The islands have a magnificent white
sandy beach with swaying coconut trees. Both islands are surrounded by a
large, very long coral reef that slopes from knee deep to about 80m.
REEF BASIC
Sreat for: Small animals, underwater photography and non-diving activities
Not so great for: Large animals, wreck diving and visibility
Depth: 5 - >40m / Visibility: 8 - 25m / Water Temperature: 25 - 29�C
Currents: Gentle / Surface Conditions: Generally calm but can be choppy
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced / Number of dive sites: 33
Distance: 25 km (40 mins) east from the port of Semporna, and 45 km (80 mins)
north east of Sipadan
Recommended length of stay: 6 days, or longer if combined with other Sipadan
area resorts
North side of Mataking divers are treated to vertical wall dives with some
very strong (�washing machine�) currents! Here the water is usually crystal
clear and due to the strong currents many large pelagics are attracted
including grey reef sharks, hammerheads, manta rays, and eagle rays! If you're
very lucky you may also see the awe-inspiring whale shark (the best time is
between April-June).
On the south side of the island are dive sites such as the House Reef, The
Shipwreck, and Sweetlips Avenue. These dive sites are a haven for macro life!
Frog Fish, Octopus, Lion Fish, Stone Fish and Ribbon eels are seen on most
dives! The ship wreck also attracts giant moray eels and stingrays!
POPULAR DIVE SITES
House Reef
Reef Basics: Beach slope
Depth: 5 - 30m / Visibility: 10 - 20m / Water Temperature: 25 - 29�C
Currents: Gentle / Surface Conditions: Generally calm but can be choppy
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced / Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: All year round
When you dive the house reef here you stroll in off the golden beach in front
of the dive centre and follow a line down to about 25 metres. Then you will
turn left and fin slowly over patches of extraordinary activity, both in
naturally-occurring habitats and in and around the reef balls upon which the
resort has planted a multitude corals.
You should keep your eyes peeled here for sights such as nudibranchs, squat
lobsters nestled in the outer ridges of barrel sponges, stonefish and
cuttlefish. Incredibly, just a few fin kicks from the restaurant, you can spot
the delightful but deadly blue-ringed octopus!
 After a short while you will come to the jetty itself under which there is
more life than you can imagine - schools of trevally, trumpetfish, batfish and
large groupers all compete for space and for your attention. More than just an
add-on dive site, the house reef at Mataking really is an incredibly
convenient and rewarding spot. Often the check out dive site, many guests
return here at least once during their stay to see again the awesome parade of
local marine life.
 North Point
Located behind Mataking Kecil (small) this is a vertical wall dive with very
strong currents. At 37m there is a �cleaning Station� that attracts many large
pelagics including BIG Grey Reef Sharks, Manta Rays, Eagle Rays and if lucky
even Hammerheads have been seen here!! As you get into shallow water then huge
Green Turtles (the largest in the area!!) are commonly seen together with
coral cat sharks and beautiful Ribbon eels
Coral Garden
A nice dive to do in the afternoon! This is a vertical wall dive with moderate
current! Here within the first 18m offers some very beautiful pristine
coral-its breathtaking! Don�t just keep your eyes on the coral as Manta Rays
commonly Swim past divers here in the blue!
 The House Reef
This dive site can be dived from the shore! The wall slopes down to around 50m
after which there is a large sandy plateau. In the shallows Octopus, lionfish
and Stone Fish are almost always seen! Around the jetty large schools of Jack
fish can be seen. There is also a giant Grouper that lives here and also a 3m
long giant Moray too!
The Wreck
Here the resort at Mataking has sunk a fishing boat which attracts a lot of
fish including Jack Fish, Moray eels and frog and lion fish! You can also post
your mail here at Malaysia's first ever underwater post box!!
RELATED SITES
Sipadan Dive Islands - Mataking
Information & Travel Guide - The Island / Diving & Marine Life /
Accommodations / Getting There
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