Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort

Resort on water, love every bit of it. Food is good too.

the transfer boat from Tawau Airport to the property is troublesome. The booking includes an airport pickup and boat transfer to the property but only at a fixed time per day. You need to be in Tawau Airport no later than 10:00am local time to use the pre-booked service. The time is very tricky and has very limited airline and easy to miss then they charge $321.26 to re-arrange pick up from Tawau Airport. Based on research, 1.5hr bus from Tawau Airport to port is RM25 (Malaysia currency, about $5.56) per person. Then 45min boat transfer to the property. The boat condition is super ugly which might not permit to carry passengers in United States. The boat condition like a multi-hand used fishing boat you can buy from cralist for less than $3000. However, the total charge is $321.26 for such transport services. After arriving in hotel, the hotel service is also very poor which I think it can not match a motel in United States. No phone in the room to connect to the front desk: you need use you own cell phone to call front desk and usually the signal is too poor to make a phone call. No enough shower towel either and hot water run out quickly during shower. What’s more, you need to pay extra to purchase internet. Price is ok but slow which can not make stable video conference which is super unfriendly for people need to work while traveling

A lovely and amazing hotel located in the middle of the sea. Buffet lunch and dinner are all quite okay, esp the BBQ food during dinner. The hotel was quite full with many local visitors. Didn't manage to go to the Mabul island and snorkelling outside the hotel. Better to check with the agency or hotel in advance. Don't expect too much to do in the hotel, relax and chill is one of the best options. Land transportation was well arranged from airport to the hotel. Be aware that you can get all wet on the speed boat if the weather is no good and the speed is too fast.