Bigfin Divers Semporna

Mabul & Kapalai, Malaysia

The team at Bigfin Divers Semporna are the kind of crew you want when you’re diving Mabul and Kapalai. Our favourite thing about them is the genuine passion they have for showing off the area’s tiny critters. If you’re into macro photography or just love to spend ages scrutinising a patch of reef for nudibranchs, this is your place. We’d suggest staying at their water bungalow on Bum Bum Island – it’s simple, but puts you right in the heart of things, meaning early starts for morning dives aren't a slog. They’re a PADI 5 Star centre, so whether you’re looking to get certified or advance your skills, they’ve got you covered with solid instruction. We appreciate their focus on small groups, which means more bottom time and less jostling for position when that ornate ghost pipefish finally makes an appearance. Ask them about their favourite muck diving spots; they know the local sandy patches like the back of their hand, often pointing out frogfish or cuttlefish tucked away that you’d swim right past otherwise. The sound of the waves under the bungalow at night is something we still remember.