Mabul Water Bungalows

"Mabul Water Bungalows is an absolutely stunning resort! From the moment we arrived, the attention to detail was really impressive—from welcome drinks to the professional dive planning to Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai. Our overwater bungalows was truly luxurious with glass floors, seaview balconies with sunset views that took our breath away. Diving at Sipadan was a dream come true and our divemaster helped us spot a huge school of barracuda at the Drop Off, several reef sharks and also a school of bumphead parrotfish. Highly recommended!"

Nina Keller, Munich, Germany

"We had a 6N5D holiday here and we couldn't be more pleased. My family traveled throughout Sabah and this was without a doubt the most comfortable and nicest place that we stayed at. The four of us booked two bungalows with large, covered decks, air conditioning and adequate bathrooms. Both had a view of the crystal blue water where we caught glimpses of starfish. Our balcony had tables and chairs as well as a day bed and a pair of chaise lounges. We found the food in the restaurant tasty and the variety good. There was even sashimi at times and a cappuccino machine. The resort gave us bikes to use while we explored the island. We were also welcome to use the facilities at nearby hotels, including the pool which was a short bike ride from our resort. Our holiday package allowed us to have three dives each day which we enjoyed. We even managed to get permits for another day at Sipadan."

Ian Moore, Brisbane, Australia

"Our week here was wonderful. Our divemasters knew so much and they were really friendly. The crew were all experienced and we felt extremely well looked after. Our water bungalow was wonderful. Wifi was good and the air conditioning worked well. Our room was clean and we loved chilling out on our balcony overlooking the water at the end of each day. The Wednesday and Saturday BBQs were marvellous."

David Lee, Singapore

"We had a terrific week diving here and spent 3 days at Sipadan. The dive crew were all experienced and they looked after us extremely well. The captain of the boat was phenomenal. The resort staff were helpful and friendly. Our room was clean and well maintained. The food was delicious too. We loved the resort and look forward to going back."

Kylie Martin, Canada

"Mabul Water Bungalows has perhaps the most permits for Sipadan diving. The resort is absolutely gorgeous with a bar area that has hot tubs and could double as heaven. The resort attracts many tourists who are not there to dive so had we wanted to, we could have got Sipadan permits for three days of diving during our five-night stay. The SMART dive center is excellent and their divemasters were very knowledgeable about the dive sites, the operation was well-organized and everyone was helpful."

Chang Teo, Hong Kong

"The Mabul Water Bungalows resort is an Instagrammers' paradise. The scenery is stunning near the bungalows overlooking the water and would make an awesome background for a profile picture. This location in Malaysia rivals the Maldives for sure."

Tara Foster, London, UK

"Mabul Water Bungalows allows divers to try a relatively new diving concept - muck diving - where you are met with interesting macro-life dwelling within the sea bed. Of course diving and snorkelling at Sipadan is a must-see, and those who are seriously about diving might even try the Turtle Tomb."

Patricia Ray, Denver, USA

"The resort is fantastic with beautiful water chalets on stilts with a nice balcony. The service is very good from the airport transfers and meals to the diving boats and divemasters. The diving is first class. We would return here next time."

Adam Fleming, London, England

"The Mabul Water Bungalows is an amazing resort, with superb water villas. The diving was fantastic both at Sipadan for big fishes and at Mabul and Kapalai for macro critters. The staff was really hospitable, friendly and professional."

Colin Bryan, Auckland, New Zealand

"I was awe-struck when I finally found my way to the Mabul Water Bungalows. The staff of the resort were friendly and helpful at all times. I sure will go back there again. One trip is not enough enjoy this fabulous place. It is really one of the best places in the world for scuba diving. The dive sites are simply fantastic. Scuba diving is my passion and since I live in Florida, the Caribbean was my prefered dive destination. I also went to dive the Maldives and I happened to meet another dive buddy who persuaded me to go to Sipadan island in Malaysia."

Philip Brooks, Tampa, Florida, United States

"The Mabul Water Bungalows is an excellent resort built over the water. The villa we got was air-conditioned and had an outdoor shower and a spacious terrace with a fantastic view of the sea. The floor of the villa had even glass tiles that allowed us to view the water underneath. During high tide, we could see a lot of fishes from our balcony. Everything was a bliss. We enjoyed the snorkeling at the reef. It turned out to be a great experience, with a lot of marine life and sea turtles. We tried the DSD (Discover Scuba Diving) and the dive instructor was very patient with us as we were beginners. Though the the dive staff were handling a large number of divers every day, they were always friendly and attentive to us personally."

Andrew Liu, Singapore

"Everything about Mabul Water Bungalows was wonderful. The first lap of the journey was a road transfer from Tawau airport to Semporna, then by boat from the Semporna jetty to Mabul Island. The staff welcomed us with fresh towels and a welcome drink. They then briefed us about the resort and the diving procedure. The chalet to which we were taken after was absolutely amazing. A floating villa on stilts, surrounded with plants and tropical flowers. The chalet had all the facilities such as air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, TV, and plenty of space for our luggage, plus a mini-bar. The décor of the rooms had a magical touch. We also got bicycles for use. The resort staff were always extremely attentive to our requirements. The Malaysian cuisine was excellent with fresh seafood and many other dishes. Fruits were also aplenty and they had some really good wines in the menu. From the bungalows itself we could see a profusion of marine life. We even saw turtles swimming gracefully below our water bungalow."

Xavier Jacquet, Lausanne, Switzerland

"We have just returned from a scuba diving trip in Sipadan. We stayed at the Mabul Water Bungalows and it was really worth it. They also have a beach resort in Mabul called Sipadan-Mabul Resort, which is itself quite good. The reef is fantastic and visibility while diving is excellent. Everything about the resort was perfect. The staff was very nice and completely devoted to ensuring the comfort of the visitors. The place is also safe because ample security is provided at night and day. It is an ideal place for divers and snorkelers alike to stay. One of the best things about Mabul Water Bungalows is that they have access to many Sipadan permits and also we were only guaranteed one-day dive in Sipadan for our stay, the staff did their best to get us an additional diving day at Sipadan."

Ide Yoshida, Tokyo, Japan

"The resort is fantastic with well-maintained water villas and spacious private balconies from where we had superb panoramic views of the South China Sea."

Ping Ye, Beijing, China

"I have just been diving at Sipadan, Mabul, and Kapalai, and stayed at magical Mabul Water Bungalows. The rooms are well-designed, luxurious, spacious and well-kept. The land resort (Sipadan-Mabul Resort) is also accessible via a wooden bridge, but I would recommend the water bungalows which may be costlier but you will get your money's worth."

Mohhamed Bin Shaahira, Johor, Malaysia

"The diving at Mabul and Sipadan is world class. The water chalets of Mabul Water Bungalows are excellent and the staff service and hospitality is magical. Since the bungalows are above the water, we could see much of Mabul's rich marine life right from our room. An added bonus is a they provided us with a bicycle to explore the island."

Ilda Alfonsi, Naples, Italy

"We have previously stayed at the Sipadan-Mabul Resort and can say that the Mabul Water Bungalows is much better and deserves its recent 'World Luxury Hotel Award' in the luxury honeymoon resort category. What a unique experience - to see from our water villa, shoals of fish moving in the sparkling waters below a glass floor. Total bliss!"

Sven Holmgren, Stockholm, Sweden