Semporna packages for mixed groups
Family & Non-divers
An island week where the divers get Sipadan and the reefs and everyone else gets the beach, the snorkelling, the turtle hatchery and a day among the islands.
Highlights
- Stay on a tropical island roughly an hour by boat from Semporna.
- Divers visit Sipadan and local reefs while non-divers snorkel shallow lagoons.
- Children aged eight and above learn to breathe underwater in confined pools.
- Non-divers join island-hopping day trips to the Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
- Choose Mataking or Pom Pom islands for beaches or Kapalai for over-water walkways.
- Travel in November to enjoy quieter resorts and empty local reefs while Sipadan Island is closed.
Overview
A family trip to Sabah's east coast means balancing very different needs. The divers want to spend their mornings at Sipadan or exploring the macro life around Mabul. Everyone else wants clear water for snorkelling, a beach to walk on and activities like sea turtle hatcheries to fill the day. The secret to making this work is understanding that your base decides everything. The resort you pick dictates whether your children can build sandcastles or whether they will spend the week on wooden walkways. It controls how far the divers have to travel and how easily the family can eat lunch together. This guide walks you through matching your family to the right island so the divers get their deep walls and the non-divers get a proper holiday.
Which island for your family
The islands around Semporna offer completely different physical environments. Families looking for traditional beaches and space for children to run should look at Mataking Island Resort or Pom Pom Island Resort. Mataking provides a long white beach, a sandbar that connects to a smaller island at low tide, family rooms and the Jamu spa for non-divers. The island runs an underwater post office using a scuttled cargo ship where guests can post mail when diving in Mataking. Pom Pom is a quieter island with shallow sandy beaches and an active turtle hatchery. Both islands are excellent for families with toddlers.
If you want the sea directly beneath your room, you might prefer Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort. Kapalai is built entirely on stilts over the shallow Ligitan Reefs. Kapalai is over the water, so beach days are at Mataking or Pom Pom islands. Children spend their time on the wooden walkways or snorkelling the house reef. This suits families with older children who are confident in the water. Mabul Island hosts resorts like Mabul Water Bungalows and SMART that work well for mixed groups wanting luxury and a busy dive atmosphere. Mabul Water Bungalows offers premium villas with glass floor panels for indoor reef viewing. You can also access the land-based amenities at SMART via electric buggy. Be aware the surrounding waters are highly trafficked by boats from local Bajau villages.
Seaventures Dive Rig is a converted oil platform standing directly in the Celebes Sea near Mabul. It features industrial architecture and open metal gratings. The property does not offer childminding services. Children under ten must never be left unattended. It is aimed strictly at hardcore divers. It is not suitable for small children.
Children and the water
Scuba training agencies enforce strict limits for children based on their physical and cognitive development. If you have children looking to learn to dive, they can start at age eight or nine through pool programmes that restrict them to a maximum depth of 2 metres. At age ten they can complete introductory open-water experiences or earn a junior certification to a maximum depth of 12 metres. When they reach 12, they can complete the junior advanced course to reach 21 metres.
Snorkelling is less regulated. Resorts enforce their own safety rules. Children under 12 usually need direct in-water supervision from a parent at all times. Snorkel guides spot marine life. They do not act as lifeguards. At Kapalai children under 12 must be directly supervised in the water by a parent at all times. Parents must physically book the snorkelling activity alongside the child and be in the water. Observing from the jetty is insufficient.
Be sure to bring properly fitted life jackets and masks for your toddlers from home. Resort dive centres rarely stock safety gear in paediatric sizes.
How the divers' days fit
Sabah Parks issues 254 Sipadan permits a day. You need an Advanced Open Water certification to dive there. The island features sheer drop-offs and strong oceanic currents. This rule effectively means children under 12 cannot scuba dive at Sipadan.
A guaranteed Sipadan permit comes with the right combination of resort, dive package and minimum number of nights. The exact dates depend on the resort you choose. The team steers you to the combination that fits your schedule. Resorts allocate their limited Sipadan permits to paying Advanced Open Water divers on multi-night packages. Sabah Parks allows non-divers and children to visit Sipadan with a permit. They take up limited boat space. Semporna operators also enforce strict proximity rules. Parents are expressly prohibited from diving on a separate island while their child dives at Sipadan.
A Sipadan day runs from early morning until the afternoon. Certified children under 18 must dive in the same group as their parent. If you have a younger child who must stay at the resort, you will need to alternate your Sipadan days with your partner to ensure someone is always on childcare duty.
What non-divers do
Non-divers spend most of their time exploring the shallow house reefs. The water clarity is excellent around Mataking and Pom Pom islands. Green turtles appear on almost every snorkel session. Both islands run turtle hatcheries. Guests can ask about the current programme and sometimes watch the biologists release hatchlings into the sea.
Many families take a day trip to the Tun Sakaran Marine Park. The main attraction is the 353-metre viewpoint climb at Bohey Dulang. Sabah Parks enforces strict rules for this hike. You must wear closed-toe trainers or hiking boots to enter the trail. Children join the climb at the operator's or ranger's discretion. You must also ascend with a mandatory Sabah Parks ranger. The Bohey Dulang ascent is a steep uphill nature trail of about 600 metres over roots and rocks. Rangers inspect footwear at the trailhead and refuse entry to guests wearing unsuitable shoes. Waiting times at the base can extend from one to 2 hours during the peak morning dispatch. This delay severely impacts the timing of subsequent snorkelling stops.
After the hike the boats usually move to Mantabuan and Sibuan for shallow reef snorkelling. Sibuan features a tide-dependent sandbar. Drone flights are not permitted there. Flying drones is completely banned. Semporna island-hopping boats also visit Mataking Kecil and Timba Timba Island. The sandbars offer zero natural shade. Lunch is frequently consumed from plastic boxes while seated on the anchored boat.
Family diving and snorkelling sites
The local reefs provide gentle conditions for young divers and non-divers alike.
Mataking House Reef
Skill level: All levels This reef starts right off the beach and drops gently to a sandy slope. The shallow sections host schools of damselfish and resting green turtles. The deeper areas hide crocodilefish and frogfish. It is a perfect site for junior divers practising their buoyancy and for parents snorkelling overhead.
Mandarin Heaven
Skill level: All levels Located just off the Pom Pom jetty, this shallow coral garden offers clear water and very little current. The hard corals harbour juvenile reef fish and nudibranchs. Snorkellers can easily spot the marine life from the surface. Junior divers explore the bottom.
A sample week
A family trip usually settles into a rhythm where everyone regroups in the afternoon.
- Day 1: Arrive at Tawau airport. Travel by road to Semporna and take the speedboat to your island.
- Day 2: The divers explore the local macro sites around Mabul or Kapalai. The non-divers snorkel the house reef and visit the turtle hatchery.
- Day 3: The divers head to Sipadan for wall diving. The non-divers take a boat tour to Timba Timba or Pom Pom islands to walk on the sandbars.
- Day 4: The whole family joins a trip to Tun Sakaran Marine Park for the Bohey Dulang hike and shallow reef snorkelling.
- Day 5: A final morning on the beach before the boat transfer back to Semporna for the journey home.
What is included
Family packages bundle your accommodation, meals and return transfers from Tawau airport in one booking. Divers select a diving package that covers their boat trips, tanks, weights and guide. Non-divers choose a leisure package that covers their snorkelling and resort activities. For more details on getting here, read the travel information guide.
If your child is a certified scuba diver and wants to join the dive boats, choose a diving package for them. They take up a physical seat on the boat, use specialised rental gear and require dedicated supervision from a divemaster. Resorts usually require infants to share existing bedding with their parents.
Practical advice
Speedboat transfers from Semporna to the islands take between 30 and 60 minutes depending on the sea state. The afternoon crossings can be choppy during the monsoon transitions. Families prone to seasickness should aim for morning flights into Tawau.
The tropical sun reflects harshly off the water and white sand. Popular sandbars like Timba Timba Island have no natural shade. Pack protective rash guards and hats for the children. Sandflies live on the natural beaches at Pom Pom and Mataking islands. Insect repellent is essential. Families visiting Mabul will see the local Bajau Laut stilt villages scattered around the island. The waters here are busy with boat traffic. Non-divers must pay attention when swimming near the resorts.
When to go
You can dive and snorkel in Sabah all year. The best visibility runs from March to October. Mid-November to mid-February brings a mix of cloud, rain and sun.
Sipadan is closed to all visitors every November to allow the reefs to rest. Every other island and marine park stays open. November is an excellent time for a family holiday. The resorts are quieter and the local snorkelling reefs are free from the usual crowds of divers.
Nearby places / alternatives
Snorkelling & Island Hopping
Explore Sabah's island-hopping routes and snorkelling sites.
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Honeymoon Islands
Plan your honeymoon on a private island or in an over-water chalet in Sabah.
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Mataking Island Resort
A private island resort forty minutes from Semporna featuring a turtle hatchery, a spa, gentle house reefs and Sipadan access.
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Pom Pom Island Resort
Pom Pom Island Resort offers quiet beach chalets, water villas, turtle hatcheries and easy house-reef diving 45 minutes from Semporna.
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Tun Sakaran Marine Park
Plan a day trip to Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
More details →Book a family island week
Send the team your planned travel dates, the ages of everyone in your family and the certification levels of the divers. The team will come back to you with the best resort options and a plan that keeps everyone entertained.