The Drop-Off

The Drop-Off is what the name describes. Sipadan is Malaysia's only oceanic island. It rises roughly 600 m from the floor of the Celebes Sea. Because there is no continental shelf the shallow coral flat extends only 10 metres from the north beach before it plunges vertically into deep water. You spend the dive drifting along this sheer rock face. The wall is highly textured and heavily covered in large barrel sponges. Jacques Cousteau called Sipadan an untouched piece of art in his 1989 film. He was looking at this environment.

Boats drop you directly over the edge. You descend keeping the wall on one shoulder. The current here is usually a gentle drift so you move along the face at a relaxed pace. Surface conditions can occasionally be choppy depending on the wind direction. You choose your depth based on what you want to see. The divemaster guides the group along the contours. A standard profile gives you a long bottom time as you gradually work your way up into the sunlit shallows. The boat follows your bubbles and picks you up when you surface in the open water. On a typical Sipadan permit day this site works well as your second or third dive to follow the high-energy morning action at Barracuda Point.

You find different marine life depending on the depth zone. In the shallows right under the old jetty structure you often swim through massive schools of batfish. Bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) and mackerels often congregate near the surface. Down along the vertical wall you share the water with a resident population of green turtles and hawksbill turtles. They use the rock face as a highway and stop to rest on the protruding ledges. Look closely into the crevices to spot whitetip reef sharks sleeping in the shadows. The wall itself holds plenty of macro subjects. Structural sponges hide leaf scorpionfish alongside tiny crabs and colourful nudibranchs. The sheer drop means you can select the depth band you prefer and maintain it for the whole dive.

As you drift east along the wall you pass the entrance to Turtle Cavern. The large bell-shaped tunnel opens directly off the reef at 18 m. It leads into a limestone cave system holding the skeletal remains of turtles that lost their way. The cavern is an overhead environment. You only enter if you hold the appropriate cavern or cave certification and dive with a specialised local guide. For a standard recreational dive you stay outside in the blue water and look for schools of fusiliers circling the dark opening.

The Drop-Off is an exceptional site for underwater photography because it offers two very different environments on the same tank. You get excellent wide-angle opportunities if you point your camera upward. The signature shot captures a turtle silhouetted against the bright surface water. You then switch your focus to the wall for high-value macro work. The crevices hold small subjects that stand out clearly when you use a strobe. Photographers often request this site in the mid-morning or afternoon to take advantage of the sunlight hitting the shallows.

Since October 2022 Sabah Parks has required Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent to dive anywhere at Sipadan. The Drop-Off is highly forgiving for newly qualified AOW divers. Navigation is completely straightforward and the currents are very manageable. The main skill you need is strict buoyancy control. The 600-metre drop can play tricks on your mind so you must maintain a strong visual reference with the rock face. You monitor your dive computer closely and resist the temptation to chase passing pelagics out into the deep blue. A good guide keeps the group close to the wall to avoid any sudden down-currents.

The Drop-Off works beautifully at almost any time of day. Most guides schedule it for the mid-morning or afternoon because the gentle drift is an excellent way to relax after fighting the currents at the northern points.

You find the best conditions for diving in Sabah during the dry months. You can dive Sipadan throughout the year outside the November closure. The best visibility runs from March to October. The period from mid-February to mid-November offers good diving with softer visibility at the very ends of the season. The months between mid-November and mid-February bring a mix of cloud, rain and sun. You need to plan around the annual park closure. Sabah Parks closes the entire island to all visitors every November to give the marine ecosystem a rest.

Every diver at Sipadan needs a permit issued in their name for that specific day. Sabah Parks issues 254 Sipadan permits a day. You secure a Guaranteed Sipadan permit when you book the right combination of resort, dive package and minimum nights. The Sipadan permits system regulates access strictly. Which dates can be guaranteed depends on the resort you choose. The team steers you to the best options like the Sipadan classic package.

You reach The Drop-Off by staying at the island resorts nearby. A speedboat ride from Mabul or Kapalai takes about 15 to 25 minutes. If you want a liveaboard experience you can join the Celebes Explorer to dive the Sipadan sites directly. Your Sipadan permit day gives you 3 dives when you stay on Mabul or Kapalai or aboard the Celebes Explorer and 2 dives when you stay further away on Mataking or Pom Pom. Wherever you stay the boat drops you right at the wall.

• Barracuda Point
• Turtle Cavern and Turtle Tomb
• Coral Garden
• Mid Reef
• Sipadan

Send your travel dates along with the names of everyone coming and their current dive certification. The team comes back with the permit options and resort packages that can be arranged for your trip.