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Sipadan Island to close every December
Acclaimed scuba diving spot Sipadan will close to all visitors for one month a year starting in December 2020.
Situated off the coast of Sabah, East Malaysia, it is one of the regions’ top scuba destinations and is already subject to strict limits on numbers.
There is a maximum of 156 divers allowed per day while up to 20 snorkelers are permitted on special permits.
December was chosen for the closure as it is one of the quietest months.
The closure was requested by dive operators themselves.
"The one-month temporary closure is to allow the coral and marine life to recuperate. The operators themselves suggested this and was agreed unanimously by all," said tourism chief Christina Liew.
Sipadan Island will be closed for all snorkelling and scuba diving activities from Dec 1-31, and will be enforced on an annual basis, she said.
No overnight stays are permitted on Sipadan Island anymore after strict rules were brought in by the Sabah Parks department to protect the land ecosystem.
Sipadan is widely regarded as one of the very best dive spots on the planet and has drop offs which plunge hundreds of metres to the ocean floor.
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