Mabul is a small island off the South – eastern coast of Sabah in Malaysia. The island has been a fishing village since the 1970s. In the 1990s, it first became popular to divers due to its proximity to Sipadan Island.
Located 15 km from Sipadan, this 20-hectare piece of land surfaces 2-3 metes above sea level, consists mostly flat grounds and aerial view is oval-shaped. Surrounding it are sandy beaches, perched on the northwest corner of a larger two square kilometer reef.
There are two main villages on the island with approx. 2000 villagers living in Mabul. The majority are immigrants from relatively nearby clusters of islands in the Southern Philippines who are mainly Bajau Laut and Suluk Muslims who live a nomadic lifestyle.
Mabul’s reef is on the edge of the continental shelf and the seabed surrounding the reef slopes out to a depth of 25 to 30 meters.
Mabul is arguably one of the richest single destinations for exotic small marine life anywhere in the world. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed Octopus, Mimic Octopus and bobtail squids are just a few of the numerous types of Cephalopods to be found on Mabul’s reef. Many types of Gobies can be found including the spike-fin goby, black sail-fin goby and metallic shrimp goby. Frogfish are everywhere: giant, painted and clown frogfish are regularly seen along with most of the scorpion fish family.
There are six resorts and some homestay providing accommodation for scuba divers – most located on the island or on stilts over the water. All the resorts can arrange for scuba diving at Mabul, Kapalai and Sipadan islands.
Flights to Tawau airport, the nearest airport to Mabul and then by land to Semporna town where boats will ferry passengers to Mabul island.