DIVE SITES
Lobster Wall MabulThe deepest drop off on Mabul, this vertical shelf descends down to an impressive 80 meters. Over-hangings dripping with orange and yellow soft coral, and plenty of nooks and crannies to search for the marco life of Mabul, hiding tucked away in the dark rocky crevices. Down at 25 meters, the famous tiny pygmy seahorse of Mabul can be spotted in the pink sea fans, and an astonishing array of colourful nudibranchs cling to the wall. Just remember to keep an eye in the blue for large pelagic's that could swim up from the depths and surprise you..
Depth: 5 -30 meters 2nd Wall Mabul This dive site is less commonly dived on Mabul, as one can experience strong currents here, but for experienced divers it is one not to be missed. Drop down onto a 14 meter plateau, then follow cascading fish over its edge to encounter a stunning secret wall with flourishing soft corals and sea fans. This site is directly opposite lobster wall, the two are separated by a narrow channel plunging over 800 meters deep. Anything could be passing through!
Depth: 14 - 30 meters Eel Garden MabulSo called for the field of garden eels wriggling and waving on the flat sandy bottom. A gentle sloping reef where you are guaranteed to see several giant turtles sleeping. Hunt in the sloping sandy patches on the reef for stick pipefish, flying gurnards and the weird and wonderful sea moths!
Depth: 5 - 25 meters Stingray city MabulA great dive site for all divers. Ribbon tail rays hide under rocks and khul's rays bury under the sand. Large banded sea kraits dive down in search of food, and green and hawksbill turtles swim up for a breath of air and schools of shimmering bat fish follow their trail!
Depth: 5 - 25 meters Ribbon valley MabulA beautiful drift dive across an undulating coral reef. Search on the white sandy bottom for camouflaged flat headed crocodile fish, and see if you can find all three variations of ribbon eel, black, yellow and blue!
Depth: 5 - 25 meters Paradise 1 MabulMacro mania! This is the best macro site in Mabul, and will surely turn ever the most sceptical into a muck dive enthusiast! Primarily a sandy bottom dive with sporadic buoys, tyres and tree roots for reference, you can find all manor of crazy critters here. Blue ringed octopus, pygmy pipe horse, Ambon scorpionfish and the fabulous flamboyant cuttlefish! And if you really can't get into the macro, you will undoubtedly be at peace with the lazy GIANT green turtles snoozing on the seabed.
Depth: 8 - 18 meters Paradise 2 MabulNext to paradise 1, this site also has a very impressive array of macro life. Look for giant frogfish on the sponges and minute lembeh seadragon on the rocky part of the reef. Visit at sunset to see the spectacular display from the petrol coloured mandarin fish as they perform their courtship dance. If you swim off the shallow reef you will also discover several small sunken wrecks, where giant pharaoh cuttlefish and schools of Bigfin reef squid have made home.
Depth: 4 - 18 meters Artificial Reef MabulDivers that claim not to enjoy Artificial reefs, have not been here yet! Huge structures have been built on the sandy bottom, and marine life is thriving around them. The artificial structures are now barely recognisable, covered with multi coloured sponges, and soft corals. Frogfish love to perch, dangling their lure to attract a meal, whilst delicate ornate ghost pipefish drift between the feather stars. Be sure to peep inside the structures where gigantic groupers lurk. If you see a dark cloud in the distance, swim towards it, it will likely be the huge school of resident jack fish!
Depth: 7 - 22 meters Sea Ventures MabulAbove water, Sea ventures is a repurposed oil rig turned hotel. Below the surface, an underwater junkyard that has become another spectacular artificial reef. No, it is not exactly pretty (think toilet bowls with giant moral eels coiling inside), but it is an awesome and highly interesting dive! Not only does it have an array of great macro life (leaf scorpion fish, ghost pipefish and hairy octopus to name a few), it is also a very fishy dive, with plenty of schooling snapper, barracuda, GIANT groupers, and a big school of resident bat fish to entertain you on your safety stop. A favourite among dive crew, as this site really never gets old, and you will undoubtedly want to dive it again!
Depth: 14 - 24 meters Amina House ReefA fantastic location for Night dive! Under the cover of darkness, the sandy bottom comes alive with cool critters and even the most experienced divers can surely see something new. Giant T-bar nudibranchs, well-dressed decorator crabs, blue ringed octopus, seahorse, pygmy and bobtail squid, spanish dancers, cockatoo wasp fish and hairy frogfish.. the list of possibilities is endless! Bring an extra weight as this is a shallow dive (maximum 5 meters), and you will want to dive until you are at 50 bar or shivering cold!
Depth: 1 - 7 meters 
Kapalai House ReefKapalai resort has worked for over 15 years to built what is now a huge artificial reef over the sandy bottom in front of the resort. The tall metal structures, ropes and sunken wrecks have become a haven for fish, now supporting an incredible diversity of marine life. Giant octopus, broad club cuttlefish, mantis shrimp, soft coral crabs, Indian ocean walkman, clown frogfish, grumpy stonefish, there are so many subjects that you will not know what to photograph first! Before you ascend, say hello (but don't get too close), to the monstrous giant moray eel, knicknamed Elvis, living under the jetty.
Depth: 5 - 25 meters Mid Reef KapalaiMid reef is a low pinnacle in between Kapali and Mabul. The sandy flats are home to bottom dwelling creatures such as sting rays, garden eels, indian ocean walkmen, winged pipefish and seahorse. Head to the shallow top part of the reef for schooling barracuda, jacks and squads of bigfin reef squid in formation. Look carefully on the many whip corals to find minute dragon and zanzibar shrimp.
Depth: 12 - 26 meters Black ray channel KapalaiAt this site, current runs through a large sandy channel, dividing two elongated coral reefs. As you cross the channel, look out for Jenkins rays resting on the sand, or Eagle rays gliding past. The shallow reef is home to juvenile reef fish such as the cute dancing harlequin sweetlips and distinctive brown and white juvenile rock mover wrasse. Swim over the edge of the deeper secondary reef to chance spotting something big, schools of devil rays and even thresher sharks have been known to make appearances here!
Depth: 8 - 30 meters |
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