Beginner Malaysia
Kapalai
An island that no longer exists: only the sandbank remains, and what lives on it
Old maps show an island here. Today only the submerged sandbank it stood on remains, along with a few structures built on stilts above it. What lies beneath, though, is one of Borneo's most consistent macro dive sites.
In this guide you'll find out what's left of Kapalai and why its shallow sandbank works so well for macro diving, what role the submerged structures play, when to go, and what level of experience you need.
Together with Mabul and Sipadan, it forms a triangle where three neighboring islands offer three completely different kinds of diving, and it's the clearest example that a shallow sand bottom can sustain an extraordinary community of life.
Geography and access
Kapalai today is a submerged sandbank on a shallow platform, between Mabul and Sipadan, off the east coast of Malaysian Borneo.
The island that once stood here was worn down by erosion to sea level, and what remains is a broad expanse of light sand and shallow seagrass beds just a few meters deep, with structures built on stilts above it.
That combination (a shallow, light-colored, uniform bottom with plenty of light) is excellent for macro: small animals stand out against the sand, and there's enough natural light to shoot photos without relying on a flash.
The submerged stilts and frameworks act as an artificial reef and concentrate marine life in an environment that would otherwise have very little relief.
Access is the same as for the neighboring islands: a flight to Kuala Lumpur, a domestic flight to the east coast of Borneo, then a transfer and boat ride.
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