Sandy Bar, Mantanani Island
Why dive here
With 142+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blue-spotted stingrays, eagle rays, sea turtles and sperm whales - Sandy Bar, Mantanani Island offers some of Sipadan's richest muck diving. Water ranges 29-31°C, warmest May, October, November.
Sandy Bar on Mantanani Island is a good spot if you’re into the smaller things. It’s a classic muck dive, really, all about searching the sand for critters rather than big pelagics or dramatic reefs. We've spent many a dive here poking around at 14m, looking for nudibranchs, maybe a flamboyant cuttlefish if you’re lucky, or tiny crabs doing their thing. Visibility can be a bit variable depending on recent weather, but it's generally calm enough for a relaxed potter. Definitely one for macro photographers and those who enjoy a slower, more deliberate dive.
Typical Sandy Bar, Mantanani Island Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Sandy Bar, Mantanani Island
Sandy Bar, Mantanani Island Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Sandy Bar, Mantanani Island, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (4.12, 118.63) (0km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
30°C
87°F · Range: 29.4–31.5°C
Current Speed
4.12 cm/s
Direction: E (104°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.055 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
31.68 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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