Vacating Sipadan

As the only oceanic island in the whole of Malaysia, Sipadan is famed for its unparalleled underwater beauty. Today, it is one of the top five dive destinations in the world, but it faced great adversities before becoming the paradise that it is today.

- Clement Lee

1982

BEAUTIFUL SIDAPAN

Before Sipadan became known as a dive destination, its beaches were clean, the water was pristine, and marine life thrived. A group of divers visited its waters for the first time, and upon dipping their heads under the water, they couldn’t believe their eyes.

“I thought I was diving in an aquarium!” Clement Lee, co-founder of Borneo Divers exclaimed. “We must have found our future, our future in Sipadan.”

1983

THE PIONEERS OF SIPADAN ISLAND

Borneo Divers, founded by Clement Lee, Randy Davis, the late Ron Holland, and Samson Shak, moved to Sipadan Island. At this time, dynamiting was damaging the corals and reef walls of Sipadan, but thankfully, this stopped when Borneo Divers arrived.

1988

CAPTAIN JACQUES COUSTEAU

Almost by chance, the late Captain Jacques Cousteau visited Sipadan after his ship accidentally sailed into its waters. Upon seeing Sipadan’s beauty, Cousteau asked his crew to film the island, thereafter producing the documentary Borneo: The Ghost of the Sea Turtle. It was after this visit that Captain Cousteau said the now-famous quote, “I have seen other places like Sipadan, 45 years ago, but now, no more. Now, we have found again an untouched piece of art. “

1989–2002

HUMAN PRESSURE

Thanks to Cousteau’s visit to Sipadan, the island became a popular dive destination. There were now six operators on the island, with 300 to 400 people occupying it. The human pressure on the island was tremendous, as not all dive operators were adopting sustainable measures. Dives were held day and night, giving the marine flora and fauna little to no time to recuperate.