Full cost breakdown
What a trip actually costs once flights, gear and tax are counted.
See the numbersEvery rate below includes accommodation, full board, transfers from Tawau, guided boat dives, tanks and weights, and the Sipadan permit for the days stated. Per person, twin sharing, at Borneo Divers Mabul Resort.
These packages include permitted access to Sipadan on the number of days shown. Everything else in the itinerary is diving at Mabul and Kapalai.
| Package | Sipadan days | Off-peak | Peak | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4D3N Sipadan Diving | 1 | RM4,170 | RM4,350 | RB-4D3N-BD (SD) |
| 5D4N Sipadan Diving Most booked | 1 | RM4,870 | RM5,080 | RB-5D4N-BD (SD) |
| 6D5N Sipadan Diving Two permit days | 2 | RM6,550 | RM6,830 | RB-6D5N-BD (SD) |
| Package | Sipadan days | Off-peak | Peak | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4D3N Sipadan Snorkelling | 1 | RM3,090 | RM3,230 | RB-4D3N-BD (SS) |
| 5D4N Sipadan Snorkelling | 1 | RM3,700 | RM3,880 | RB-5D4N-BD (SS) |
| 6D5N Sipadan Snorkelling | 2 | RM4,820 | RM5,050 | RB-6D5N-BD (SS) |
| Package | Sipadan days | Off-peak | Peak | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D2N Mabul / Kapalai Diving | — | RM2,390 | RM2,510 | RB-3D2N-BD-NSD |
| 4D3N Mabul / Kapalai Diving | — | RM3,380 | RM3,550 | RB-4D3N-BD-NSD |
| 5D4N Mabul / Kapalai Diving | — | RM4,250 | RM4,460 | RB-5D4N-BD-NSD |
| Package | Sipadan days | Off-peak | Peak | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D2N Mabul / Kapalai Snorkelling | — | RM1,880 | RM1,980 | RB-3D2N-BD-NSS |
| 4D3N Mabul / Kapalai Snorkelling | — | RM2,680 | RM2,820 | RB-4D3N-BD-NSS |
| 5D4N Mabul / Kapalai Snorkelling | — | RM3,420 | RM3,600 | RB-5D4N-BD-NSS |
The only decision that really matters is length, because length is what buys permit days. The day-by-day itineraries show exactly what each length delivers.
One Sipadan day, two full diving days at Mabul and Kapalai. Works if your leave is tight or Sipadan is part of a longer Borneo itinerary. The risk is concentration: if weather cancels your single Sipadan day, there is no second chance.
One Sipadan day with an extra day of Mabul and Kapalai diving, and enough slack that a weather cancellation can usually be reassigned. This is what most divers book and what we recommend for a first trip.
Two Sipadan days. The jump from RM4,870 to RM6,550 buys a second permit day, which is the single most expensive thing to add later and the thing most divers say they wished they had. If Sipadan is the reason for the trip, book this.
Not a consolation prize. Mabul is among the best muck diving in the world, and a 5D4N Mabul and Kapalai package at RM4,250 gives you more total dives than the 4D3N Sipadan package for marginally more money. Divers who care most about macro and photography often prefer it. See Mabul island diving.
Accommodation and meals. Luxury Villa or Executive Beach Chalet on twin or triple sharing, air conditioned with private bathroom and hot water. Three meals daily plus snacks and unlimited coffee, tea and cordial. Meal service is reduced on arrival and departure days.
Transfers. Scheduled return road transfer from Tawau airport to Semporna jetty, and scheduled return boat transfer from Semporna to the resort. Includes 8% Sales & Service Tax and the Semporna jetty fee.
Sipadan access. One or two days at Sipadan as stated, including all permit and park fees.
Diving. Three guided boat dives per day excluding arrival and departure days, unlimited unguided house reef diving from the jetty, tanks, weights and belt. Night dives on the house reef are available to AOW-certified divers with a buddy, exiting by 19:30.
Flights and airport taxes. Tourism tax of RM10 per room per night, payable at check-in by non-Malaysians. Personal travel and dive insurance. Equipment rental — mask, snorkel, fins, BCD, regulator and wetsuit, typically RM60 to RM100 per day. Tips and personal expenses.
No diving on departure day. To stay inside the 24-hour no-fly rule, book flights out of Tawau after 16:00. This catches out more divers than any other rule on the trip.
Bookings falling on these dates are charged at peak rates. Everything else in 2026 is off-peak.
A trip spanning both windows is charged per night at the applicable rate. Off-peak dates also carry better permit availability, so December to February is the strongest value window overall — see best time to dive Sipadan.
Rates assume two guests per room. Solo divers pay a 40% single supplement and travel on scheduled shared land and boat transfers. On a 5D4N Sipadan package that adds roughly RM1,950.
Children must share a room with two adults. Ages 3 to 11 pay 50% of the non-Sipadan snorkelling rate. Under 2 are free, jetty fee aside. Child rates do not apply to Sipadan visits — under-12s visiting Sipadan pay the standard adult package rate.
Boat transfer from Semporna at 10:00 or 12:30. Check in at 15:00. Check dive on the house reef. No boat dives on arrival day.
Three guided boat dives daily at 08:30, 10:30 and 14:00. Unlimited house reef diving between and after. Night dive available.
Early departure, on site from around 06:00. Two boat dives at Sipadan plus one at Mabul on return. Boats are back before 13:00.
Check out at 10:00, boat transfer at 11:00 or 13:30. No diving. Flights from Tawau after 16:00.
Dive counts are changing. Sipadan was capped at two dives per day from 2022, and operators reported a return to three per day from May 2026. We confirm the current allowance for your dates at the point of booking.
Send us your dates, group size, package length and certification level. We check permit availability with the resort and come back with what can be held, usually within one working day. If your dates are full we will say so rather than push you at something else.
Packages are operated by Remarkable Borneo Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd at Borneo Divers Mabul Resort. We earn a commission on confirmed bookings, which costs you nothing — rates here are the operator's published rates.
Get dates & priceWhat a trip actually costs once flights, gear and tax are counted.
See the numbersWhy length of stay decides your odds, and how allocations work.
Read the permit guideAdvanced Open Water rule and the on-site upgrade path.
Check requirementsYes. All permit and park fees for the Sipadan days stated are included in the rates on this page.
From RM4,170 per person twin sharing for 4D3N with one Sipadan day, to RM6,830 for 6D5N with two Sipadan days in peak season. Snorkelling packages start at RM3,090.
40% on top of the package rate, since rates are based on two sharing. Solo travellers also use scheduled shared transfers.
Yes, on the snorkelling packages, which include Sipadan permits on the same days. Mixed groups of divers and snorkellers travel together on the same boats.
Three guided boat dives on full days, plus unlimited unguided house reef diving. No boat dives on arrival day and no diving at all on departure day.
Tanks, weights and belt are included. Mask, fins, BCD, regulator and wetsuit are not, and cost roughly RM60 to RM100 per day.
Dates, group size and how many nights you can stay. We come back with available permit days and a firm price.
Get dates & price How permits work