Turtle Cavern
Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Turtle Cavern is a cave system off Sipadan, a short swim to the right of the jetty with the entrance at about 20 m. It is the best-talked-about site on the island and rated advanced, since the current can be strong and the inner cave is an overhead environment that needs cave training.
Hundreds of trevally and fusiliers gather near the entrance, and green turtles glide around it in numbers. The cave system runs about 65 m and holds stalactites and stalagmites. Inside you will see quite a few turtle skeletons, and a spooky local legend says this is where turtles come to die.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
OctopusOctopusReported here · unconfirmed
TrevallyTrevallyConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
NudibranchNudibranchConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
FusilierFusilierConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
ClownfishClownfishReported here · unconfirmed
ParrotfishParrotfishReported here · unconfirmed
AngelfishAngelfishReported here · unconfirmed
Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesusReported here · unconfirmed
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatusReported here · unconfirmed
Napoleon WrasseCheilinus undulatusReported here · unconfirmed
Harlequin SweetlipsPlectorhinchus chaetodonoidesReported here · unconfirmed
Blueface AngelfishPomacanthus xanthometoponReported here · unconfirmed
Bluefin TrevallyCaranx melampygusReported here · unconfirmed
Paletail UnicornfishNaso brevirostrisReported here · unconfirmed
Pinktail TriggerfishMelichthys viduaReported here · unconfirmed
BatfishBatfishReported here · unconfirmed
MackerelMackerelReported here · unconfirmed
Leaf scorpionfishLeaf scorpionfishReported here · unconfirmed
Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydasObserved near here · iNaturalist
Blue DragonPteraeolidia semperiObserved near here · iNaturalist
Dusky NembrothaNembrotha kubaryanaObserved near here · iNaturalist
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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