Pulau
Mabul & Kapalai Pulau
Mabul & Kapalai located about 30 minutes from mainland Semporna, Pulau Mabul
has a shallow reef profile with sandy bottom and patches of sea grass. The coral
reefs at first glance do not look very picturesque and inviting. I lowever, it
is the diversity of macro animals inhabiting the coral rubble and sea grass sites
that put Pulau Mabul and Kapalai on the diving map. Eel
Garden Located towards the southern end of Pulau Mabul, Eel Garden is
one of the deeper dives around the area. Divers descend to a sandy flat between
20 to 25 metres sloping towards the open sea. Finning
carefully and avoiding stirring up the silty bottom, divers can observe gobies
seeking refuge in the tiny crevices and moray eels occupying larger holes. Looking
towards the sandy patch, you will see what appears to be blades of long grass
swaying with the current. These are the elusive garden eels (Heteroconger Hassi)
living in colonies, that quickly dart bdck into their burrows on approaching shadows
or excessive movement in the water. |
![](mabul_view001.jpg) Shallow
reef |
Ray
Point Also located on the southern tip of Pulau Mabul, this site slopes
to about 30 metres at the sandy bottom. Currents sweeping through this point bring
clear water and good visibility. Sea fans and soft corals that thrive in current
areas are home to gobies, blennies, moray eels, butterflyfish, damselfish, parrotfish
and stonefish (Syrianceia Verrucosa). Mandarin
Valley This site is located on the northern tip of Pulau Kapalai. Pulau
Kapalai is only a sandbank with a resort built on stilts over the island. The
depth of this site ranges from 15 to 20 metres, sloping to a sandy bottom. Divers
can observe stonefish, frogfish, gobies, leaf fish, ghost pipe fish, nudibranchs
and mandarin fish (Synchiropus Splendidus). Getting
There Pulan Mabul and Pulau Kapalai can be reached by flight from the
state capital, Kota Kinabalu, then a connecting flight to Tawau, followed by a
2 1/2 hour drive to Semporna and finally a 30 minutes fast catamaran boat transfer
to the island. |