Mandarin Valley

Mandarin Valley lies in the Sipadan and Kapalai area off the southeastern coast of Sabah on Borneo, a stretch of the Celebes Sea known for its cluster of named dive sites around Sipadan Island and the Kapalai sandbar. Boats to sites in this region typically run from operators based on Mabul Island or nearby Semporna on the Sabah mainland. The site is shallow, with a maximum depth of around 8 metres, and is rated a beginner dive, making it well suited to divers still building experience. It's a good spot for macro life, with divers reporting nudibranchs such as Anna's Chromodoris, Willan's Chromodoris, Coi's Goniobranchus, and Dusky Nembrotha, along with granulated sea stars and blue dragons on the bottom. Common lionfish and giant morays have also been spotted here, and green sea turtles pass through the shallows from time to time.

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

• Dusky NembrothaNembrotha kubaryanaReported here · unconfirmed
• Anna's ChromodorisChromodoris annaeReported here · unconfirmed
• Willan's ChromodorisChromodoris willaniReported here · unconfirmed
• Blue DragonPteraeolidia semperiReported here · unconfirmed
• Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydasReported here · unconfirmed
• Hypselodoris variobranchiaReported here · unconfirmed
• Coi's GoniobranchusGoniobranchus coiReported here · unconfirmed
• Common LionfishPterois volitansReported here · unconfirmed
• Granulated Sea StarChoriaster granulatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicusReported here · unconfirmed
• Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesusObserved near here · iNaturalist