Diving at Mabul Backpackers: A World-Class Experience Under Your Feet

Welcome to Mabul Backpackers, where the ocean isn’t just a destination—it’s our backyard. Located in the heart of the “Macro Diving Capital of the World,” our hostel offers a unique vantage point where you can watch the sunrise over the Celebes Sea on your left and the sunset on your right, all from the comfort of our deck.

Whether you are taking your very first breath underwater or you’re a seasoned pro looking for that rare nudibranch, we provide a peaceful, professional, and friendly environment to explore the blue.

The Magic of Our House Reef

You don’t have to go far to see the wonders of Mabul. The water directly under our hostel is incredibly clear, and it’s a daily occurrence to see sea turtles gliding under our bridge. For those who love “muck diving” and macro life, our house reef and nearby sites are teeming with:

Frogfish and Lionfish
Ornate Ghost Pipefish
Fimbriated Moray Eels and Lobsters
Countless species of colorful Nudibranchs

Fun Diving for Certified Divers

For those who already hold a certification, our daily fun dives take you to the best spots around Mabul and Kapalai. Our dive team brings a collective 15 years of local knowledge to every trip. We don’t just “go for a dive”—we go on an underwater safari. Our guides are experts at spotting the tiny, camouflaged critters that make this region famous.

We pride ourselves on a relaxed, “no-pressure” philosophy. We won’t push you into packages; we provide recommendations only when you ask, ensuring your holiday remains as peaceful and stress-free as possible.

Learn to Dive: From Beginner to Pro

At Mabul Backpackers, we believe in patient, responsible, and kind instruction. We take the time to ensure you are comfortable, safe, and truly enjoying the experience.

Start Your Journey

Discover Scuba Diving (DSD): Not ready for a full course? Try a half-day introduction right here at our house reef.
Open Water Course: Get your worldwide certification over 3–4 days. Learn the fundamentals while surrounded by turtles and tropical fish.

Advance Your Skills

Ready for more? Our Advanced Open Water program is designed to build confidence. We specialize in:

Drift Diving: Learn to fly with the currents.
Night Diving: See the reef transform under the moonlight.
Peak Performance Buoyancy (PPB): Master the art of “hovering” to protect the reef and your air.
Optional: Fish Identification. Turn your dive into a biology lesson and learn to spot the rarest residents of Mabul.

Safety and Rescue

For those looking to level up their responsibility, we offer the Rescue Diver and Emergency First Response (EFR) courses. These programs are challenging and rewarding, turning you into the most reliable buddy in the water.

The “After-Dive” Atmosphere

Diving is only half the story. At Mabul Backpackers, we’ve created a “home away from home.” After a day of exploring the depths, join us on the deck where the atmosphere is always relaxed. Whether it’s a quiet evening watching the stars or a lively session of guitars and karaoke, you’ll find that the friendships made here last as long as the memories of the dives.

Check out our full Dive & Course Pricelist here

The Joys Of Diving

As a diver, you are weightless and can move in all directions. You approach the freedom of a bird as you move in three dimensions in a fluid environment. Diving weightless in clear water in a forest of underwater plants with sunlight streaming down is only one of many unforgettable experiences awaiting you.

When you descend beneath the surface of the water, you enter an entirely new and beautiful world. You have opportunities to see incredible life forms that only a few people ever see. Imaging swimming in a giant aquarium, and you can get a glimpse of what you can expect to experience in the underwater world.

Just as there are mountains, plains, and differing environments above the surface of the water, there are differing environments for you to experience underwater. Coral reefs, kelp forest, incredible rock formations and other natural wonders await divers in various geographical regions. Add to this piers, jetties, quarries, mysterious shipwrecks and other artificial structures, and you can easily see how the variety of underwater sights is limitless. There is more to view underwater than anyone could possibly see in a lifetime.

Diving is a sharing activity, and there is much to share. If you enjoy traveling, you will love diving. Most divers plan one or more diving vacations each year. The feelings and sensations of diving are fantastic but are difficult to explain. Words are inadequate to describe the peaceful solitude of “inner space”. Diving contributes to good health, can help reduce work-related stress, can increase self-esteem, and can make you feel great!

You will soon experience the emotions and sensations for yourself. You then will begin to know the joys of diving.

(From The Book Titled ‘SCUBA DIVING’ by Dennis K. Graver)

PADI Dive Courses

Our dive centre is registered as PADI Dive Centre #21701.

Our dive centre offers a full range of diving classes from starting to dive up to advanced and all the way to Divemaster.

Our experienced instructors will help you start your underwater adventure!

Languages: English, Malay and Chinese.

We guarantee you a 100% personalized attention to suit your individual student needs.

Get in touch to Book your PADI Course Today.

Start Diving – PADI Beginner Courses

Take your first breaths underwater and discover an exciting and unique experience.

Whether you are staying for a day or for a long holiday, SipadanBorneo.com instructors will be ready to launch your diving adventure.

Open Water Diver Course (4 days): The most popular course at SipadanBorneo.com Dive School. Being an ‘Open Water Diver’ means you will be certified to dive anywhere including Sipadan Island.

Discover Scuba Diving (half day): Perfect if you only have an afternoon free and want to dive shallow coral gardens around Mabul Island.

Diving Programmes for Kids: Your 8-year old (or older) kid can learn to dive with our instructors.

PADI Advanced Courses

Improve your diving skills and enjoy new diving experiences.

PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course (2 days): This course allows you to experience more underwater. Choose among 5 specialties. The most popular are Deep Diving (get certified up to 30 meters), Peak Performance Buoyancy (help protect Sipadan), Night Diving, Navigation and Wreck Diving.

Specialty Diver Courses: Further education for enthusiastic divers.

Deep Diving
Peak Performance Buoyancy (help protect Sipadan reef)
Night Dive
Fish ID (learn your fishies)
Multi Level & Computer
Underwater Naturalist
Search & Recovery
Nitrox (Enriched Air)
Equipment specialty
Wreck Dive
Digital Underwater Photography
Digital Underwater Videography

EFR – Emergency First Response (half day): Become A More Confident Diver. First aid and CPR course.

RESCUE Diver (4 days): Be able to help your dive buddies efficiently.

Become a PRO-Diver

Become a professional diver. A Career in Tropical Paradise!

PADI Divemaster Course
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor

Contact us to book your PADI course with us.