Semporna is a small town in Tawau Province,
also a popular tourist place.
If you’re departing from KK,
you need to take the flight to Tawau Airport.
This is because Tawau airport is the nearest airport.
Semporna seems like a small city,
travel to Semporna is very convenient.
Most hotels near Semporna Jetty.
The hotels are very close to the restaurant,
grocery store, bank, and so on.
You can travel to the surrounding Islands from Semporna Jetty.
1. Sipadan Island
Sipadan is like a small mushroom-shaped ocean island.
People call it ‘God Aquarium’.
The most popular island.
Highlights
Diving Paradise.
Sightings of a large number of reef sharks,
turtle tomb, and a huge school of barracuda and trevally.
Required a permit to enter Sipadan Island.
176 permits per day.
Each permits valid for 1 day only.
Accommodation
To protect the ecological environment of the island,
there are no resorts on the island.
You can consider Mabul Island or Kapalai Island Resort.
It’s only a 15 minutes boat ride from Mabul Island or Kapalai Island.
2. Mabul Island
Mabul Island is like an oval-shaped island surrounded by sandy beaches.
An island full of human touch.
There has a residential area on Mabul Island.
Highlights
Mabul Island environment is lively.
From Semporna Island by speedboat takes around 45 minutes.
Package price economic.
Mabul Island has more budget accommodation.
Have a Water house, water bungalow, or beach villa.
Visit the village on the island.
Close to Sipadan Island and Kapalai Island.
All tourists can enter Mabul Island.
Accommodation
Low Budget Accommodation <Scuba Jeff Guest House link>
Medium Budget Accommodation <Mabul Beach Resort link>
Higher Budget Accommodation <Mabul Water Bungalow Link>
3. Kapalai Island
Kapalai Island is not an island.
Kapalai Island is located on the sand bar.
It’s between Mabul Island and Sipadan Island.
Highlights
The environment of Kapalai Island is peaceful.
One island = One Resort
Resort located on the sea.
You can enjoy the 360-degree invincible sea view.
It takes about 45 minutes by speedboat from Semporna Jetty.
Only resort guests can enter the island.
When low tide, you can see the beach.
You can see s school of fish, turtle, and other marine life in the room.
Accommodation
There is only one resort on the island <Kapalai Island Resort link>.
4. Mataking Island
Mataking Island has big and small Mataking Island.
When low tide, the big and small island like a long white beach.
People call it ‘sand bridge’.
Highlights
Mataking Island environment is more peaceful.
One Island= One Resort.
Private beach.
Has underwater post office.
Seawater is very clear.
You can see a lot of corals, turtles, and other marine life.
Mataking Island is bigger than Kapalai Island.
Only resort guests can enter the island.
Accommodation
Provided the best quality of service resort <Mataking The reef dive resort link>
5. Pom Pom Island
Famous for Sea turtle.
There is no residential area on the island.
Highlights
The environment is peaceful.
From Semporna Jetty needs to take around 45 minutes by speedboat.
You can see released the sea turtle program.
There are a lot of featured tropical plants.
Snorkeling at the shore you will see the sea turtle,
starfish, and other marine life.
You can rent a yacht and enjoy sunset scenery.
Accommodation
Traditional wooden villas <Pom Pom Island Resort>.
6. Sibuan Island
Pulau Sibuan is a tear-shaped sand cay.
Pulau Sibuan is part of Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
It was named after a warship.
Highlights
Boat service from Semporna Jetty to Sibuan Island takes about 30 minutes.
Seawater is very clear.
You can see a lot of marine life, like pygmy seahorses,
nudibranchs, mandarin fish, crocodile fish,
lionfish, scorpionfish, and frogfish.
Close to Mantabuan Island.
Accommodation
There are no resorts on Sibuan Island.
Nearest Island accommodation,
you can consider <Pom Pom Island Resort link>
or <Mataking Island the reef dive resort link>.
If budget accommodation <Semporna hotel link>.
7. Mantabuan Island
Mantabuan Island is a sand cay.
It’s also a part of Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
The inhabitants of the island are the Bashu people.
Highlights
The smallest island in Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
You can see the abundance of marine life.
Best spot for sightings of underwater creatures.
The small population of sea gypsies.
Some unique marine life such as the Manta Rays,
Eagle Rays, and Devil Rays.
Accommodation
There are no resorts on the island.
You can consider <Semporna Hotels link>
8. BoheyDulang Island
The Chinese named of Boheydulang Island is Pearl Island.
Bohey Dulang Island is also a part of Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
This is the second-largest island in the archipelago.
Highlights
From Semporna Jetty to the island, it takes about 35 minutes.
The only island in Tun Sakaran Marine Park with a hiking trail.
To reach the top, it takes around 45 minutes.
You can see the uniqueness of flora and fauna.
Accommodation
Same as other islands in Tun Sakaran Marine Park, there are no resorts on the island.
Nearest island resort you can consider <Pom Pom Island Resort>.
For budget accommodation <Semporna Hotel link>.
9. Timba-Timba Island
Timba-Timba Island is covered with soft, pure white sand.
It’s also a part of Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
Highlights
Snorkel in crystal clear waters.
It has a long white beach.
You can see rare marine life, schools of fish, and colorful corals.
Such as large cuttlefish, frogfish, crab, sea snakes,
and sometimes nurse sharks hiding under table coral
or blue ribbon eels, moray eels, barracudas,
lobster, large coral trout, and snappers.
Accommodation
There are no resorts on the island.
You can consider the nearest island.
Most Private resort <Mataking The reef dive resort link>
If you interested in Water Villas, consider <Pom Pom Island Resort link>
For budget hotel <Semporna Hotel Link>.
10. Lankayan Island
A jewel-like tiny island in the Sulu Sea.
It needs to depart from Sandakan Jetty.
Highlights
One Island = One Resort
Beach or water chalet accommodation.
All dive sites just a few minutes away.
Unbelievably marine life, fauna, and so on.
From March to May, sightings of gigantic and harmless whale sharks.
From June to September, will have a chance to see the turtle nesting.
Most commonly Green and Hawksbill Turtle.
Accommodation
The best resort and peaceful environment,
Lankayan island dive resort.
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