Semporna 3 Days 2 Nights Crazy Play Guide: Local Insider Tips, Hidden Treasures Beneath the Glass Sea
Who understands, family! While snorkeling in Semporna, suddenly surrounded by a school of colorful fish, I looked down—there was a big sea turtle hiding in the coral, slowly blinking! This island favored by God, even the waves sparkle like scattered diamonds. Here’s a super detailed guide, including secret tips from diving instructors👇
🏝️ Island Hopping Routes: Confused by 3 routes? Here’s how to choose right!
🔥 Tun Sakaran Marine Park (A must for beginners, see 7 shades of blue in one day)
📍 Includes 4 islands: Pearl Island + Battleship Island + Mantabuan Island + Bohey Dulang Island
🎫 Cost: 480 RMB/person (Book early on Trip.com to save 30 RMB, includes lunch + snorkeling gear)
⏰ Schedule: Meet at the pier at 7:00 AM (Don’t be late! The boat won’t wait)
🌞 Morning: Climb Pearl Island to see the “Sea Necklace”
- Climbing tip: Wear water shoes! The steps are covered in moss, three girls slipped (don’t wear sandals like them)
- Best photo spot on top: Rock pile on the left (few people! You can capture an arc of 7 small islands, like a necklace dropped by God)
- Hidden perk: Arrive before 9 AM to see clouds casting shadows on the sea, like a moving ink painting 🖼️
🌊 Noon: Snorkeling and feeding fish at Battleship Island
- Bring some toast! Crush and throw it into the water, tropical fish will “attack” in 10 seconds (Don’t wear yellow swimsuits, fish will peck crazily)
- Underwater video: Ask the instructor to hold your phone (tip 10 RMB, very cooperative), fish swim past the lens like in a cartoon
- Relax on the beach: The sand on Battleship Island is as fine as flour, barefoot feels like stepping on clouds, perfect for burying your feet under the hot midday sun
🌅 Afternoon: Chase the trailing beach at Mantabuan Island
- Low tide time: 2-4 PM (Check tide tables in advance! High tide will cover half the beach)
- Photo pose: Stand at the end of the beach, have a friend crouch low to shoot, you stand in the middle of the sea (wear a white long dress that flows)
- Bajau kids will paddle their dugout canoes close, don’t buy their starfish (they are dead ones they picked up), give them a candy and they’ll make a heart sign ❤️
🐢 Mabul Three Islands (A diver’s secret, more turtles than tourists)
📍 Includes: Mabul Main Island + Timba Timba Island + Bohey Dulang Island
💰 Cost: 650 RMB/person (includes 1 deep dive experience, totally worth it!)
⚠️ Suitable for: swimmers, you can see turtles just snorkeling
Deep diving must-see:
- Dive spot “Turtle Cleaning Station”: 12 meters underwater, old turtles rest on coral while small fish clean their shells (very gentle, no biting)
- Instructor’s signal: Show “✌️” to ask if you’re okay, don’t randomly show “👌” (means “danger” in diving signals)
- Underwater photos: Wear fluorescent swimsuits! They pop against the blue water, don’t wear silver jewelry (reflects light and scares fish)
Uninhabited Island Easter Eggs:
- Timba Timba Island’s “Heart-shaped Beach”: After low tide, the beach forms a heart shape, most visible at 11 AM under direct sunlight
- Picnic tip: Bring a checkered cloth, lay out fried chicken and mango rice for a “wild luxury island” photo shoot (few ants)
🏡 Water Villa Guide: 3 tested places with no regrets (from budget to luxury)
1. Bohey Dulang Dragon Pearl Resort (Top choice for students)
💰 Price: 750 RMB/night (includes 3 meals + unlimited snorkeling, great value)
✅ Highlights:
- Jump into the sea for snorkeling directly from the water villa balcony, at 7 AM you can see fish “holding meetings” (like watching a free underwater world)
- At night, the beach has “blue tears”! Pour bottled water on the sand and blue light spots appear (don’t use flash, it scares them away)
❌ Drawback: Hot water is only available from 6 PM to 10 PM, don’t linger in the shower
2. Kapalai Water Villas (Top influencer hotspot, photo lovers’ paradise)
💰 Price: 1600 RMB/night (all-inclusive, includes 3 sea trips)
📸 Must-shoot spots:
- Water villa corridor: At 4 PM, sunlight slants and shadows fall on the glass sea like piano keys
- Floating breakfast: Book 1 day in advance (free!), tray placed on balcony railing for a “hand-held breakfast” optical illusion photo
💡 Hidden service: Ask the front desk for “coral seeds” to plant coral by hand (staff will record it, you can check growth next year)
3. Sipadan Water Villas (Ultimate dream for divers)
💰 Price: 3200 RMB/night (includes 2 Sipadan deep dives, limited to 200 people daily)
🌊 Exclusive experiences:
- Watch the “Jackfish storm”: Thousands of fish swirl around you like a washing machine (don’t panic, they avoid humans)
- Night dive to see “biological costume changes”: Coral blooms at night, starfish walk (instructors shine flashlights, super magical)
🍤 Eating seafood in Semporna town: Bargain + hidden ways to eat
Market shopping tips:
- Go to the “Seafood Market” at 4 PM: Fishermen just returned, tiger prawns 25 RMB each (choose yellow ones!), mantis shrimp 30-50 RMB per jin depending on size
- Bargaining trick: After asking the price, say “half price” directly, when the seller pretends to be angry, add 5 RMB, always works
- Processing at “Tianwang Seafood Restaurant”: Boiled shrimp + salted pepper mantis shrimp + Malaysian-style kangkong, 50 RMB processing fee
Must-try snacks:
- Night market “Rojak”: Local salad with mango, cucumber, and shrimp paste, sour and spicy (5 RMB/serving, add fried peanuts for extra aroma)
- “Satay BBQ”: 10 RMB for 5 skewers, eat with peanut sauce, remember to add lime juice to cut grease
- “Kasturi Fruit Stall”: Musang King durian 28 RMB/jin (opened on site, swap if not ripe), Sabah fruit 10 RMB each (sweet like honey)
📅 3 Days 2 Nights Lazy Itinerary (Copy exactly, no regrets)
Day 1:
- Morning: Fly to Tawau Airport → Taxi to Semporna town (look for yellow taxis, 50 RMB/car, illegal taxis charge 100)
- Afternoon: Buy snorkeling gear in town (choose masks with nose clips, 50 RMB/set, renting at the scenic spot is 30 RMB/day, not worth it)
- Evening: Stay at “Seafest Hotel” in town (320 RMB/night, rooftop pool with sea view)
Day 2:
- All day: Tun Sakaran island hopping (bring bread to feed fish, wear water shoes for climbing)
- Evening: Night market for grilled squid + pulled tea, buy chocolates from “Cocoa Lab” as souvenirs (15 RMB/box)
Day 3:
- Morning: Snorkeling at Kapalai (ask instructor to shoot underwater video, 50 RMB/clip)
- Afternoon: Return before 2 PM (Tawau Airport is small, arriving 1 hour early is enough)
💡 6 Secret Tips from Diving Instructors:
1. Buy “reef safe” sunscreen! Ordinary ones kill coral, Watsons in town sells it for 35 RMB/bottle (green bottle is very good)
2. Don’t wear one-piece jellyfish suits for snorkeling! Two-piece is more convenient, girls choose padded tops, no need for underwear (sea water washes it away)
3. Don’t take photos of Bajau kids! They will ask for money, giving candy or pencils is more welcomed (buy in town in advance, 1 RMB/bundle)
4. Don’t touch sea urchins! The sting is very painful, ask the instructor to soak it in urine (don’t be shy, it’s the most effective remedy)
5. Don’t touch the “military relics” on Battleship Island! There are rusty shell casings, cuts require tetanus shots (learned the hard way)
6. Best season is April to September! After October, more rain and murky water, but room prices drop by 30%
Every day in Semporna feels like living in a filter—the fish under the glass sea are denser than stars, the sunset from the water villa balcony casts long shadows, even the air tastes salty and sweet… This isn’t just an island, it’s like a piece of heaven dropped into the human world 🌊 Save this guide, next time we meet on Semporna’s beach!