Dive-site story
The KM Sipadan is a former Royal Malaysian Navy patrol vessel scuttled as an artificial reef off the coast of Tioman Island. Resting upright on a flat sandbed, the structure has matured into a focal point for schooling pelagics and macro critters alike. Divers can inspect the exterior hull, radar mast, and open deck compartments without tight penetrations, while larger predators circle in the blue above.
Schooling batfish and barracuda hovering around the wheelhouse superstructure
Soft coral and encrusting sponge growth coating the hull and railings
Macro critters including nudibranchs and flatworms sheltered in deck crevices
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Tioman's diving season runs during the dry southwest monsoon; dive operations close over the rough northeast monsoon.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orbicular BatfishPlatax orbicularis | Common | ||||||||||||
| Yellowtail BarracudaSphyraena flavicauda | Common | ||||||||||||
| Giant GrouperEpinephelus lanceolatus | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Red LionfishPterois volitans | Common | ||||||||||||
| Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis | Common |
Marine forecast
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