RUSTOM - Sipadan

Rustom, a 146-meter cargo vessel, sits aground just off Sipadan's coast, a different flavour of diving for this reef-famous island. The wreck itself isn't a complex penetration dive, with much of it listing heavily and broken, but we found it’s a fascinating artificial reef. Schools of batfish often hang around the superstructure, and the encrusted metalwork provides shelter for lionfish and moray eels. It’s a good spot for something a little different, a chance to explore a piece of history that’s slowly being reclaimed by the ocean, particularly if you’ve had your fill of sheer walls for the day.

Location
Sipadan, Malaysia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
7.152333, 117.546000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
20m

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 RUSTOM

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 RUSTOM

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