MAKAWARU - Mabul & Kapalai
Makawaru is a classic Mabul wreck, a wooden motor vessel that’s more skeleton than ship these days. We’re talking about a wreck so shallow, its stern actually breaks the surface at low tide. This is a site you want to hit on a sunny morning. The light penetration through the mast and into the collapsing hull is just gorgeous. It’s an easy float around, perfect for photographers or those who just want a relaxed dive. Look for the resident giant frogfish nestled in the sponges near the bow. Our favourite trick is to spot the ornate ghost pipefish hiding amongst the hydroids – they’re always there, if you have a keen eye. You’ll also find schools of juvenile snapper flitting between the ribs of the hull, and a surprising number of nudibranchs on the encrusted wood. Honestly, Makawaru is a proper delight, proving you don’t need depth for character.
- Location
- Mabul & Kapalai, Malaysia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 3.995833, 117.951385
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 4m
Nearby Dive Sites in Mabul & Kapalai
- AL MALYN - 45m (wreck)
- AWAS
- BANOWATI - 10m (wreck)
- Barracuda Point
- BUNGA INDAH - 5m (wreck)
- CAHAYA MACCOLILOLOS - 9m (wreck)
- Chanel
- Check Point
- Cleaning Station - 10-25m (reef)
- Coral gardens (reef)
- Coral Slope - 5-20m (reef)
- Corner Reef (reef)
- Creepy garden - 5-18m (reef)
- Crocodile Avenue
- Danawan reef (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to MAKAWARU
- Bigfin Divers Semporna - ["PADI"]
- Divers Armada Borneo Sdn Bhd - ["PADI"]
- Go Aquatic Semporna - ["PADI"]
- Mussah Poteh Holiday SDN BHD - ["PADI"]
- Nemo and Friends
- Seabunny Scubacations Sdn Bhd
Marine Life in Mabul & Kapalai
Home to 127 recorded species including 77 reef fish, 28 hard corals, 8 seagrass & algae, 3 sharks & rays, 3 clams & mussels, 2 other.
Notable Species
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Thin birdsnest coral (Seriatopora hystrix) - Hard Corals
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aculeus) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora caroliniana) - Hard Corals
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Staghorn coral (Acropora longicyathus) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora humilis) - Hard Corals
- Fluorescence grass coral (Galaxea fascicularis) - Hard Corals
- Redtail Scad (Decapterus kurroides) - Reef Fish
- Salmon (Elagatis bipinnulata) - Reef Fish
- Ghost Cardinalfish (Nectamia fusca) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Pectinia coral (Pectinia alcicornis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora selago) - Hard Corals
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Species code: Hp (Halodule pinifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Stony coral (Porites nigrescens) - Hard Corals
- royal red prawn (Haliporoides sibogae) - Crabs & Lobsters