The Drop Off

The Drop Off sits right at the edge of Sipadan Island, off the coast of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo, where the reef gives way almost immediately into a sheer wall dropping several hundred metres into open water. It is one of the most recognised sites at Sipadan, known for large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles that rest along the wall and reef ledges, with nudibranchs a regular sight on the reef itself. Divers have also reported barracuda, trevally, tuna, fusiliers, triggerfish, angelfish, and even hammerhead sharks and mola mola passing along the wall, along with smaller finds like frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, lionfish, and octopus. The site reaches a maximum depth of around 40 metres over a wall bottom, with good visibility, and is rated a beginner dive, though entry is usually close to shore working the upper section of the wall before any drift sets in. Sipadan's limited daily permit system means the site sees a fixed, capped number of divers, which has helped keep the wall and its fish life consistent over the years.

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
• 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
• BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
• AngelfishAngelfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Hammerhead sharkHammerhead sharkReported here · unconfirmed
• FrogfishFrogfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Leaf scorpionfishLeaf scorpionfishReported here · unconfirmed
• TriggerfishTriggerfishReported here · unconfirmed
• OctopusOctopusReported here · unconfirmed
• TunaTunaReported here · unconfirmed
• Mola mola (ocean sunfish)Mola mola (ocean sunfish)Reported here · unconfirmed
• TrevallyTrevallyReported here · unconfirmed
• NudibranchNudibranchConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
• LionfishLionfishReported here · unconfirmed
• FusilierFusilierReported here · unconfirmed
• Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydasObserved near here · iNaturalist
• Blue DragonPteraeolidia semperiObserved near here · iNaturalist
• Dusky NembrothaNembrotha kubaryanaObserved near here · iNaturalist