Sipadan-Mabul Resort (SMART) and Mabul Water Bungalows (MWB), Mabul Island, Sabah

Sipadan Mabul Resort (SMART)

SMART was intentionally named Sipadan-Mabul Resort to fully capitalise on the advantages of the name of the more popular and glamorous neighbouring Sipadan island. The resort carries out excellent responsible travel objectives by opening up Mabul island to the world in the early 90s and providing the villagers a very good source of income when their coconut plantation couldn't yield good returns. In years to come, the resort expanded yet carried out conservation projects to preserve Mabul's attractions as well as the deep sea for all to enjoy and to gain.

The resort today, located at the southern tip of Pulau Mabul overlooking Sipadan, provides a luxurious getaway for couples seeking a romantic getaway with a opportunities to stroll hand in hand on the white sandy beach while deep sea adventures are within reach for a thrill! Families coming here can enjoy the modern facilities, the sea sports and wander the small island , watching the village folks and fishermen go about their lives.

There are 45 chalets (22 are new detached/stand alone one room chalets) accommodating up to 90 guests at any time.  All the chalets are built with mosquito screens have attached toilet / bathroom with hot shower facilities and the comfort of air-conditioning, which are available for 24 hours. For those seeking luxury, there is the Mabul Water Bungalows.
 

Tripadvisor traveller reviews as well as many other leading travel advisories consistently rate SMART and MWB at the top of quality, value and service!

Facilities
- Electrical outlet is 220 Volt AC.  
- Vinyl swimming pool measuring 41-ft X 21 ft with a 6-ft deep end.  
- 4 to 6 persons Jacuzzi Whirlpool Spas.
- Large dining hall/bar area is used for meals, socializing, dancing and staff shows. Coconut drink, juices, carbonated soft drinks, beer and wine can be purchased at the resort bar and jetty bar.  
- Small sundry shop sells a range of T-shirts, films, batteries, toiletries, souvenirs etc.  An office takes care of the registration and billing; it is equipped with a Telephone/Fax for communications with the mainland.  
- High speed internet access is available NOW at the resort.

Diving information
Diving in Mabul is shadowed by Sipadan's fame. Due to the restricted number of divers on Sipadan, Mabul has come into the limelight as one of the best muck diving destinations in the world. The bottom appears bare at first glance consisting of corals, rocks, sea grass and sand. Adding to this are manmade items such as bottles, cans and sacks. Look a little deeper and you will find home to a wide range of creatures: spike-finned goby, flamboyant cuttlefish, squid, allied cowries, lionfish, snakes, garden eels, mantis shrimps, nudibranchs, seahorses to name a few.
A Technical Diving Center (SMART-Tec) offers various services such as Nitrox Air and TDI Certification Courses.  An underwater video center (Treasure Images) provides u/w videography courses and services as well as rental of Digital Camera.

WHOA! Dive rating

5 stars - Malaysia's finest

Packages and Rates

All rates in Malaysian Ringgit and valid until 31 March 2013.

Rates have been discounted.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
Add 50% surcharge on top of the above prices for single occupancy of a 2-bed chalet.

A. NON SIPADAN DIVING PROGRAM (Diving in Mabul, Kapalai and Si Amir islands)

Accommodation at Standard Chalet

Resort guests who wishes to dive far away islands like Pom Pom, Mataking or Tun Sakaran Marine Parks islands excursion dive tours will need to direct your enquiry to the dive center. Additional fees will be charged for outer islands.

For these Non-Sipadan packages, there will be NO application for the permits to Sipadan Island. Divers wanting to go Sipadan will have to check availability when they are on Mabul Island. If there are extra permits from other resort operators or even from SMART during their stay, they have to pay a market price (which varies) about RM550 which includes one day permit fee and three boat dives) per diver, subject to weather conditions and available facilities

DETACHED/STAND-ALONE CHALET
Add RM 95.00 per person per night surcharge on top of the above package price.

B. SIPADAN DIVING PROGRAM (Long stay with diving in Sipadan)

Accommodation at Stand-alone Chalet

Currently, 120 Sipadan Entry Permits given by the Sabah Parks Management are allocated to ten (10) dive operators located in and around Semporna area. SMART has only been allocated 14 permits per day. Based on this allocated quota, SMART is able to offer the guest with certainty, a visit to Sipadan island at least once if your duration of stay is at least 7 days/ 6 nights.
If  guests wishes to do more diving in Sipadan Island, he or she can enquire on arrival at the resort which offers assistance to buy "Sipadan diving service and entry permits Package" from other dive operators (NO GUARANTEE).  Currently, the cost of such Package from another dive operator, the indicative market price is RM550 per diver per day including 1 day entry permit fee. The permit will entitle you to 3 boat dives at Sipadan Island, subject to weather conditions and available facilities.

SUITE CHALET
Add surcharge RM 210 per person per night on top of the above package price.

Mabul Water Bungalows (MWB)

This is SMART's sister resort. These exclusive 15 units (10unit with double beds & 5 unit with twin beds) of luxury villas are well-crafted modern hardwood bungalows built  on sturdy stilts above the sea.  Each bungalow is exquisitely furnished with contemporary décor, equipped with remote control air-conditioner, ceiling fan, private bathroom-hot/cold shower and toilet, spacious private balcony offer panoramic vistas of blue sea, colour TV with satellite channels, mini bar and in-room safety box.
Facilities includes a large and airy restaurant for dining, a souvenirs shop selling variety of t-shirts, accessories and gifts, a lounge for guests to relax, a business center with internet service, a dive center, an office taking care all the guests registration, billings and an underwater video and health spa outlets.

Sipadan Entry Permit is not included in the MWB package. Application will be made to Sabah Parks Management. There is no guarantee. If permit is attained, the fee of RM40 per person per day for divers, non-divers, visitors and children has to be paid on the spot in the resort. 

C. MABUL WATER BUNGALOW PROGRAM

Rates valid 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012

Rates valid 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013

What does it include?

Packages for both SMART and MWB includes:

Other resort activities

Notes:
Our check in-time is 1400 hours and check out time is 1200 hours.  Early check-in and late check-out is subject to room availability

Getting Here

Fly Malaysia Airlines or Airasia to Tawau via Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. Plan one night's accommodation in Kota Kinabalu on your inbound journey. You will be met in Tawau by SMART Divers Resort who bus you to Semporna (1 hour). From there a speed boat zips you out to the island (another 45 minutes).
Below are flight and boat transfer schedule (subject to change without notice)

* For guests arriving Semporna by overland transfer please be there half an hour before departure.
* It is advisable to inform us in advance of your arrival time as the resort boats are not stationed at the jetty.
* If you miss the boat then you will have to wait for the next one.
* The waiting point is at Seafest Hotel's lobby.
* For guests arriving by flight not stated above must stay the night at the mainland - Tawau or Semporna.  Hotels can be arranged on request.

* For guests departing on early flight before 10am must depart the resort one (1) day earlier for overnight stay at the mainland - Tawau or Semporna.  Hotels can be arranged on request.

**Unscheduled transfers can be arranged at additional surcharge depending on weather conditions.