits and which fees the price already includes.
Which islands are inside the marine park
The park lists eight islands. Several well-known resort islands are not on that list.
| Island | Inside Tun Sakaran Marine Park | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bodgaya | Yes | Park island |
| Bohey Dulang | Yes | Forest and volcanic trail, hiking permit needed |
| Tetagan, Sebangkat, Selakan | Yes | Park islands |
| Maiga | Yes | Park island, not a stop on every tour |
| Sibuan and Mantabuan | Yes | Reefs for snorkeling and diving |
| Mataking | No | Resort island with its own packages |
| Mabul and Kapalai | No | Resort and dive bases near Sipadan |
| Pom Pom and Timba Timba | No | Not on the park's list |
Sipadan is a separate park with its own permit system. It is not part of a normal island-hopping day. See the Sipadan guide for permits and fees.
Our picks: island hopping
Three day trips from Semporna with snorkeling, and intro dives on the options that offer them.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Mabul and Kapalai snorkeling or intro-dive trip
Two snorkel stops or two 20-minute intro dives, with instructor, gear, water, lunchbox and jetty fees. The Mabul Island Resort fee is paid in cash.
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Three-island day trip with snorkeling or intro dives
Three snorkel stops or two 20-minute intro dives plus snorkeling, with instructor, gear, life jacket, water, lunchbox and jetty fees. The small island fees for Pandanan and Mataking are paid in cash on the day.
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Bohey Dulang day trip: hike, snorkel or try diving
An instructor, gear, life jacket, water, lunchbox and port fees are included, with two snorkel stops or two 20-minute intro dives depending on the option. Marine park entry, the Bohey hiking permit and any extra dive fee are paid on top.
Check availability →Island hopping and snorkeling tours from Semporna
Boat days with snorkeling, reef stops and island visits, with live prices and availability.
Tun Sakaran park fees in 2026
Published per person and day. Many tour prices include them, some do not.
| Fee | International adult (18+) | International up to 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation fee per day | RM 20 | RM 12 |
| Bohey Dulang hiking permit | RM 50 | RM 30 |
| Scuba surcharge | RM 150 | – |
| Guide for the hike | RM 50 per ascent for up to 6 people | |
Malaysian citizens pay less: RM 8 for adults and RM 5 up to age 17. Malaysians up to 12, from 60 and people with a disability are free according to the footnote. The table lists no matching exemption for foreign visitors. The park's table does not state the unit of the scuba surcharge, so ask your dive operator whether it is per dive or per day.
The Semporna jetty fee is separate. One dive operator lists it from 1 January 2026 as RM 10 for international adults and RM 5 for children under 11. Fees can change, so confirm the current amounts with your operator before you pay.
Snorkeling around Semporna
Snorkeling is allowed in the marine park, but you must report it to the park administration. The park's page does not ask for a diving certificate. In practice your operator handles the notification, so ask whether it is included.
The documented combination is Bohey Dulang for the hike with Mantabuan and Sibuan for the reefs. Both reefs are also named as dive areas of the park, so ask your guide where to enter the water.
If you are not a confident swimmer, book a program with a guide. Sea conditions change the route, and the park gives no fixed timetable.
Reef rules are simple. Do not stand on coral and do not touch animals. One operator allows only reef-safe sunscreen on its Sipadan program. Treat that as a good habit everywhere.
Day-trip examples compared
Prices from single operators, October 2026 or as stated. Do not mix them into one average.
| Program | Price per person | What the source lists |
|---|---|---|
| Snorkeling day outside the marine parks | RM 220 | Equipment, guide, lunch and fees |
| Tun Sakaran snorkeling with hike | RM 270 | Equipment, guide, lunch and fees |
| Dive day with 3 dives | RM 395 | Equipment, guide, lunch and fees |
| Mataking, Timba Timba and Pandanan | RM 270 | Snorkel gear, lunch, water, boat, guide, jetty and island fees; leaves 08:00, returns from the island 16:00 |
The first three prices come from a secondary report, and the original price list was not readable. They exclude accommodation. The Mataking route comes directly from a dive operator and shows no year. Its title asks for a minimum of 4 people, while its terms mention 2 or an arrangement with the dive base. Do not count on a solo rate.
What to check before you book
A short list that avoids most surprises.
Which islands and which fees
Ask for the list of stops. Check whether the park fee, the hiking permit and the jetty fee are in the price. Compare nationality, age group, equipment, boat, food and cancellation terms one by one.
Landing on the island
Landing on every island is not guaranteed. Some resorts have their own jetties and do not accept unannounced visitors. Ask whether your stop includes going ashore.
Mataking Island →The hike
The Bohey Dulang trail takes about 1 hour to climb according to the park. That is the ascent only, not the whole boat day.
Bohey Dulang guide →Safety and sea rules
The UK FCDO (changed 19 March 2026) advises against all but essential travel to the islands and dive areas off eastern Sabah between Sandakan and Tawau. The German Foreign Office (21 October 2026) advises avoiding non-essential travel to Semporna and the east coast, and urgently for the islands and dive areas. The US State Department (22 February 2026) lists Level 2 for the islands. Both German and Australian sources mention restricted boat traffic from 18:00 to 06:00 within 3 nautical miles of the coast. Check your travel insurance.
Safety page →
Island hopping from Semporna: frequently asked questions
How much does island hopping from Semporna cost?
The examples above run from RM 220 for a snorkeling day to RM 395 for a dive day with 3 dives, listed in October 2026. They are single products. Park fees, the jetty fee and equipment may or may not be included, so compare what each price covers.
Do I need a diving certificate to snorkel in the marine park?
The park's page names snorkeling as an activity that must be reported to the park administration. It does not ask for a certificate. Your operator normally arranges the notification.
Is Mataking part of Tun Sakaran Marine Park?
No. The park lists Bodgaya, Bohey Dulang, Tetagan, Sebangkat, Selakan, Maiga, Sibuan and Mantabuan. Mataking, Mabul, Kapalai, Pom Pom and Timba Timba are not on that list.
How long is the boat ride?
The park's activity page gives about 1 hour from Kg. Bangau-bangau to the park. The route, the boat and the sea state change this, so there is no guaranteed timetable.
Is it safe to take a boat tour from Semporna?
Official advice differs by country and is dated on the safety page. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the islands and dive areas of eastern Sabah. Read the current advice from your own government and check your insurance before you book.