Barracuda Point

The resident chevron barracuda vortex is the definitive event here. The school gathers in the moving water. They often form a defensive cylinder when reef sharks patrol the outside edges. Grey reef sharks consistently swim in the blue water. Whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) often rest on the rocky ledges.

Barracuda Point sits on an extinct volcanic seamount that rises 600 metres from the Celebes Sea floor. The lack of a continental shelf means the reef drops off vertically into the deep water. This geological anomaly allows open-ocean pelagic species to aggregate remarkably close to the reef. Massive schools of bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) share the same water. If you dive early you can see dawn herds of bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum). These herds often number up to 50 individuals weighing upwards of 40 kg each. Scalloped hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini) are occasional deeper visitors.

Guides overwhelmingly treat Barracuda Point as the first dive of a permit day. You enter the water from the boat before dropping to your target depth. Currents serve as the biological engine of the site. They range from moderate to severe. They dictate the direction your guide takes.

The dive functions as a drift. The water sweeps you towards the point. Guides look for the areas where the incoming current condenses the pelagic schools. When the current runs fast your guide might use a reef hook to hold the group in place. Be sure to anchor exclusively to dead rock to prevent structural reef damage. The boat picks you up from the surface when your bottom time ends.

Sabah Parks also limits the number of divers at any single dive site to 50 at a given time. You cannot repeat a visit to the same site on a single day to distribute the ecological load.

The dive covers different zones as you move along the island. The wall is where you look out into the blue for passing sharks. Down-currents are a known factor where the sheer wall meets the point. Keep a close eye on your depth as you drift around the point.

The sloping plateau offers a place to spot resting whitetip reef sharks. The shallower channel heading south towards Coral Garden is rich with smaller reef fish. The substrate at the main hook-in corner shows some wear from heavy diver traffic. The pelagic life above it remains stunning.

This is the ultimate wide-angle environment. Fisheye lenses help capture the scale of the barracuda tornado. You will also want a wide lens for the bigeye trevally schools.

Managing heavy strobe arms in ripping currents is physically demanding. Many professionals rely on ambient light in the brightly lit 10 to 15-metre range. Getting level with the fish makes the best composition.

Sabah Parks requires all divers at Sipadan to hold an Advanced Open Water certification. Barracuda Point asks for a confident diver. You need instinctual buoyancy control. The bottomless nature of the wall demands strict depth discipline.

Rapid current shifts require you to manage your gas well. The massive pelagic schools are a psychological distraction. You must keep an eye on your dive computer while you watch the barracuda. It is an exciting dive when you have the right experience.

The site is at its best for the first dive of the morning. Early morning is when the bumphead parrotfish herds are most active. The incoming currents at this time are often optimal for condensing the barracuda schools.

Diving runs all year. Sipadan Island Park is closed to all visitors every November to let the reef rest. Visibility is best from March to October and occasionally reaches up to 50 metres in favourable conditions. Water temperatures remain a highly stable 26 to 30 °C year-round. Check the guide on when to dive Sabah for seasonal details.

Sabah Parks issues 254 Sipadan permits a day. Every diver needs a permit in their name. You reach the site on a day trip from the surrounding resorts. A day's diving at Sipadan runs from early morning until the afternoon. Read the guide on Sipadan permits to understand the allocation system.

A guaranteed Sipadan permit is the best way to secure your dive. It requires the right combination of resort, dive package and minimum number of nights. Which dates can be guaranteed depends on the resort you choose. The team steers you to the combination that fits your schedule. A Sipadan classic package often provides the most reliable access.

You can dive Barracuda Point from Mabul or Kapalai. It is also accessible if you stay aboard the MV Celebes Explorer.

• Drop-Off
• South Point
• Coral Garden
• Hanging Gardens
• Sipadan

Send your preferred dates, the names of everyone coming and your certification levels. The team comes back to you with the resort packages and permit dates that can be arranged.