What to do around Semporna at a glance
The list is a selection, not a ranking. Entries 1 to 5 are about the water: dive sites and snorkeling. Entries 6 to 10 are island stops with a hike, a resort or a conservation project. Entries 11 and 12 cover culture and the mangroves. Almost everything starts with a boat, so the town is a base for departures and not a place with many sights of its own.
Fees are for international visitors in Malaysian ringgit (RM), as published in 2026, and they change. Not every island here is part of the Tun Sakaran Marine Park, so fees differ from stop to stop. Check the official travel advice for the islands on the safety page before you plan. 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.
In and under the water (1 to 5)
Dive sites and snorkeling spots, from the permit-only island to the shared day-trip routes.
1. Dive Sipadan with a permit
Sipadan is the island with its own permit system: access needs a day permit through a licensed operator. International divers pay RM 100 conservation plus RM 350 for diving, RM 450 in total, without boat and equipment. One operator asks for Advanced Open Water or equivalent, and lists the island as closed in November.
Sipadan guide →2. Muck dive at Mabul
Muck diving means looking for small animals on sandy and artificial bottoms. An operator describes sandy and artificial habitats, reef slopes and walls with macro life around Mabul. It is a search for small things and no animal is guaranteed.
Mabul Island →3. Dive Si Amil
Si Amil is about 45 minutes by boat from Mabul, according to a dive base. First Beach is a sandy, sheltered site for macro life. Second Beach is a reef slope where rays are possible. Sightings stay possibilities.
Diving in Semporna →4. Snorkel or dive Mantabuan and Sibuan
Sabah Parks lists both among the dive areas of the Tun Sakaran Marine Park. You can snorkel without a dive certificate, but the park management must be told. The park charges international visitors RM 20 per adult per day, plus a separate scuba fee of RM 150 for divers.
Island hopping →5. Join a three-island day trip
Shared boat days of about 7 to 7.5 hours were listed from $50 to $54 in October 2026. Options include two snorkeling stops or two introductory dives of 20 minutes, with lunch and gear. Hotel transfer and some park fees are extra and are paid in cash on site.
Tours compared →Our picks: things to do
Fireflies in the mangroves, water sports and a half day of fishing.
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.
Half-day island trip with parasailing and jet ski
Parasailing, jet ski, a banana boat, the boat transfer, basic insurance, jetty and marine conservation fees are included, plus lunch in the morning or tea in the afternoon.
Check availability →
Half-day fishing trip with equipment
Fishing gear, bait, a cool box, water, a guide and a boatman are included, and you keep your catch. Insurance is not included.
Check availability →
Mangrove cruise with fireflies and dinner
Hotel transfer both ways, two boat rides for wildlife and fireflies, refreshments, a life jacket, a buffet or BBQ dinner and the permits needed for this trip are included. It is a shared ride.
Check availability →Day trips and dive days from Semporna
Island hopping, snorkeling, dive days and cruises, with live prices and availability.
On the islands (6 to 10)
Stops with a viewpoint, a resort or a conservation project.
6. Hike to the Bohey Dulang viewpoint
Sabah Parks describes the forest and volcanic path as roughly 1 hour of climbing. That is the ascent, not the length of a boat tour. The hike permit costs international adults RM 50 and visitors up to 17 years RM 30, on top of the park fee. A guide costs RM 50 per ascent for up to 6 people.
Bohey Dulang →7. Stay in a water village at Kapalai
Kapalai is a resort on stilts over a shallow sandbank, not an island with a village. A 3-day, 2-night dive package was advertised from RM 2,460 until 31 December 2026. Walk-in day visits are not confirmed, so ask the resort.
Kapalai →8. Send a postcard from Mataking
The resort describes an underwater post box at the wreck "MATAKING 1". You buy a postcard with a waterproof sleeve in the resort shop, and the box is emptied twice a week according to the resort. Ask whether it works on your dates.
Mataking Island →9. Look for turtles at Pom Pom
A conservation group reports green and hawksbill turtles at Pom Pom, with nesting all year and a main season from July to November. It also runs reef restoration. A sighting cannot be promised.
Pom Pom and Timba Timba →10. Take the Mataking, Timba Timba and Pandanan day route
One operator lists this route at RM 270 per person, with snorkel gear, lunch, boat, guide and jetty and island fees. The boat leaves at 08:00 and returns from the island at 16:00. The minimum group size is given as 4 in one place and 2 in another, so confirm it.
Culture and mangroves (11 and 12)
Two ways to see Semporna beyond the reefs.
11. Learn about the Bajau Laut and the Lepa boats
Lepa boats are a craft and cultural tradition of the Bajau community in Semporna. The 31st Regatta Lepa festival was listed for 26–28 June 2026 at Dataran Regatta Lepa. Meet people with their consent, ask before you take photos and do not enter homes or boats uninvited.
The Bajau Laut →12. Cruise the mangroves at dusk
A 5-hour evening trip with two boat rides for wildlife and fireflies, a buffet or barbecue dinner and hotel transfer was listed at $65 in October 2026. As with any wildlife trip, no sightings are guaranteed.
One more trip goes beyond the 12: the Danum Valley rainforest is a multi-day journey via Lahad Datu and not a day trip from Semporna. See the Danum Valley page.
Reef rules apply everywhere. Do not stand on coral, do not touch animals and follow the park rules on each island.
Things to do in Semporna: frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to do in Semporna?
It depends on whether you dive. Certified divers usually plan around Sipadan and Mabul. Visitors who snorkel or want a day out choose an island-hopping trip in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park. The list above is a selection, not a ranking.
How many days do I need?
A day trip fits in one day. A Sipadan visit needs a permit day plus travel to and from the islands. One operator sells Sipadan permits as part of Mabul packages from 3 days and 2 nights, which describes that offer and not a legal minimum.
Can I do these things without a tour?
Most sites need a boat, and the public and the Seafest jetties serve tours and dive trips. Some resorts do not accept visitors who have not booked. Book boat and resort in advance.
What are the park fees?
In the Tun Sakaran Marine Park, international adults pay RM 20 per day and visitors up to 17 years RM 12. The hike permit is extra. Sipadan has its own fee table. Fees as published in 2026 can change.
Is Semporna safe for these activities?
The UK FCDO (19 March 2026) advises against all but essential travel to the islands off eastern Sabah. The German foreign office (21 October 2026) advises avoiding non-essential travel to the east coast including Semporna, and the US State Department (22 February 2026) lists those islands at Level 2. See the safety page.