Hanging Gardens

Hanging Gardens is one of several named sites along the wall off Sipadan Island, off the east coast of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo, in the Celebes Sea. The island is known generally for its steep drop-offs and drift diving, with boats running out from Semporna or from resort operations based on Mabul and Kapalai. This particular site reaches a maximum depth of around 18 metres and is rated a beginner dive, making it one of the more accessible entries along a wall otherwise associated with deeper drop-offs and current. Divers here have reported green sea turtles, whitetip reef sharks, and Napoleon wrasse, along with bigeye, bluefin, and giant trevally moving along the reef. Blueface angelfish, clown triggerfish, and paletail unicornfish have also been spotted on the site.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesusReported here · unconfirmed
• Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Napoleon WrasseCheilinus undulatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Blueface AngelfishPomacanthus xanthometoponReported here · unconfirmed
• Paletail UnicornfishNaso brevirostrisReported here · unconfirmed
• Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilisReported here · unconfirmed
• Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillumReported here · unconfirmed
• Bluefin TrevallyCaranx melampygusReported here · unconfirmed
• Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydasReported here · unconfirmed
• Blue DragonPteraeolidia semperiObserved near here · iNaturalist
• Dusky NembrothaNembrotha kubaryanaObserved near here · iNaturalist