Sipadan

The late Jacques Costeau, the world-renowned oceanographer, described Pulau Sipadan (Sipadan Island) as ‘an untouched piece of art’, while divers around the world voted it as the best diving spot in the world.

This Malaysia’s only oceanic island is very small – only 12 hectares in size. A 25-minute walk is all that is required to circle the island on foot. Surrounded by crystal clear waters, this crown jewel is a treasure trove of some of the most amazing marine animals.

Declared a bird sanctuary in 1933 by the Colonial Government of North Borneo and re-gazetted in 1963 by the Malaysian Government, the dense vegetation on Pulau Sipadan supports a large variety of tropical birds which include sea eagles, kingfishes, sunbirds, starlings and wood pigeons. Exotic crustaceans including the amazing coconut crab (Birgus largo) roam the beaches and scurry among the undergrowth.

Pulau Sipadan offers some of the best wall diving in the world. The water's edge presents a drop of more than 609.6m (2,000ft) just 9.14m (30ft) from the beach, and all dive sites are within easy reach by boat. Thousands of marine life, be it big or small, make Pulau Sipadan their home, making it one of the most exciting dive locations in the world.