Sipadan in brief
Sipadan lies in the Celebes Sea off eastern Sabah. You cannot just turn up. Access needs a day permit, and the permits go through licensed dive operators and resorts. Sabah Parks lists snorkeling and scuba diving as the activities. It does not list accommodation on the island, and visitors stay on Mabul, at Kapalai or in Semporna.
The park fee is not the price of a trip. It is two separate charges, and the boat, equipment and the operator's own services come on top. Sipadan also has its own fee table, so do not use the fees of the Tun Sakaran Marine Park for it. A dive operator lists Sipadan as closed for the whole of November. The UK FCDO (as of 19 March 2026) advises against all but essential travel to the islands and dive areas off eastern Sabah between Sandakan and Tawau. Read the safety page first.
Sipadan fees in 2026
As published by Sabah Parks, per person per day. The totals are a sum of the two charges.
| Visitor | Conservation fee | Scuba fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| International | RM 100 | RM 350 | RM 450 |
| Malaysian | RM 50 | RM 250 | RM 300 |
The page lists no discount by age or for disability for Sipadan. The totals leave out the boat, the equipment and the operator's charges. A camera fee is possible: a resort brochure lists RM 50 per camera at the park counter from 1 January 2026, and you should ask your operator what applies. A Semporna jetty fee of RM 10 for an international adult, listed by one operator from 1 January 2026, is separate from the park fees.
Our picks: Sipadan
A dive day with two dives at Sipadan, where the operator registers the permit for you.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. 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.
Dive and snorkel trips from Semporna
Island and reef trips from Semporna, with live prices and availability. A Sipadan permit is arranged through a licensed operator.
How the permit works
What to ask before you pay.
A licensed operator books it
Permits are shared among licensed dive companies and resorts. One booking agent lists 254 permits a day for 2026, which is an indication and not a figure from the park. Availability depends on your operator, so ask for a confirmation in writing before you plan around a date.
Packages and minimum stay
One dive operator sells Sipadan permits as part of Mabul packages from 3 days and 2 nights. That describes its offer. It is not a legal minimum stay.
Mabul Island →Dives per permit
The sources differ. A booking agent lists 3 dives per day for 2026, up from 2 in 2025, and a Kapalai resort brochure valid for 2026 still lists 2. Ask your operator how many dives your permit covers.
Qualification
One dive operator requires at least Advanced Open Water or equivalent and attributes the rule to Sabah Parks. Snorkeling is also listed as an activity by the park, but that does not mean free access or a snorkeling place on every day.
Courses are not a permit
An Open Water course does not give you access to Sipadan. See diving in Semporna for course details and other sites.
Dive sites at Sipadan
Three sites named by Sabah Parks.
Barracuda Point
A wall with current. The photo shows a school of blackfin barracuda at this site. A school is a possibility on a dive, not a promise.
Drop Off
A steep reef wall.
Turtle Cavern
An environment under an overhang. The park requires special training and equipment for cavern and overhead diving. Do not treat it as a normal Advanced Open Water dive.
Rules on the reef
Keep the place as you find it.
Do not touch or stand
Do not stand on coral and do not touch turtles or other animals. Sunscreen is part of this: one operator allows only products marked as reef safe in its Sipadan program. That is the operator's rule, not a general law.
No night on the island
Sipadan is a day visit. Book the stay on Mabul, at Kapalai or in town, and read where to stay.
The November pause
A dive operator lists Sipadan as closed for the whole of November and offers Si Amil, Mabul, Kapalai and the Sipadan Barrier Reef instead. The operator says these are not the same as Sipadan National Park. Confirm dates with your operator.
Sipadan: frequently asked questions
How much does Sipadan cost?
The park fees for an international visitor are RM 100 conservation plus RM 350 for diving, RM 450 in total, in 2026. Malaysians pay RM 50 plus RM 250. The boat, equipment, accommodation and the operator's charges are extra.
Can I go to Sipadan on my own?
No. Access needs a day permit through a licensed operator or resort. Check with the operator what your permit covers.
Can I snorkel at Sipadan?
Sabah Parks lists snorkeling as an activity. This does not mean free access or a snorkeling place on every day, so ask your operator when you book.
Can I stay overnight on the island?
No. Sabah Parks lists accommodation outside the island. Visitors stay on Mabul, at Kapalai or in town.
Is Sipadan open in November?
A dive operator lists it as closed for the whole month and offers other reefs in that time. Ask your operator before you book flights.
Is it safe to go to Sipadan?
The UK FCDO (19 March 2026) advises against all but essential travel to the islands and dive areas off eastern Sabah between Sandakan and Tawau, and the German foreign office (21 October 2026) advises avoiding non-essential travel to the east coast including Semporna. The US State Department (22 February 2026) lists these islands at Level 2. Check your insurance and read the safety page.