The Danum Essential
2 nights at the flagship lodge: the canopy walkway at dawn, a night drive, and dinner beside the river.
Full board · on enquiry
Enquire
Established beach-side resort on Mabul
Borneo Divers Mabul Resort
Established in 1983 as a pioneer of Sabah diving, Borneo Divers Mabul Resort sits directly on a white sand beach with 113 rooms, a central pool and a private jetty over the house reef.
Established beach-side resort on Mabul
Beach-side dive resort
Fifty minutes by speedboat from Semporna, the resort sits on a white sand beach with 113 rooms, a central pool and a private wooden jetty. The operator established its dive centre in 1983, and the resort suits macro photographers and families wanting leisure facilities. Daytime house-reef diving is available with three divers present, and boat dives run around Mabul and Kapalai except on arrival and departure days.
Borneo Divers Mabul Resort is a beach-side dive resort built entirely on the sand of Mabul Island. It differs from neighbouring properties constructed on pilings over the water. The layout uses a central swimming pool and a prominent wooden jetty that acts as the hub for all boat departures and equipment storage. The company has a long history in Sabah diving and operates with 14 professional PADI instructors including elite Course Directors. The recent upgrades expanded the property to 113 rooms while maintaining the lush garden setting. The resort operates on a full-board basis with meals served buffet-style in an open-air dining hall. A live barbecue takes place every other night. You have unlimited access to juice, water, coffee and tea throughout the day. Carbonated drinks and alcoholic beverages are extra. If you bring your own alcohol you must pay a corkage fee.
If you want an established dive centre with direct beach access, a swimming pool and a lively atmosphere, Borneo Divers Mabul Resort is an excellent fit. It suits photographers focused on macro life and families wanting a pool and snorkelling trips for non-diving members.
For an overwater bungalow, uninterrupted 24-hour power and in-room internet for remote work, consider Sipadan Water Village or Pom Pom Island Resort. If you have 3 nights and Sipadan is your primary focus, ask the team about the resort's shorter packages with permits allocated according to availability.
Why stay here
Resort for photographers and families
This property provides a highly organised base for dedicated macro photographers and divers wanting a lively social atmosphere on land. The beach access and swimming pool make it an excellent choice for families needing leisure facilities alongside a serious dive programme. The internet connection functions reliably in the central lobby and business centre so plan your online time around these shared spaces.
113 rooms on a
113 rooms on a white sand beach with an outdoor pool.
Established in 1983 to
Established in 1983 to pioneer international diving in the region.
Direct access to macro
Direct access to macro diving at Paradise 2 house reef.
Three daily boat dives
Three daily boat dives around Mabul and Kapalai, excluding arrival and departure days.
Dedicated snorkelling trips
Dedicated snorkelling trips, ocean kayaking and spa reflexology.
From your doorstep
What a day here holds
The Danum Valley Canopy Walkway
Suspended 27 metres above the primary rainforest floor, the Borneo Rainforest Lodge canopy walkway is a 360-metre structure anchored directl
Danum Valley Night Safaris
A night drive is the best way to see the rainforest mammals that sleep through the heat of the day. This guide explains how the drives work,
Guided Treks and Trails
The trails at Danum Valley run deep into a ancient primary rainforest. They are hot, humid and root-choked and they offer a way of seeing th
The Sabah Birding Circuit
The classic Sabah birding circuit connects the montane forests of Mount Kinabalu with the lowland dipterocarps of Danum Valley. This guide e
Kinabatangan River
The Kinabatangan floodplain holds the highest concentration of wildlife in Borneo. This is where you go to track orangutans and proboscis mo
Wildlife you may see
Keep your binoculars close
Sightings are wild and never guaranteed: that is the point. These are the residents your guides will be listening for.
Packages
Ways to stay
Rates on enquiry, no prices are published.
Danum Intensive
A private week across the Lodge and the Study Centre: hides, flexible dawn starts and a vehicle that waits for the light.
Full board · on enquiry
EnquireBefore you pack
The resort operates on a full-board basis. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the open-air dining hall. Carbonated drinks and alcoholic beverages are extra. If you bring your own alcohol the resort applies a corkage fee.
Infants aged 0 to 2 years stay without charge when sharing existing bedding though they must pay the Semporna jetty fee. Children aged 3 to 11 receive a discounted rate provided they occupy the same room as 2 adults. Adolescents aged 12 and above pay the adult rate. Any child visiting Sipadan must pay the full adult rate regardless of age.
Complimentary wifi is provided. The connection is dependable in the central lobby and business centre. Plan to use these shared spaces when you need a dependable connection.
Sabah Parks restricts the number of daily visitors to Sipadan. The resort guarantees a day trip to Sipadan with 2 permits per room for guests booking a dive package of at least 5 days and 4 nights. You will spend your other days diving the excellent sites around Mabul and Kapalai.
A strict maritime curfew operates across the region from 6pm to 6am. All tourist boat transfers must conclude by mid-afternoon to ensure vessels are ashore before the curfew begins.
How to get there
The journey is part of it
The journey begins at Tawau airport. The overland transfer to the Semporna jetty takes roughly 60 to 70 minutes. From Semporna a scheduled speedboat delivers you to Mabul Island in about 45 minutes depending on sea conditions. Scheduled land transfers from Tawau occur at 8:30am and 10:30am to align with the outbound boat transfers leaving Semporna at 10am and 12:30pm.
Open the interactive mapExtend the journey
Nearby & combinations
Sipadan Water Village Mataking Island Pom Pom Island Resort Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort
Plan your trip
Plan your Borneo Divers itinerary
Speak to the team to arrange your diving package at Borneo Divers Mabul Resort and confirm what can be arranged for Sipadan.
Sources referenced on this page: Sabah Parks — https://www.sabahparks.org.my/.