Semporna is a small town on Sabah's east coast that exists, for most visitors, as a jetty. Every morning around 8am, dozens of speedboats leave it for the islands of Tun Sakaran Marine Park, the Mabul and Kapalai reefs, and Sipadan, the oceanic island that divers rank among the best sites in the world. Getting there means flying into Tawau and driving about 90 minutes to Semporna.
The difficulty is not finding a tour. It is comparing them. One operator quotes a day trip with lunch, park fees and gear included. The next quotes a lower number that excludes the marine park fee, the jetty levy and gear rental, and a third quotes per person per night on twin share. We read the current rate cards of seven operators on their own websites on 11 October 2026 and set out what each price really covers.
How to choose: three questions first
Do you dive? Non-divers should look at an island-hopping day trip from town. The classic route is Tun Sakaran Marine Park: a hike up Bohey Dulang for the lagoon view, then snorkelling at Mantabuan and Sibuan. A second route covers Mataking, Timba-Timba and Pandanan. Both run as join-in boats with lunch, from about RM160 to RM290 for a Malaysian adult.
Do you want Sipadan? Sipadan is managed by Sabah Parks, and access is by permit for each day. Sabah Parks' fees are RM50 entrance plus RM250 diving for a Malaysian (RM300 in total), and RM450 for an international diver, as Scuba Junkie and Seaventures print on their pages. Two resort groups on Mabul state that Sipadan is limited to 240 people a day from 1 January 2025, and that each resort holds only six permits a day. That is why operators guarantee Sipadan only on multi-night packages and why a Sipadan day trip must be booked well ahead. Every operator below requires an Advanced Open Water certificate for diving there.
Day trips or a stay on the islands? Staying in Semporna town and taking day boats is the cheapest way. Staying on Mabul, Mataking or Pom Pom saves the daily boat ride and puts you on a house reef, but packages start at roughly RM1,000 a night per person.
Fees to check in every quote
- Marine park conservation fee: for Tun Sakaran, sometimes included and sometimes not. Uncle Chang's general terms say park fees are included while its Tun Sakaran options list the conservation fee as excluded, so ask.
- Bohey Dulang ranger fee: Amazing Borneo asks guests to bring RM50 cash per group of up to six. Uncle Chang's sells a hiking permit and insurance add-on at RM57.
- Semporna jetty fee: RM2 for a Malaysian adult and RM10 for an international adult, in cash, per Scuba Junkie.
- Tourism tax: RM10 per room per night for foreign guests. MyKad holders are exempt.
- Gear rental: often extra on dive packages, for example RM65 a day at Scuba Junkie.
- Sipadan permits on resort packages are usually charged separately.
How to pick
For a first visit with non-divers, a Tun Sakaran day trip is the best value in Sabah: RM160 at Uncle Chang's or RM290 at Amazing Borneo if you want conservation fees and snorkel gear spelled out in the price. Book a second day to Mataking and Timba-Timba if you have time.
Certified divers on a budget should base themselves in town and mix day trips: RM350 for three dives at Mabul and Kapalai, then one Sipadan day at RM950 to RM1,250, booked as early as possible. If you would rather wake up on the water, Scuba Junkie's Mabul packages are the most transparent, with every add-on listed. Mataking, Pom Pom and Seaventures are for a splurge: they bundle transfers from Tawau and full board, which makes the per-night price easier to compare than it looks.
New divers can do the PADI Open Water course here too: RM1,600 at Uncle Chang's and RM1,630 at Scuba Junkie, but you still need Advanced Open Water before Sipadan.
Rates change, and three of the seven pages show no validity date. Confirm the price, what is included and the permit availability by WhatsApp before you pay a deposit.
*Image: Mabul Water Bungalows.*
