Mabul Island is a small island off the southeastern coast of Sabah in Malaysia. The island has been a fishing village since the 1970s. After the 1990s, Mabul gained popularity with scuba divers due to its proximity to Sipadan island. Located 15 kilometres from Sipadan, the island is roughly 0.2 square kilometres in size and around 2-3 metres above sea level. It is located on the northwest corner of a large reef nearly two kilometres long. Mabul island is administered as a part of Semporna, Tawau district.
Mabul Island is also renowned for its fantastic array of macro life, making it an underwater photographer’s dream location to capture some of the rarest ecological species on film. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, spike-fin gobies, frogfish and moray eels are just some of the spectacular critters you will encounter beneath the waters of Mabul. The island is a small oval-shaped island with sandy beaches on the northwest corner of a more extensive 200-hectare reef. Furthermore, Mabul is a local island-village. Here are the top 10 best things to do in Mabul Island in 2025.
When Should I Plan A Trip To Mabul Island?
Most of Sabah experiences its wet or rainy season from November to April. However, rain is still possible year-round and may impact kayaking, snorkelling, and diving activities. The dry season, which lasts from May to October, is the remainder of the year and is thus the ideal time to travel to Mabul Island.
Which Airport Is Closest To Sabah’s Mabul Island?
The nearest airport to Sipadan, Mabul, and Kapalai is Tawau. Most visitors fly into Tawau airport or travel by bus, minivan, or taxi from Sabah’s northern towns of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sukau, and Lahad Datu.
Where Is Mabul Island?
Mabul Island is located in the Celebes Sea, near Sabah, Malaysia’s southeast coast. The small, oval-shaped, sun-drenched playground, perched by a gently sloping reef, is the starting point for many diving and snorkelling adventures.
10 Best Things To Do in Mabul Island 2025
1. Dive Into The Crystal Clear Water
The main attraction here is diving, with several resorts offering unlimited house reef/jetty diving. You don’t have to stay on the island to go snorkelling or diving; some visitors prefer to stay in Semporna, where hotels and day trips are generally less expensive. Most visitors to Mabul come to dive or take diving classes, and for a good reason! The island is in crystal clear waters and is part of the Coral Triangle, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The WWF has designated this region as a top priority for marine conservation, and it has been dubbed the “Amazon of the Seas” due to its incredible marine biodiversity. Prepare to meet more than just fish—there are a plethora of rays, eels, and octopuses milling around rare coral species. The island is open to divers all year, but the best time to visit is between March and October before the monsoon season arrives.
Operating Hours: All day
Address: Sabah
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Google Review: Here
2. Muck Diving Close To Deep Ocean
Muck diving is diving in areas with sandy or silty bottoms in search of strange-looking tiny creatures known as “muck critters.” Muck diving has grown in popularity among divers, particularly underwater photographers since it was first described. Due to its sheer walls, Sipadan may be the more well-known dive destination, but Mabul Island’s underwater landscape is distinct.
Indeed, many experienced divers come here to muck dive. Many macro sea critters live in the sand beneath the Celebes Sea, and exploring these sandy bottoms is every muck diver’s dream. The list includes frogfish, scorpionfish, nudibranchs, pipefish, jawfish, blue ring octopuses, crocodile fish, and cuttlefish. Night dives are also possible at some locations, such as Froggy Lair and Eel Garden.
Operating Hours: All day
Address: Sabah
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Google Review: Here
3. Snorkel Among The Marine Life
Diving, of course, is only for some. So the next best thing is to go snorkelling! Even if you do not descend to the seafloor, you can get up close and personal with a variety of marine life only found on this side of the region. These creatures include green turtles, blue-spotted stingrays, and various fishes that most people have only seen in picture dictionaries. Snorkelling on Mabul Island is simple and suitable for beginners. You don’t need any special equipment or experience to get into the water.
However, you are encouraged to snorkel in a group or at least with another person. Snorkelling in Mabul is an excellent way to observe marine life in its natural habitat. Your resort or dive operator can also arrange day trips to Kapalai or the world-famous Sipadan, located 20 minutes by speedboat from Mabul. However, the government’s environmental protection policy requires Sipadan permits before any snorkelling or diving trips can depart for the island.
Operating Hours: All day
Address: Sabah
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Google Review: Here
4. Bring Your Camera To Tun Sakaran Marine Park
A day trip from Mabul Island to Tun Sakaran Marine Park, which consists of eight islands, is possible. Photographers from all over the region visit the island because of the clear waters, ranging from bright turquoise to deep azure between emerald shades. The main attraction of this marine conservation area is Bohey Dulang Island, whose crescent shape provides numerous angles for photographing its iconic lagoon.
If you find yourself in the area, visit Tun Sakaran Marine Park, where a world of enticing beauty awaits. Pulau Bohey Dulang, one of the region’s most visited and photographed islands, is the main draw of this marine conservation area.
Operating Hours: All day
Address: Semporna, Sabah
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Google Review: Here
5. Take A Transparent Kayak On An Adventure
Yes, you read that correctly: the kayak is entirely transparent. It is also known as the Molokini because it allows you to see the bottom of the sea without jumping in. Not to mention the strange 360-degree immersion experience while remaining dry. The Molokini is made of bulletproof glass, also used to make fighter plane canopies. So you don’t have to be concerned about an accident while kayaking. It is available for rent at all resorts and Molokini ports for RM30 per hour.
So, if you’ve never been sea kayaking, now’s the time to start. Explore Mabul in a Molokini transparent kayak to access pristine stretches of sandy beaches, waterfront picnic areas, and hidden hideouts inaccessible by foot.
Operating Hours: All day
Address: Sabah
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
6. Visit The Village Of The Sea Gypsies
It would be best if you visited the Sea Gypsies’ village while you were on Mabul Island. You’ll see their traditional stilt huts and wooden houseboats atop the clear blue waters. The gipsies rarely set foot on land because some report feeling “land sick”, and their way of life revolves around fishing and freediving, relying on the ocean’s resources to make a living. The Bajau Laut are naturally friendly people who welcome and care for visitors. During your visit, they may offer you some purple seaweed or fresh coconuts, so take your time and enjoy this idyllic retreat.
The sea gipsies are true masters of the sea, having spent generations roaming the waters of the Coral Triangle between Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Even today, a sizable population lives in wooden houseboats or stilt huts built atop coral reefs near the islands of Semporna. In search of more excellent stability, many abandoned their nomadic lifestyle and settled permanently on land. These people are referred to as the Bajau Darat. Despite this, many Bajau Laut continue to live gipsy-like, and the number of Bajau Laut in the Semporna area is estimated to be in the thousands.
Operating Hours: All day
Address: Sabah
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Google Review: Here
7. Witnessing Mesmerising Sunrise And Sunset
Mabul is in Sabah, the first Malaysian state to see the sun’s golden rays every morning around 5.45 a.m. It’s an early start, but the payoff is well worth it. With its flaming clouds, Mabul’s sunset is just as beautiful as its sunrise. In this part of the world, the sun rises early and thus sets early. Around 6 p.m., villagers finish up their day’s work as the shadows lengthen and lights begin to illuminate the island. Join the villagers as they prepare for the day ahead, or settle in at the end of the day to watch the sunrise or sunset in Mabul.
Operating Hours: All day
Address: Sabah
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
8. Stargazing The Milky Way At Night
After seeing the sunrise and sunset, if you’ve never tried stargazing, now’s your chance. Even if the weather is clear, the night sky is mostly flat for most city dwellers. That changes when you arrive at Mabul Island. At night, the Milky Way galaxy illuminates Mabul’s sky, providing a scenic backdrop from most parts of the island. Because we are so far out in the ocean, there is minimal light pollution, so the night skies here are spectacular. The Milky Way galaxy becomes visible, with its depths and textures, providing an epic view of the cosmos. Whether you’re into astronomy, astrology, or just a casual observer, it’s a spectacular sight to behold all night.
Operating Hours: All day
Address: Sabah
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
9. Celebrating The Regatta Lepa Festival
If you’re visiting Pulau Mabul in March or April, make sure to attend the annual Regatta Lepa festival, which takes place in Semporna. Nonstop celebrations last 2-3 days and pay homage to the culture and traditions of the Bajau Laut, who travel from all over Sabah to participate in this famous water festival.
Every year, around the middle to end of April, the Regatta Lepa festival pays homage to the traditions of the Bajau Laut or Sea Gypsies. The lepa is a single-masted sailboat that serves as their permanent residence and mode of transportation. They have been in use since the 14th century and serve as both a legacy and a source of income for the Bajau Laut. The festival’s main attraction is a floating parade of lepa boats, which includes sporting events such as the lepa tug of war, dugout boat races, and a duck-catching contest. The water festival in Semporna can last up to three days, attracting both foreign and domestic visitors.
Operating Hours: All day
Address: Sabah
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
10. Enjoy The Mabul Island’s Numerous Food Options
Aside from diving and water activities, the food on Mabul Island is worth exploring. Seafood and vegetable dishes are available in all restaurants and roadside stalls, making this a seafood lover’s paradise. Of course, both vegan and non-vegan options are available. If your resort provides cooking services, you could try to get fresh seafood on your own, and some local catches can be purchased directly from the Bajau Laut and have the hotel cook it for you. You can enjoy the flavours in your way, in the comfort of your hotel.
Operating Hours: All day
Address: Sabah
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Review: Here
Website: https://www.sipadanmabulresort.com/en/
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
