West Ridge

The topography on the western face of the island is defined by deep verticality. Sipadan rises 600 metres from the seabed on an extinct volcanic seamount. The reef here drops sheer into the open ocean. This creates a dramatic structure for your dive. The wall features pronounced ledges and severe structural crevices where marine life shelters. The robust black coral bushes anchor themselves to the rock face in the deeper sections.

This side of the island lacks the shallow coral gardens found on the eastern perimeter. You are diving a true drop-off from the moment you enter the water. The water temperature remains a stable 26 to 30 °C year-round. You might feel a slight thermocline as you explore the deeper ledges. This geological anomaly allows open-ocean species close to the rock face.

Your boat drops you near the reef edge. All diving at Sipadan is by boat from the surrounding resorts. You descend immediately to find the wall. The current is usually a moderate drift. This carries you along the western face of the island. You keep the reef on your shoulder as you move.

The guide manages the pace based on the water movement. The dive profile often dictates a deeper start before you work your way up to the shallower plateau. This slow diagonal ascent lets you maximise your bottom time. You spend the end of your dive exploring the sunlit upper reef before your safety stop. Guides recommend this site as a second or third dive of the day to catch the afternoon light.

The deeper wall sections hold the black coral bushes. These areas attract the large resident groupers. They often rest on the ledges or swim slowly along the wall. Napoleon wrasse are a common sight as they inspect the reef structure in the mid-water.

Turtles are often seen along the slope. You can often see them actively feeding on the sponges and corals. They are habituated to divers. You can watch them closely. As you ascend toward the shallows you find dense populations of smaller reef fish. The upper zones are busy with anemonefish. Schools of sweetlips tuck themselves into the crevices out of the current. You often spot Lobster Lair further along the wall as you drift north.

This is an excellent site for wide-angle structural shots. The natural light in the afternoon provides a warm glow against the rock face. The warm light makes it easier to capture the large fish portraits that West Ridge is known for.

The groupers and Napoleon wrasse stand out clearly in this light. You can capture the sheer scale of the wall without relying entirely on heavy strobes. Feeding turtles often give you time to set up your shot in the shallower water. The bright conditions let you use a faster shutter speed to freeze the motion of the anemonefish in the shallows.

Sabah Parks mandates a minimum of Advanced Open Water to dive Sipadan. West Ridge asks for a confident AOW diver. The site dictates a deeper average profile than the sites on the eastern side.

You need to pay close attention to your gas management. The moderate drift requires active finning at times. The clear water can make the bottom look closer than it is. Good buoyancy control helps you stay at your planned depth. Be sure to monitor your computer and your air consumption throughout the dive. The absence of a shallow reef flat means you conduct your safety stop in blue water alongside the wall.

West Ridge is at its best in the afternoon. The western exposure means the wall catches the descending sun. The light profile brings out the textures of the reef and illuminates the deeper crevices.

Diving in Sabah runs all year. The best visibility runs from March to October. Mid-February to mid-November offers good diving with slightly softer visibility at the edges of the season. Sipadan is closed entirely to all visitors every November to allow the reef to rest. The surrounding islands stay open for diving during this month. Diving hours run from early morning until the afternoon. Night diving is strictly prohibited at Sipadan.

Every diver on Sipadan is there on a permit issued for that day in their name. Sabah Parks issues 254 Sipadan permits a day. You reach the island by boat from the nearby resorts. Diving in Mabul or diving in Kapalai puts you about 15 to 25 minutes away.

If you pre-book a dive package with the right resort your Sipadan days can be guaranteed. A Guaranteed Sipadan permit requires the right combination of resort, dive package and a minimum number of nights. Which dates can be guaranteed depends on the resort you choose. The team steers you to the right Sipadan permits and packages. You can also dive the site from the Celebes Explorer liveaboard or as part of a Sipadan Classic package.

• Hanging Gardens
• South Point
• Barracuda Point
• Coral Garden
• Sipadan

Send your dates, the names of everyone coming and your certification levels. The team comes back with the availability and what can be arranged for your trip.