The Buwan Dive Resort
Intimate Scale, Archipelago Range
The Buwan Dive Resort sits in Tampi-Tampi on the mainland coast of Sabah — one of the few resorts in the Semporna area that guests reach by road rather than by boat transfer to an island. That position gives the resort's own jetty direct reach to the full spread of dive sites in the archipelago: the macro reefs of Mabul and Kapalai, the coral gardens of Tun Sakaran Marine Park's three islands (Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan, and Sibuan), and the more remote reefs of Mataking and Timba-Timba, all within 50 to 60 minutes by boat. With 17 to 22 rooms and a maximum of around 50 guests, the resort operates at a scale where dive guides know their guests. Guide assignments run at four divers to one guide, and the guide team is frequently praised in online reviews for their patience and skill with macro-focused divers.
Diving Sipadan Island from The Buwan
Sipadan Island is not part of the standard daily boat programme. Day trips to Sipadan are available as an upgrade, subject to daily permit availability. Sipadan trips are open to Advanced Open Water-certified divers and above only.
Dive Operations and Facilities
Three guided boat dives run each day, departing between 08:00 and 09:00 and returning between 16:00 and 17:00. The programme covers named sites across Mabul, Kapalai, Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Mataking, and Timba-Timba. Guides are assigned at a four-to-one ratio. One complimentary shore or night dive at the house reef is included per stay; additional shore or night dives are available at RM 120 per person.
The Buwan Restaurant is a floating dining space over the water and the main communal focus of the resort. Guests also gather at the waterfront jetty, particularly in the evenings. Non-diving activities include snorkelling, island-hopping tours, Bohey Dulang hiking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, glass boat rides, karaoke, swimming pool, and foosball. A retail shop and small supermarket at the resort entrance covers basic necessities. Free Wi-Fi is available in communal areas.
The House Reef
The resort's house reef is accessible directly from the jetty and is particularly productive for macro life — nudibranchs, crustaceans, and the kind of small and well-camouflaged subjects that suit patient, unhurried divers. One shore or night dive here is included in every diving package. The resort holds a PADI Eco Center designation and participates in regional Plastic Free awareness initiatives.
