Sipadan
Image generated by artificial intelligence
Why dive in Sipadan?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 10
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Diurnal Frequent sightingsBigeye Trevally
Caranx sexfasciatus
The Bigeye Trevally is a large schooling fish known for its big eyes and silver body with pronounced stripes. Found in tropical and subtropical seas, they inhabit both coral reefs and open waters.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsBumphead Parrotfish
Bolbometopon muricatum
The bumphead parrotfish is the largest species of parrotfish, known for the characteristic hump on its head. They are predominantly herbivores, grazing on coral reefs by scraping off algae and live coral, and are often seen in large schools.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is the world's largest ray, with a disc width that can reach up to 9 meters. It is a circumglobal species found in tropical to temperate pelagic waters, often near coastlines, reefs, and in the open ocean, diving to depths of 1,000 meters. These filter feeders primarily consume zooplankton, including mesopelagic sources, and can also eat small fish. While generally solitary, they aggregate at feeding grounds and cleaning stations. The species is currently listed as Endangered due to overfishing and low reproductive rates.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Trevally
Caranx ignobilis
The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) is a large, powerful predatory fish found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Known for its steep head profile and robust body, it can reach up to 170 cm in length and 80 kg in weight. This apex predator feeds primarily on fish, but also consumes crustaceans and cephalopods, often hunting in solitary or small groups, though juveniles form schools.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreat Barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
The Great Barracuda is a large predatory fish known for its fearsome appearance and speed. It has an elongated body, pointed head, and large teeth, making it a proficient hunter in coastal and open waters.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsScalloped Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna lewini
The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is a large, migratory shark easily recognized by the central indentation on its hammer-shaped head. These sharks are found globally in warm temperate and tropical coastal and oceanic waters, often forming large schools around seamounts and islands. They are primarily nocturnal foragers, feeding on a diverse diet of bony fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans, and smaller sharks and rays.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 62
Barred MorayEchidna polyzona
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blacktip Reef SharkCarcharhinus melanopterus
Blue-Ringed OctopusHapalochlaena spp.
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Brownbanded Bamboo SharkChiloscyllium punctatum
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Coconut OctopusAmphioctopus marginatus
Coral HindCephalopholis miniata
Disco ClamCtenoides ales
Dusky BatfishPlatax pinnatus
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Flamboyant CuttlefishMetasepia pfefferi
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant clamTridacna gigas
Golden SpadefishPlatax boersii
Grey Reef SharkCarcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Harlequin ShrimpHymenocera picta
Honeycomb MorayGymnothorax favagineus
Humphead WrasseCheilinus undulatus
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
Latticed ButterflyfishChaetodon rafflesii
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Longhorn CowfishLactoria cornuta
MandarinfishSynchiropus splendidus
Maroon ClownfishPremnas biaculeatus
Mimic OctopusThaumoctopus mimicus
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Ocellated Eagle RayAetobatus ocellatus
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Orbicular BatfishPlatax orbicularis
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Ornate Eagle RayAetomylaeus vespertilio
Ornate Ghost PipefishSolenostomus paradoxus
Painted FrogfishAntennarius pictus
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Peacock Mantis ShrimpOdontodactylus scyllarus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Regal AngelfishPygoplites diacanthus
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Silvertip SharkCarcharhinus albimarginatus
Snowflake MorayEchidna nebulosa
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Teira BatfishPlatax teira
Thorny SeahorseHippocampus histrix
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Tomato ClownfishAmphiprion frenatus
Valentin's Sharpnose PufferCanthigaster valentini
White-spotted PufferfishArothron hispidus
Yellow BoxfishOstracion cubicus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellow-lipped Sea KraitLaticauda colubrina
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Zebra SharkStegostoma tigrinum
Where is Sipadan
Celebes Sea · Malaysia
Frequently asked questions about Sipadan
When is the best time to dive in Sipadan?
The best time to dive in Sipadan is from March to October. In those months the water is between 27°C and 30°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Sipadan?
Divers can encounter 72 species in Sipadan. Highlights include Bigeye Trevally, Bumphead Parrotfish, Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Giant Trevally, Great Barracuda, and Green Sea Turtle.
When can you see the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray in Sipadan?
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is most often seen in Sipadan from March to October.
When can you see the Giant Trevally in Sipadan?
The Giant Trevally is most often seen in Sipadan from April to December.
When can you see the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark in Sipadan?
The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is most often seen in Sipadan from May to August.
What is the water temperature in Sipadan?
Water temperature in Sipadan ranges from 26°C in January to 30°C in April.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Sipadan?
Most divers wear a 3 mm wetsuit in January, when the water drops to 26°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in April, when it reaches 30°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Sipadan?
Visibility in Sipadan ranges from 10 m to 40 m. The water is clearest from March to June and from September to October.
What are the currents like in Sipadan?
Divers in Sipadan can expect moderate or strong currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Sipadan?
After dark, Sipadan reveals nocturnal species such as Whitetip Reef Shark, Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, Fimbriated Moray, Giant Moray, Honeycomb Moray, and Leaf Scorpionfish.
Where is Sipadan located?
Sipadan is a dive destination in Malaysia, in the Celebes Sea.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Sipadan. Spotted something that looks off?
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