Mabul Water Bungalows
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Booking by Tour Leader Club
1 room type · 23 named on the site's maps — 7 off Mabul, 10 off Sipadan and 6 off Kapalai dive sites · house reef
Mabul Water Bungalows is a 4-star floating dive resort off Mabul Island in the Malaysian state of Sabah. It stands entirely over water: twenty-four wooden bungalows on stilts, linked by timber walkways, with communal pavilions under tall gabled roofs in the local style. The resort is wholly owned by Sipadan-Mabul Resort (Sabah) Sdn. Bhd. — SMART, the land resort next door on the same island.
It looks out over Sipadan, one of the best-known dive destinations in the world, fifteen minutes away by speedboat.
Diving covers three areas — Mabul, Sipadan and Kapalai. The site’s maps name twenty-three dive sites: off Mabul, Panglima Reef, Crocodile Avenue, Froggy Lair, Coral Reef Garden, Eel Garden, Ray Point and Lobster Wall; off Sipadan, Barracuda Point, Drop Off, Coral Garden, White Tip Avenue, Mid Reef, Turtle Patch, South Point, Hanging Garden, West Ridge and Lobster Lair; off Kapalai, Gurnard Ground, Mandarin Valley, Sandy Eel Reef, East Bay, Check Point and Sported Ray Channel.
Diving at Sipadan is limited by permits. Since 1 January 2025 every guest needs a daily entry permit issued by Sabah Parks: 240 people a day are allowed on the island in total, and the resort is allocated six places a day. The resort cannot guarantee diving at Sipadan but will source a permit separately. A Sipadan day is a full day out, with lunch served on site.
The package includes three boat dives a day with a divemaster off Mabul, Kapalai and nearby islands, plus unlimited jetty diving on Mabul’s house reefs. The dive centre runs PADI courses from Open Water to Divemaster, technical courses, nitrox and specialties.
Accommodation is 24 bungalows over water. Each has a remote control air conditioner, a ceiling fan, a private bathroom with hot and cold water, a spacious balcony with panoramic sea views, a colour TV with satellite channels, a mini bar, an in-room safety box and free wireless internet.
On site there is a large airy restaurant, a souvenir shop, a business centre, the dive centre and Mabul Spa — by appointment in advance.
No markup
You pay exactly the rate the resort publishes. On top of that, only the actual bank costs of currency conversion and the international transfer — no commission of ours.
We run the deal
Correspondence with the resort, holding the room, the contract, booking confirmation and all paperwork are on our side. There is nothing for you to arrange yourself.
Card payment
We accept payment by card through Stripe and issue an invoice. The transfer to the resort is our job — you do not have to find a way to pay abroad.
Support all the way
We help you choose the room and dates, work out the dive package, answer questions about flights and gear, and stay in touch until you are home.
The exact amount is confirmed when we hold your booking: it includes the resort's rate at the day's exchange rate plus the actual transfer costs. No hidden fees.
About the resort
- Country
- Malaysia
- Location
- Mabul Island, Sabah, Malaysia
- Nearest airport
- Tawau airport — transfer included in the package
- Transfer
Included in the package — Tawau, Semporna jetty, the resort and back, by van and speedboat
- House reef
- Yes — unlimited jetty diving on Mabul's house reefs
- Dive sites
23 named on the site's maps — 7 off Mabul, 10 off Sipadan and 6 off Kapalai
- Dive centre
On-site dive centre — PADI courses from Open Water to Divemaster, technical courses and nitrox
- Nitrox
- Yes
- Rooms
- 24
- Internet
- Free wireless internet in the bungalows
At the resort
Diving
Diving at Sipadan is limited by permits. Since 1 January 2025 every guest needs a daily entry permit issued by Sabah Parks: 240 people a day are allowed on the island, and the resort is allocated six places a day. The resort cannot guarantee diving at Sipadan but will source a permit separately — RM 889 net per person per day including the park conservation fee, paid in advance. Each diver may do two boat dives a day at Sipadan and must hold an Advanced Open Water certification. Places go first come, first served, and in peak season divers have priority. If a permit is not approved, the boats go to Kapalai, Mabul, Sibuan, Boheydulang and Matanbuan, where there are no restrictions. Dive sites and the schedule are set by the dive centre. All divers show proof of certification on arrival; anyone who has not dived in the last 12 months may be asked to take a refresher course. Dives on arrival and departure days are not included in the package.
Dining
The package covers all food and hot beverages at the resort. Alcoholic drinks, fruit juice and carbonated soft drinks are charged separately.
Things to do
The spa works by appointment in advance. Underwater filming is done by Schizo Stars, a studio based at the neighbouring SMART resort: you can book a private video, a group video or buy the daily leisure dive video. Booking the video service online gets a 10% discount.
Rooms
Bungalow
710
View: Sea
Beds: Twin share
All twenty-four bungalows are wooden, built on stilts entirely over water and linked by walkways. They are furnished in contemporary decor with timber finishes. Each bungalow has a spacious balcony with panoramic sea views.
Rates
2026 packages
| Diver | Non-diver | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days / 1 night | US$ 1,188 | US$ 710 |
| 3 days / 2 nights | US$ 1,460 | US$ 891 |
| 4 days / 3 nights | US$ 1,738 | US$ 1,081 |
| 5 days / 4 nights | US$ 2,009 | US$ 1,267 |
| Extra day / night | US$ 387 | US$ 311 |
Per person on a twin-share basis, valid from 1 January to 31 December 2026. Single occupancy of a two-bed bungalow adds 50% and must be booked well in advance.
Mabul Spa
| Time | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Foot massage | 30 min | RM 88 |
| Relaxation foot massage | 60 min | RM 168 |
| Body massage | 60 min | RM 168 |
| Relaxing body massage | 80 min | RM 198 |
| Pampering body massage package | 100 min | RM 288 |
| Head and shoulder massage | 30 min | RM 88 |
| Ear candling and lymphatic drainage | 30 min | RM 88 |
| Relaxing meditation massage facial | 45 min | RM 138 |
By appointment in advance only. Prices in Malaysian ringgit.
Underwater filming and camera rental
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Dive video, one DVD | RM 300 |
| Group of 6 to 8 divers | RM 1,000 |
| Group of 9 to 12 divers | RM 1,300 |
| Camera rental, one day | RM 190 |
| Camera rental, two days | RM 360 |
Filming by Schizo Stars. Booking online gets a 10% discount. Prices in Malaysian ringgit.
Rates and availability can change. Message us — we will confirm current dates and prices.
Getting there
The resort stands off Mabul Island in the Celebes Sea, at the south-eastern edge of the Malaysian state of Sabah.
The journey is included in the package: a van from Tawau airport to the Semporna jetty, then a speedboat to the resort — and the same way back.
Sipadan is fifteen minutes away by boat. What to bring: personal dive equipment, tropical beach wear, insect repellent and torches.
Included in the price
Not included
Optional extras
Extras are per person and paid on site.
from 710 USD for the 2 days / 1 night non-diver package on a twin-share basis, transfers and meals included
Mabul Water Bungalows
Availability for your dates will be confirmed before any payment. Estimated wait time — 24 hours
Other resorts
Layang Layang Island Resort
Dive resort · Malaysia
Layang Layang atoll, South China Sea, Malaysia
Price on request
Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort
Dive resort · Malaysia
Kapalai, Semporna, Sabah
Price on request
Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART)
Dive resort · Malaysia
Mabul Island, Sabah, Malaysia
from 504 USD for the 2 days / 1 night non-diver package on a twin-share basis in a standalone chalet, transfers and meals included
Bungalow
All twenty-four bungalows are wooden, built on stilts entirely over water and linked by walkways. They are furnished in contemporary decor with timber finishes. Each bungalow has a spacious balcony with panoramic sea views.
- View
- Sea
- Beds
- Twin share
- Rooms of this type
- 24
- Rate
- 710
Mabul Water Bungalows
from 710 USD
