Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the seabed. It is located five degrees north of the equator in the Celebes sea, east of the major town of Tawau and off the coast of East Malaysia on the Island of Borneo . It was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone.Sipadan is located at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin , the centre of one of the richest marine habitats in the world. More than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this ecosystem.Beautiful Scuba adventure.
You will never see so many fish in such large groups and in such close a proximity while Scuba diving. Barracuda Point is simply a "must dive". The drop off point for the boats is a sheer wall, however as you head towards the south this curves in over a ledge at around the 22m mark creating a sort of wide step like an underwater runway.More than 3000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this richest of ecosystems. It is well known for its unusually large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles which gather there to mate and nest and it is not unusual for a diver to see more than 20 turtles on each dive. Another unique feature for Scuba divers visiting here is the turtle tomb, an underwater limestone cave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that became disoriented and then drowned.
As you cruise along the wall, keep an eye out for a bumphead parrotfish and turtles in every nook and cranny. Eventually the wall will level out into a sloping plateau, where the barracudas often congregate. Here you can also find Napoleon wrasse and yellow-margin triggerfish. A word of caution though, don't venture too deep to the north of this site as the currents can get very strong and sweep you downwards, out and away from the island.
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