Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort

The views are absolutely stunning, and the hotel service is great. The only downside in the room was the Japanese Panasonic air conditioner – it was really noisy, just blew a lot of air, and didn't cool very well. It might be too old, which led to two nights of poor sleep. I'd suggest using a Chinese Gree air conditioner instead, as they're quiet and cool much better.

Our decade-long promise has been fulfilled, and everything remains as I remember: the sea view room, the resort, the glassy sea, and the beach sunset. The resort offers shuttle service, has a few nice bars, and the food is absolutely fantastic.

The room was spacious with a fantastic view. I was lucky to get room 61, and I even saw sea turtles returning at night – it was an amazing experience! The buggy service was quite prompt, usually arriving about 10 minutes after a call. The service was excellent, and there was a Chinese-speaking staff member available every day. The Trip.com staff were also very responsible, repeatedly confirming my arrival, departure, and ferry times. Overall, a delightful trip!

The Kapalai Dive Resort in Semporna is an absolutely worthwhile island getaway experience, exceeding all expectations for my stay. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a slow-paced island vacation with water activities and relaxation. Getting there is easy: you take a dedicated speedboat from the Semporna town jetty, which takes about an hour. Along the way, you can enjoy the vast blue sea and sky, watching the water change from a murky near-shore to a clear, Tiffany blue. The scenery is delightful, making the journey anything but boring. The entire check-in process upon arrival at the island was smooth, with staff helping to transfer luggage so I didn't have to worry about carrying it myself. Both getting on and off the boat were hassle-free. The resort is built within a marine ecological conservation area, and the marine ecosystem is very well protected, without excessive development. The water is crystal clear, and the underwater environment is perfectly preserved. The entire sea area boasts excellent visibility, allowing you to encounter large schools of fish, starfish, and various tropical fish just by stepping out into the sea – no need to venture far! A casual snorkel yields endless surprises, and the pristine marine atmosphere is simply incredible. The resort operates on an all-inclusive basis, covering all accommodation and meals, so there's no need for extra spending once you're on the island, which made planning the trip incredibly convenient. Three meals a day are consistently provided, with a rich variety of dishes that balance Southeast Asian flavors with home-style cooking. The ingredients are fresh, ensuring you can eat well and replenish energy spent on water activities. Beverages and light meals are also available, so you can grab a snack whenever you're hungry, significantly enhancing the vacation experience. Life here is simple yet restorative, a joyful cycle every day. After waking up in the morning, I'd leisurely head to the restaurant for breakfast. After eating my fill, I'd change into swimwear and take the shuttle to the designated jetty at the dive center for snorkeling or diving, getting up close with schools of fish and embracing the ocean. After playing to my heart's content, I'd return to the overwater bungalow to rinse off and rest. After a short break, it was time for lunch and afternoon tea. Refreshed, I'd head back into the water for more fun, followed by a delicious dinner in the evening. This infinite loop of eating, going into the sea, and resting allowed me to escape the city's hustle and bustle, with no pressure to stick to a schedule, completely relaxing my mind and body. The overwater bungalows are fully equipped, with breathtaking sea views right outside the door. You can also see a sky full of stars and colorful rainbows 🌈. The entire island is quiet and peaceful, with only the sounds of the sea breeze and waves. The pace is slow, making it perfect for both diving enthusiasts and those simply looking to completely unwind. The whole trip was easy and comfortable, a truly restorative and unforgettable island experience.

This village is all about beachfront holidays, and its pros and cons revolve around that. **Pros:** The private, secluded cabins offer unbeatable ocean views. You can lie on the terrace lounge chair at night, accompanied by the sound of waves and sea breeze, under a sky full of stars. During the day, various fish and birds keep you company. It's a diving resort, with both scuba diving and snorkeling available. I heard the diving is good, but I didn't try scuba. The snorkeling right off the beach near the village entrance wasn't great. So, we hired a private boat to go snorkeling elsewhere, which was excellent; we saw multiple sea turtles. **Cons:** What made it great also made it less so. The cabin is drafty on all four sides, and the air conditioning is really weak and blows directly onto the bed, almost making me sick. However, it was still better than opening the windows. The ocean waves in the morning were definitely louder than a bus downstairs. The most bizarre thing was that only the terrace had curtains; the rest of the cabin didn't. So, the morning sun shone directly onto the head of the bed, which I guess is due to its orientation. These are points where opinions might differ. Most frustratingly, aside from scuba diving and snorkeling, there are no other entertainment options in the village. Under the tropical sun, everyone just retreats to their rooms. Plus, scuba and snorkeling are handled at separate locations. I have to complain about the somewhat old facilities. You can see sea fish through the gaps in the wooden floorboards. The bathroom had various issues: the toilet needed two flushes (and I, being an engineer, still can't figure out why), the overhead shower only produced about a third of its normal water flow, with the rest squirting out horizontally onto the partition. Luckily, there was a handheld shower that worked for one day. The next evening, the handle broke off when I tried to turn it on, and water started gushing out. So, two security guards came, both claiming they were just security. The last time, around 11 PM, I was already in bed when three people arrived, again stating they'd fix it tomorrow. The next day, both showers were repaired... The food was... edible, I guess. In short, this village is a matter of personal taste.

Pros: Beautiful, decent food, friendly and attentive service. Cons: Air conditioning wasn't very strong, water quality was a bit off, it takes quite a long boat ride to get to the island, and there were quite a few small bugs (which, by the way, are likely an issue at other overwater bungalows too). The photos are unedited, just quick snaps taken by opening the door to eat. In person, this place absolutely rivals other top-tier ocean views. Also, if you stay here, don't just book one night.

This place really exceeded my expectations! The only downside was that the Wi-Fi was really problematic for Huawei users, which made my time on the island incredibly boring, especially since there was no TV or other entertainment. Honestly, it felt like torture at times! On the bright side, you could spot sea turtles and other wild fish from the terrace at night.