MABINI FADRI - Sipadan

Mabini Fadri isn't what most divers picture when they think of Sipadan. Forget the pelagic tornadoes; this is a proper wreck dive, and we absolutely love it for that. She's a stern trawler, almost 80 meters long, sitting upright at 29 meters. You drop down, and the whole outline of the ship takes shape – a real hulking presence on the seabed. She went down in '81 after a fire, so she's been down there a while, slowly becoming part of the reef. We like to start at the stern, where the huge propeller is often swarming with schooling jacks. Push towards the bow, and you can really appreciate her size. There are openings where you can safely penetrate, just enough to get a sense of her internal structure, with light filtering in through barnacle-encrusted portholes. Look closely in the shadowed areas, and you'll often spot moray eels tucked away, or big groupers cruising the deck. It’s a completely different vibe to the vibrant walls of Barracuda Point, offering a cool contrast and a genuine sense of exploration. This one is for divers who appreciate history and the slow reclamation of steel by the ocean.

Location
Sipadan, Malaysia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
5.290000, 115.005500
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
29m

Marine Protected Area: Pulau Kuraman Marine Park

Best Time to Dive in Sipadan

The warmest water temperatures in Sipadan occur in August, averaging 30.6°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 28.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.5°C
  • February: 28.3°C
  • March: 28.9°C
  • April: 29.7°C
  • May: 30.3°C
  • June: 30.3°C
  • July: 30.2°C
  • August: 30.6°C
  • September: 30.5°C
  • October: 30.4°C
  • November: 30.0°C
  • December: 29.3°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Sipadan

Nearest Dive Centres to MABINI FADRI

Marine Life in Sipadan

Home to 147 recorded species including 111 reef fish, 11 sea snails & nudibranchs, 9 sharks & rays, 5 seagrass & algae, 4 other, 4 hard corals.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for MABINI FADRI

Based on average water temperature of 29.7°C, currents 12 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories