Sipadan, Oceanic island in Sabah, Malaysia

Sipadan is Malaysia's only oceanic island, rising 600 metres from the seabed of the Celebes Sea off Sabah. It is a living coral formation built on an extinct volcanic cone, sitting within the 16,860-hectare Sipadan Island Park managed by Sabah Parks. More than 400 fish species and hundreds of coral species have been recorded in its waters.

The island was the subject of a dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia until the International Court of Justice confirmed Malaysian sovereignty in 2002. Following this decision, it was established as a protected marine sanctuary with strict rules governing visits.

Sea turtles define the island's identity and shape how people experience the place, with researchers and divers regularly observing their movements. The white sand beaches serve as natural nesting grounds where green and hawksbill turtles regularly come ashore.

Sipadan lies in the Celebes Sea off Sabah's east coast, and visits require a permit from Sabah Parks. Since 2019, 176 permits are issued each day and split between the dive resorts and dive centres, so bookings go through operators. Four dive marshals appointed in 2016 monitor diving activity, and the island closed for one month in November 2023 to let the ecosystem recover.

The island has an underground cave network called the Turtle Tomb, showing where many turtles became lost in the limestone passages. This feature offers researchers valuable insights into turtle behavior and the hazards they face in such environments.