Sipadan Water Village

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING This review is very important for anyone considering Sipadan Water Village. The resort is more than 30 years old and unfortunately in a very run-down condition. The facilities are in poor shape, with clear maintenance issues. During our stay, we lost water supply a few times, which was extremely inconvenient. There were also snake infestations, which is a serious safety concern and should not be taken lightly. The surrounding Mabul Island is dirty, with rubbish visible, and there are issues with illegal immigrants, which made us feel uncomfortable at times. What made the experience worse was the very poor response from management. I tried calling and messaging through many possible channels, but no one responded. It honestly made me feel almost scammed, as communication before and during the stay was extremely weak. ⚠️ Management and owners: please do not promote or sell this resort if you cannot deliver basic quality, especially in resort facilities and maintenance. Guests deserve transparency and proper standards. ⸻ Why I’m still giving 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Despite all the negatives above, I am giving 5 stars purely because of the staff. They were truly exceptional and treated us like family. • Airport pick-up was well arranged • Mr. Suharto at the jetty – very helpful and welcoming • Resort security Mr. Robert – attentive and reassuring • Maintenance Mr. Jun – always trying his best • Front desk staff (sorry I forgot her name) – polite and caring • And finally Ms. Baya, who prepared top-notch food for us throughout our stay All their photos attached. These people are the heart of the resort. Their hospitality, sincerity, and effort made us feel cared for despite the poor condition of the facilities. We truly miss them. ⸻ Final note: Amazing staff, unforgettable hospitality — but management, facilities, and maintenance seriously need improvement. Please read this carefully before booking.

Feb 2026

We had an amazing stay at Sipadan Water Village Resort. The 2-day diving experience (6 dives) was fantastic – beautiful dive sites with great visibility and incredible marine life. The food, especially dinner, was delicious with plenty of variety. The room was spacious, comfortable, and cozy with a calming sea view. The staff were also very friendly and helpful. Truly an unforgettable experience, highly recommended! 🌊🐠✨

Sep 2025

I stayed at Sipadan Water Village Resort after discovering it through ADEX Asia Dive Expo. The flyer looked promising and I had high expectations, but unfortunately, the actual experience was far from ideal. While the staff on the island were generally friendly, they lacked initiative, motivation, and efficiency. Outside of the arrival and departure times, we barely saw any staff around. Even though the resort had very low occupancy during our stay, they insisted we wait until after 2 PM to check in, showing no flexibility or hospitality. The restaurant food was very average — mostly cheap seafood and processed items. The flavours were decent, but the variety was extremely limited and not up to the standard one would expect from a dive resort. The water around the island is crystal clear with plenty of small fish, and the dive sites nearby are quite good. We noticed many divers from other resorts coming to the same area. However, the local Bajau community on the island seemed to lack environmental awareness — we often saw plastic bags and even diapers floating in the sea, which was disappointing. There were also no entertainment or activity options on the island apart from diving, eating, and sleeping. For a place marketed as a resort, the lack of facilities or engaging experiences made the stay feel quite dull. Overall, I was disappointed with the food, service, and lack of recreational options. The resort has potential due to its location, but it needs major improvements in service training, environmental care, and guest experience to be worth the price.

Jun 2025