Mabul Island

Mabul Island is located at Sabah, Malaysia. On the island of Mabul, the first place in Malaysia to witness the sun's golden layers appear after sunrise. The beauty of nature from dark to light. The sun emerges from the ocean horizon and 'rays of lights' can be seen. Likewise when the sun goes down, the sun slowly goes to the sea horizon. And at the same time, you can see a small cloud of clouds drifting across the orange sky. And there are also small boats that pass by and then give a picture of a true and beautiful natural painting. A very nice island and you will totally enjoy your time here#urbanexplorer #beachlife

Semporna is a county in Tawau City, Sabah, located on the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia. It has a population of about 167,000. Semporna was originally just a small fishing village in Malaysia, so obscure that it couldn't even be found on a map, but now it has gradually developed into a world-famous underwater tourism center. If you want to go to Semporna, it's important to plan well and avoid pitfalls as the correct approach. When is the best time to travel? The average temperature in Semporna is around 29°C, with low rainfall. It generally cools down at night, and the temperature difference throughout the year is quite steady without significant fluctuations or distinct seasonal changes. Therefore, the best time to travel to Semporna is from February to October. November to January of the following year is the rainy season. The rain usually comes in showers and stops after a while. This period is not very suitable for diving as the underwater visibility is not high, but it does not greatly affect tourism. What diving activities are available? Snorkeling: Available near the offshore resort islands and on day trips. Scuba diving: Experience deep diving, OW certified deep diving, AOW certified deep diving. How to choose between water chalets and sand chalets? There are many water chalets in Semporna, and it's essential to understand them clearly. Check whether they provide 24-hour hot water supply, wireless internet, private bathrooms, airport transfers, etc. Everyone can choose a suitable resort according to their situation. (Listed from high to low quality) Mataking, Mabul Island MWB, Kapalai, etc. are of higher quality. Mabul Island's SWV, SMART, Bong Bong Island's Dragon Ball, White Pearl, Arcadia, etc. Budget water chalets, such as Dayang, Lotte, Crystal, Coral Sea, Shunshun, Dayang, Lotte, etc. Alternatively, stay in town and participate in island hopping, sea fishing, Lover's Bay day trips, etc. Travel Tips 1. Malaysian phone card celcom, wireless is generally poor on some islands. 2. British standard plug adapters. 3. Tourists themselves: Do not touch marine life casually, do not climb trees, do not perform dangerous actions at sea, and follow the resort's guidance. If you encounter the indigenous Bajau people, pretend not to see them and do not give them any alms to avoid a crowd scrambling. 4. It is not recommended to stay in remote lodgings.

Semporna is not a bustling place; it's a small island town. Therefore, after we arrived, we joined a group for a day trip at sea. The route was 'Mabul Island + Kapalai Island'. 📍Mabul Island There is a water bungalow resort on Mabul Island, which is great for taking photos. The resort is laid out in an 'L' shape. After landing on the island, first walk to the end of one side, then walk back to the restaurant on the other side to eat, saving steps; if you encounter Bajau children asking for money, please do not give it directly, you can buy their coconuts 🥥5 MYR each. 🎫50RM/person ⏰The boat departs from the pier every 45min. ⭐Dress in layers: Wear nice clothes for taking beautiful photos, and bring a set of swimwear. After lunch on the island, change in the resort's restroom, then take a short boat ride to a nearby island for snorkeling. 📍Kapalai Island This resort is only open to guests staying on the island, but the underwater scenery is beautiful, so you can snorkel directly without going on the island. ⭐Recommended to bring: 1) Sunscreen, sunglasses, rain gear 2) Water, snacks, a small amount of 💰 3) Camera equipment and waterproof bags for the equipment 4) If you get seasick or carsick, take 💊 after breakfast 5) Plastic bags/waterproof bags (to prevent items from getting wet) tip: No need to carry identification documents. If all goes well, you'll return to the pier around 16:00-16:30 in the afternoon, go back to the hotel to shower and change clothes, and check in at a seafood restaurant. 🛶Bajau The blue-skinned reef people in 'Avatar 2: The Way of Water' are modeled after the Bajau. They have no nationality and live their entire lives at sea. They are also known as 'sea gypsies' and are considered the last sea-nomadic tribe. Therefore, most of them can only live by the sea, making a living from fishing. The Bajau typically have many children in their families. As soon as they can row a boat, they start selling things to earn money, such as coconuts and seafood they catch themselves. When we went to the water bungalows on Mabul Island, there were many Bajau children paddling boats around to sell coconuts. They would say in Chinese: '5 yuan each, 5 yuan each'.

Mabul Island, located in Semporna, Malaysia, is an island in the ocean between the Philippines and East Malaysia! There are about 2000 residents on Mabul Island, the suitable snorkeling in the waters outside Mabul Island and leisure on the island, is one of the top "free diving" spots in the world! Although all the excitement seems to be under the sea, you can also throw your diving gear aside, lie on the soft sand of Mabul Island all day, and enjoy the taste of tanning your skin to a tan! In the village on the island, the innocent Bajau children abandoned by God are laughing, they are playing in the water, fishing, living by the sea... The blue water and blue sky, the coconut grove on the island, everything here is fascinating!

The charm of Mabul Island in Semporna is too strong! Got stunned by the beauty of the pictures taken on the way back! Stayed in the mwb water bungalow borneo villa room type (water bungalow video has been updated in the next post, welcome to watch~), the experience was too good, mainly featuring fun and vacation vibes to the max, here's the complete guide to the water bungalow: 😌Water bungalow or town: If you have a budget, definitely go for the water bungalow, the town is rather rundown and a bit chaotic, stick to the principle of 'since you're here, go for it' 😇Booking: It's recommended to book 2-3 months in advance, the top water bungalows during peak holiday seasons get filled up very quickly, booking early ensures you get the room type you like; 🥰Which water bungalow is better: Highly recommend mwb, the staff are very nice, the internet signal is good, the food is delicious, and no water snakes were seen! Three snorkeling trips per day plus unlimited snorkeling around, interspersed with activities like kayaking, glass boat, and releasing little turtles, making the island's beautiful flowers a highlight. The overall area is very large, offering a great exploration experience, and they even allow the Bajau people to sell seafood and coconuts by boat (the water bungalow charges a processing fee), giving you the ultimate fun of bargaining! Before, I was hesitating between Kapalai and mwb, but after staying, I fell in love with mwb. We went snorkeling and took a boat to the vicinity of Kapalai, and from a distance, it really looked very simple , not as colorful as Mabul, and also smaller with fewer activities, and they don't allow the Bajau people to sell seafood (which is really super fun, they speak 'plastic' Chinese); Additionally, there's a bar in the center of the island, where you can listen to music and enjoy the sea breeze, which is super chill! 😉Some mwb water bungalow tips you won't find elsewhere: 1. It's advised to check in as early as possible, because it takes 1 hour by car from Tawau Airport to Semporna plus 40 minutes by boat🚢, then after checking in, the butler's briefing and signing various documents plus getting the keys takes nearly 30 minutes, and all activities end at five in the afternoon, so checking in too late is like wasting the first day; 2. Diving: The water bungalow offers free snorkeling, deep diving costs 350 Malaysian Ringgit per person, the instructor will take you to the pool for training before going into the sea; 3. Bajau seafood: Just cut the price in half and it's done, be careful to check if they've switched to smaller or dead seafood, cash only, and it's troublesome to pay extra; don't buy sea urchins!! The hotel won't cook them, fearing you'll get diarrhea, strongly suggest buying various shrimps, they're delicious and super cheap; hand over the seafood to the hotel before 4-5:30, try to give it early otherwise the dish will be served late; 4. Hotel dining: Three meals a day, buffet style, dinner includes barbecue plus a whole huge tuna, various desserts, curry beef, staples, etc. are quite delicious! To get a sea view seat in the restaurant, you need to reserve early in the afternoon~ 5. mwb shuttle: When leaving, don't book your flight too early, flights before three in the afternoon seem to require checking out at 6:30 in the morning, because mwb has scheduled boats and cars every day to take you to Tawau Airport; 6. mwb amenities: Toiletries are provided, but mosquito repellent spray or sunblock mud should be brought by yourself, there's no large convenience store on the island, there's a small shop where you can buy snacks, and snorkeling gear is also available for borrowing

If you don’t like crowded resort, Roach Reefs Resort is definitely a place for you. It is a man made tropical reefs resort with swaying coconut palms and shady trees. The dive spots were excellent, very professional Dive Masters that make sure you get the best throughout your dives. The staffs were pretty friendly too. This place is definitely worth visiting. #sun #fundive #healthynudi #travelfreak