Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort Reviews

The room is really big. The balcony is an amazing. The water is so clear. We feel like surrounding by an aquarium. We see turtles and many different kinds of fish around our room. There is an small issue. The room is quite hot from 11am to 3pm even we set the temp at 16C in our room.

The facilities are quite dated. We stayed in Room 35, and the bathroom ceiling had a leak. The resort's buggies are very loud when passing by—it felt like our bed was right on the side of the road. Getting a buggy by phone took a long time; we called three times for luggage assistance, and nobody ever showed up. It’s definitely more convenient to stay in a suite closer to the lobby. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all very mediocre. The locals don't really seem to know how to cook; great fresh seafood is everywhere, but it feels like no one knows how to prepare it properly. With this hotel's rates, you are strictly paying for the views. You can occasionally spot sea turtles right from the room, and there are plenty of fish. You can snorkel directly at the resort, which is actually a well-known local snorkeling spot, primarily for seeing turtles.

Let's start with the positives, as usual. The resort is reportedly located in a nature reserve, and there are so many different kinds of fish. Sea turtles leisurely swim right past you, making you want to just hop on their backs. The management and service are excellent; you barely need to communicate, and transportation and activities are well-organized. The meeting point has its own private pier, making arrivals and departures convenient. The food mainly features local specialties; it's decent, not amazing, but not bad either. There's a dedicated snorkeling area, which is relatively safe. The downsides are also quite obvious. First, the room location assigned by the hotel was quite disappointing. At night, there was a vibrating sound, likely from a diesel generator – a low-frequency noise that carried with the wind right into our room. It kept me up almost all night, absolutely terrible. Secondly, the pier is made of wooden planks, and the noise from the golf carts driving over it is very noticeable, which is very unfriendly for someone who already struggles with sleep. Additionally, the hotel's hardware and decor are basically on par with a guesthouse in a Chinese rural town. Lastly, a room costs just under 5,000. Overall, I personally found it acceptable.

The visibility of the waters here is truly unprecedented. We see so many sea turtles during our visit here and a few of them even swam right by our unit. We had a clear view of the sunrise from our room and the sunset here is also quite nice. Not much to do on the island so it might be more worth it to take up their dive package.

The room was spacious and the environment was excellent. Staying in a wooden hut on the sea was a unique experience. The 'jellyfish' sea was stunning, perfect for watching sunrises and sunsets. It would be even more perfect if the food selection was richer. Definitely worth a visit.

The room was really subpar. The air conditioning was practically nonexistent in the afternoon; it was even hotter inside the room than outside. I paid the front desk to do laundry, and it wasn't delivered even after two hours. The food wasn't great, but at least there was variety every meal. In summary, the exterior gets full marks, but the room was a huge disappointment.

The room was spacious, clean, and tidy. The overwater villa was beautiful, and the balcony offered unbeatable sea views. The butler service was available 24/7, and they'd pick you up for meals with just a phone call. The hotel environment was stunning and comfortable. It's perfect for family trips, honeymoons for couples, or a solo getaway to heal everything.

First, we gathered at the jetty, and then the second picture shows the bus taking us back to Tawau Airport from Semporna. It was fantastic; I'm so glad I chose this. The value of this long-standing five-star hotel keeps increasing. The service was excellent, and extra meals were served promptly. The buggy service was also very quick. The underwater scenery was even more vibrant and colorful. The sunset was also beautiful. There were so many sea turtles, we encountered them everywhere, along with manta rays and various schools of fish. It was breathtaking. I'll definitely go again if I have the chance. I've already recommended it to my friends!

The water villa is about an hour's boat ride from Semporna jetty. The food quality for all three meals was mediocre and not worth the price. The resort is quite large, so walking around can be tiring. We often had to call for a buggy to pick us up. The rental bicycles were mostly broken; if they insist on not replacing them, they should at least fix them. Snorkeling times were very strict, and goggles had to be rented separately for an extra fee. The hygiene was acceptable, and the scenery was beautiful.

The beauty is truly stunning, and the sea view is unbeatable. The first three photos were taken with a camera, and the last three with a phone. The restaurant offers a variety of Chinese and Western dishes, with different options each day. The room facilities are decent; there's now Wi-Fi in the rooms, but the speed is a bit slow. Room types are assigned randomly, and I was lucky this time to get a newer room with good facilities and a fantastic view. The hotel also provides airport transfers from Tawau Airport, which takes about 80 minutes to the jetty. From the Semporna jetty, you'll need to take a speedboat to the island, which is about a 40-minute ride. The staff are very friendly.

I really don't recommend staying at this hotel. The room hygiene is very poor, and all the facilities are old and run down. The hotel is completely isolated from other areas, and there's really nothing to do besides snorkeling and diving. For food, you're limited to the hotel's buffet.

The room was incredibly spacious with great views of many fish – the 'jellyfish sea' certainly lives up to its name! The balcony was huge. We stayed in the new room type, 71, which had two beds and a large bathroom with a bathtub. The only downside was some noise from ongoing renovations outside, but everything else was absolutely perfect. I'd definitely go back!

The room amenities were rather bland; the mini-fridge only had two bottles of water, and the cleanliness was just so-so. The most ridiculous thing was that the 'duvet' was literally just a sheet – see for yourself if you don't believe me! As for the service, it's not even in the same league as other places in the Maldives at the same price point (and I mean the *same* price point). There’s no butler service, so if you need anything, you have to call yourself. Chinese-speaking staff are very rare. And as for the 'on-call' shuttle service, I have no idea where that claim came from because it certainly wasn't available. The food was like a 30 RMB buffet lunchbox back home, every single meal. On the island, apart from Wi-Fi and life jackets, everything else costs money. Honestly, my overall impression is that it absolutely does not live up to the service and quality expected for this price range.

The environment here is absolutely amazing, a diver's paradise! The crystal-clear waters reveal a surprising array of marine life. Don't expect too much from the overwater bungalows, though; they show some wear from the sea breeze and saltwater erosion. However, the buffet every meal was better than the reviews suggested, and the service was top-notch.