In Malaysia, Sabah is known as ‘the land below the wind' due to its location just below the typhoon belt that keeps it safe from typhoons. The state consists of 30 different ethnic groups, which make up approximately 60% of its population. It is also a popular travel destination that's loved for its pristine rainforests, idyllic beaches, and world-class diving spots.

Read also: 10 Best Things To Do In Mabul Island

Sabah consists of 30 different ethnic groups that make up approximately 60% of its population

Where is Mabul Island Located

There are 394 islands in Sabah and one of them is Pulau Mabul or Mabul Island - a small island located near the southeastern coastline. It started off as a humble fishing village in 1970, but quickly gained popularity in the 1990s because of its proximity to Sipadan Island which is 15 kilometres away. Despite being a new addition to the tourism industry, Mabul Island has its fair share of stunning beaches, excellent muck diving spots, and a reputation of being a destination blessed with exotic marine life.

Pulau Mabul started as a humble fishing village in 1970, but gained popularity in the 1990s

Kampung Mabul has become a settlement for the Bajau People in Sabah

Anticipate humor and joy during your visit to Kampung Mabul

Have extra time on hands? Challenge the children of Kampung Mabul to a game of MBA on their home turf!

Kampung Mabul: Home to the Bajau Laut at Pulau Mabul, Sabah

There are two main villages at Mabul Island which are Kampung Mabul and Kampung Musu. Kampung Mabul is a simple fishing village boasting a pristine reef. The waters of the sea are inviting, the rustling leaves from the coconut trees are soothing to the ears, and the beautiful and scenic place brings some much needed peace. On top of that, the friendly smiles from the villagers instantly warm the hearts and make any visitor feel right at home.

The population of Kampung Mabul is estimated to be around 2,000 people, and very interestingly, half of them are below the age of 14 years old. The population is mainly made up of the Bajau Laut and Suluk Muslim tribes. Kampung Mabul is among the few places allotted for the settlement of nomadic tribes from surrounding islands. It bears many traces of the Bajau people’s seafaring nature. Stationary boats are a common sight in this village, just as cars and motorbikes make parts of a city’s landscape. One is greeted by the sight of wooden houses built on stilts, connected by wooden decks that serve as a pathway between the houses.

On a good day, one is greeted by the precious sight of young Bajau children immersing in fun pastimes such as flying kites on the sandy beaches, while the smell of grilled seafood wafting through the air entices one’s appetite. Small stalls selling bread and snacks make up the idyllic experience of being in this place. Walking through the village is reminiscent of another time - a much simpler one free from worries and mental discomforts.

Half of the population of Kampung Mabul are children below the age of 14 years old

Bajau Laut children flying kites on a beach at Kampung Mabul

The Sama Dilaut or often known as the Bajau Laut are a migratory maritime people who are indigenous to the islands around Semporna

Kampung Mabul is inhabited mainly by ethnic Bajau Laut, known also as Sea Gypsies

An elderly Bajau woman at Kampung Mabul

Wondering what to do in Mabul Island? Spend half a day walking around Kampung Mabul and get to know its people and unique way of life

A barbershop at Kampung Mabul, Pulau Mabul

Many Bajau Laut people have decided to live permanently on land, and those who have made this shift are known as the Bajau Darat.

The Bajau of Kampung Mabul are stateless, but are allowed to reside on the islands of Sabah

Half of the population of Kampung Mabul are children below the age of 14 years old

The Bajau Laut Lifestyle at Pulau Mabul, Sabah

The Bajau people, made up of Bajau Laut and Bajau Darat, are the second largest indigenous groups in Sabah. The Bajau Laut people are known as sea gypsies due to their nomadic lives on the seas. So much of their lives are spent out on the ocean that some of them experience a symptom called ‘land sickness’ when they spend a night or two away from the ocean. However, there are a large number of Bajau Laut people who have decided to live permanently on land, and those who have made this shift are known as the Bajau Darat.

Read also: Bajau Laut: The Sea Gypsies of Sabah

Bajau Laut: Skilled Fishermen and Creative Artisans

The Bajau people are skilled fishermen and divers. They are also good at constructing traditional single-mast sailing boats known as ‘lepa’. Their colorful work of art on these boats are gloriously displayed during the Regatta Lepa festival. The Regatta Lepa is an annual water festival that celebrates the many traditions and lifestyles of the Bajau Laut people. It is held every April in Semporna, Sabah.

The Bajau Laut people are skilled fishermen, and the island's rich resources provide a bountiful harvest for them

A small stall set up by the Bajau Laut for tourists and visitors at Kampung Mabul

Feeling hungry during your Kampung Mabul walking tour? Drop by any of the food stalls to support the villagers.

Grilled seafood sold at Kampung Mabul of Pulau Mabul, Sabah

How to Get to Mabul Island, Sabah

From the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, take a flight to Tawau Airport that is approximately two and a half hours away. Alternatively, take a flight from the Kota Kinabalu airport in Sabah to cut the commuting time to less than an hour. Upon reaching Tawau Airport, take a bus, minivan or taxi to the Semporna jetty that takes approximately 90 minutes. Hop on a boat to Mabul Island from the jetty that will take an additional 45 minutes.

Mabul Island Hotels & Accommodation Price

There are several hotels on Pulau Mabul to choose for your stay. For a comfortable and luxurious stay, consider the Mabul Water Bungalows. Mid-range hotels include Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART), Mabul Beach Resort, Borneo Divers Mabul Dive Resort, Seaventures Dive Rig Resorts, or the MV Celebes Explorer.

Due to the migration from sea to land of the Bajau people, Kampung Mabul has become a permanent settlement for many of them, despite not being afforded a Malaysian citizenship. Lack of attention by the relevant authorities coupled with the absence of sanitation and hygiene awareness resulted in unsightly land pollutions across the settlement and the reef surrounding it. We hope that the Sabah state government will give this matter serious consideration and act urgently to address these growing problems that will not only benefit the occupants of the island, but also our ocean, wildlife and coastline.

Have an opinion about Kampung Mabul? Leave a comment below and let's discuss!

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Read also: Kampung Mabul: Home to the Bajau Laut at Pulau Mabul, Sabah

Mabul Island Borneo

Pulau Mabul is one of the best muck diving sites in the world. The small island off the south-eastern coast of Sabah often astounds its visitors with just how close the corals are to the shore. This destination is also home to many exotic small marine lives, such as hybroids, ascidians, hingebeak shrimps, Pipefish, leaf fish and paper scorpionfish. Mabul Island initially gained its share of attention from divers in the 1990s due to its proximity to the famous Sipadan Island, which is only 15 kilometers away. In 1992, Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART) purchased a section of the land on the east of Mabul, and with that, a location is set to welcome visitors to make wonderful memories in this once inaccessible island.

Read also: 10 Best Things to do in Mabul Island

Best Resort in Pulau Mabul: Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART)

The Sipadan-Mabul Resort first opened its doors in 1993. Nestled in a coconut grove, there are 45 land-based chalets here. Each cozy wooden chalet is furnished with a rustic feel that reflects the rural village lifestyle of the island. Despite the comfort it provides, the sound of the rolling waves, the sight of the sea, and the sandy beaches would instantly tempt you outside.

Out of the 45 chalets, there are 22 standalone units and 23 semi-detached units. The chalets are air-conditioned and are thoughtfully equipped with Wi-Fi access, mosquito screens and hot shower facilities in the bathrooms. Choose from Standard Chalet, Standalone Chalet or Suite Chalet for your stay at at the Sipadan-Mabul Resort.

Read also: Seaventures Dive Rig: PADI 5-Star Resort in Sabah

The resort is made up of semi-detached bungalows scattered across a coconut grove

A form to fill in upon arrival at Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART)

Diving Courses at Sipadan-Mabul Water Chalets

Sipadan-Mabul Resort has several diving packages tailored for its visitors. The resort also runs courses such as the NAUI and PADI Diving Courses - from ‘Open Water’ to ‘Divemaster’ level, as well as the Scuba Skills Refresher Course. On top of that, the ‘Discover Scuba Diving’ and snorkeling activities are also currently being offered.

Sipadan-Mabul Resort Activities & Facilities

For those who prefer to stay within the resort, rest assured that there are plenty of amenities provided on-site. There is a jacuzzi whirlpool spa with an incredible view of the sandy beach and the beautiful sea, where one can spend a wonderful time soaking – both in the tub and in the view that lies ahead! There is also a swimming pool within the resort. With the towering coconut trees providing shade from the sun paired with the picturesque view of the Celebes Sea, it will certainly make for a blissful time.

During meals, a large dining hall serving scrumptious food offers the perfect setting to socialize with the other guests. Here, you can also find a bar selling coconut drinks, carbonated soft drinks, beer, and wine to quench your thirst. Bring along your dancing shoes as you can jiggle to music to your heart’s content.

Other activities offered at the Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART) include ocean kayak, snorkeling, beach volley ball, diving trips to nearby islands, and table tennis.

How to Apply for Entry Permit to Sipadan Island

Sipadan-Mabul Resort Diving Package & Price

For the latest hotel price and rates, please refer to the Sipadan-Mabul Resort official website.

How to Get to Mabul Island

From the Tawau Airport, either take a bus, minivan or taxi to Semporna. Once you have arrived at the Semporna Jetty, take a boat to Mabul Island. A speedboat ride from the Semporna jetty to Mabul Island typically takes around 35- 45 minutes, depending on weather conditions.

The route to get to resort is: Tawau – Semporna Jetty – Sipadan-Mabul Resort

In the Malay language, the word ‘sempurna’ means perfect. At the Sipadan-Beach Resort, there will be ample opportunities for you to craft perfect memories with the perfect sunsets and diving experiences.

Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART)

Website | Facebook
Address: Pulau Mabul 88100 Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia
Contact number: +6088-486 489
Email address: sales.sipadanmabulresort@gmail.com

Pulau Mabul is an isolated and idyllic island surrounded by beautiful reefs and aqua waters. It is most popular as a world-class diving site as well as the home to the Bajau Laut tribe - an ethnic group originating from Borneo. Listed below are the top things to do in Pulau Mabul.

Read also: Best Resort in Pulau Mabul: Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART)

10 Best Things To Do In Mabul Island

Scuba Diving

As the main activity in Pulau Mabul, every resort on the island offers house reef diving and for those who are more adventurous - daily boat trips further out into the ocean for serious scuba divings. The incredible marine life corals here makes it the top diving sites in the world, particularly at the Coral Garden, Barracuda Point as well as the Drop Off Point. While diving is available all year long, the prime time to visit is during the dry season throughout March to October.

Scuba diving at Pulau Mabul

Recommended: Stay at Seaventures Dive Rig - the world's only one-of-a-kind scuba diving rig that transformed an actual decommissioned oil rig into a resort cum diving center!

Visit the Bajau Laut Stilt Village

No trip to Pulau Mabul is complete without a boat trip to the Bajau Laut village - home to the eminent and legendary Sea Gypsies of Borneo. The tribe lives in wooden boats and houses made by them from scratch, and they spend their entire lives at sea. Today, the Bajau Laut or Pelauk people still remain “stateless” with an undocumented status as they are not given citizenship to any country. However, thanks to the NGOs in Sabah, they are able to secure a piece of land for them to sustain a living.

Visit the Bajau Laut Stilt Village in Pulau Mabul

Celebrate Regatta Lepa

Heading to Pulau Mabul in March or April? You are arriving just in time for the grand 3-day Regatta Lepa festival that is held annually. Participate in continuous celebrations spanning across 3 days and pay homage to the age-long traditions of the Bajau Laut tribe during this unique water festival. Among the activities organised are the dragon boat race, tug-of-war, as well as duck catching competition.

Celebrate Regatta Lepa at Pulau Mabul

Snorkeling

Love the sea but don’t own a diving license or don’t intend to get one? Speak to your guesthouse to arrange a trip to main dive sites where you get to join in the fun and witness the beauty of the thriving undersea life and if you’re extra lucky, you can even spot giant turtles! Just remember to keep your camera charged at all times!

Snorkeling at Pulau Mabul

Ocean Kayaking

Want to experience kayaking out the open ocean? At Pulau Mabul, kayak rental is available all year round at approximately RM30 per hour. You definitely need to try the Molokini - a transparent kayak that gives you quick and easy access to the marine life without having to get wet!

Ocean kayaking at Pulau Mabul

Catch the Sunrise and Sunset

Sabah is the first state in Malaysia to be blessed by the golden rays. You can get up early and catch the sunrise at around 5.45am, or if you miss this, you can always catch the sunset instead which is equally a remarkable sight to help you end the day in awe!

Catch the spectacular sunrise and sunset at Pulau Mabul

Visit the Tun Sakaran Marine Park

Every corner is postcard worthy at the Tun Sakaran Marine Park - the gateway to a world of spellbinding beauty and untouched wonders. As home to the islands of Boheydulang, Sabangkat, Bodgaya and Salakan, the sand cays of Sibuan, Maiga, and Mantabuan, as well as the patch reefs of Church and Kapikan - it is no wonder why it has become the most photographed region in the world.

Boheydulang Island Pulau Mabul must-do: Visit the Tun Sakaran Marine Park

Stargazing

Nature is amazing, and Pulau Mabul is the perfect destination for you to open up your senses and absorb the raw beauty of this planet. When the sun goes down, the Milky Way comes into view and light up the sky. Away from noise and light pollution, the island gives you the opportunity to stay enamored throughout your trip.

Stargazing at Pulau Mabul is a must-do

Island hopping

The quickest and most exciting way to discover the grandeur of this region is by island hopping, where you get access to islands that are otherwise unreachable or restricted to travelers without a guide. Other than the more popular islands like Kapalai and Sipadan, hopping onto a boat can gain you entry to smaller but astonishing islands such as Pom Pom, Mataking and Bum Bum.

Got some extra time on hand? Why not indulge in a day of island hopping at Pulau Mabul!

Photography

You can find Instagram-worthy shots at every corner of the island. From capturing the Sea Gypsies to the vast, blue ocean, the sky’s the limit when it comes to taking the perfect photos here. A very important tip to keep in mind is to never give money to the Sea Gypsies in return for their photos to be taken. Instead, you can give them snacks or stationery instead - something they can actually use.

Read also: 10 Best Things To Do In Mabul Island

Bajau Laut: The Sea Gypsies of Pulau Mabul, Sabah in Borneo Malaysia

The islands were once inhabited solely by the small, dispersed Bajau and Suluk families - also known as the Sea Gypsies. These ethnic groups are “stateless” people - moving from islands to islands between Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines (and they still do today) as they are not afforded a citizenship status by any of the countries. Due to this, they reside freely but only on the waters of the Celebes Sea and Sulu Sea either on boats or houses skillfully built on stilts.

As their welfare is not being taken care of by any party, they continue to live unmoored and adrift with zero access to formal education and without a national identity or even birth certificates. The Sea Gypsies are just a very small fraction of the estimated 12 million stateless people around the world today.

The Bajau Laut lives on the waters of the Celebes Sea and Sulu Sea either on boats or houses skillfully built on stilts.

Bajau Laut: The Sea Gypsies of Pulau Mabul, Sabah in Borneo Malaysia

Bajau Laut: The Sea Gypsies of Sabah

Bajau Laut: Young mother and her son

Bajau Laut: The Sea Gypsies of Sabah

Houses built on stilt over the sea where the Sea Gypsies live

The Bajau Laut lives on the waters of the Celebes Sea and Sulu Sea either on boats or houses skillfully built on stilts.

The Sea Gypsies of Sabah

The Bajau Laut tribes of Sabah are fondly called the Sea Gypsies thanks to their nomadic and seafaring lifestyle. They are one of the few communities on earth with a profound bond with the ocean, spending almost their entire lives at sea and rarely setting foot on land. They have roamed the Coral Triangle for decades, constantly moving about the waters of Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia where resources are rich and plenty.

Lucky visitors traveling to this part of the world may still see the Sea Gypsies living in wooden houseboats or stilt huts carefully built the coral reefs - making this an attraction not to be missed. Today, it is estimated that there are 3,000 Sea Gypsies left in Borneo.

Sea Gypsies are exceptional divers. They have mastered free diving in order to make a living out of hunting for sea cucumbers, lobsters and other marine life that can be sold to the locals as food. They are capable of  holding their breath and free diving to depths of over 20 meters without assistance. The ocean bears their resources, and they have been making a living out of it for centuries.

A Bajau Laut fisherman returned from the sea to sell his catch

Beautiful crabs caught by the fisherman

The Transition: Bajau Laut to Bajau Darat

Bajau Laut of Pulau Mabul, Sabah

The Bajau people staying in Kampung Mabul and Kampung Musu of Pulau Mabul

Bajau Laut father and son at Pulau Mabul, Sabah

A young Bajau Laut boy of Pulau Mabul, Sabah

A Bajau Laut family at Pulau Mabul, Sabah

Bajau Laut of Pulau Mabul, Sabah

Kampung Mabul during the day

Grilled seafood at Kampung Mabul of Pulau Mabul, Sabah

Bajau children flying kites on the beach

Bajau Laut of Pulau Mabul, Sabah

Bajau and Suluk villagers mending a boat at Kampung Mabul, Sabah