History

History of Sipadan Island.

SIPADAN got its name from the word Sempadan which means border/boundary and Pulau Sipadan would mean "Border Island", a suitable name to describe the island located near the boundary of Malaysia and Indonesia. However according to another resource, Sipadan got its name from Siparan, the name of a man who was found lifeless on the beach.

1800s: The local seafarers received the privilege and exclusive rights to collect turtle eggs at Sipadan for trade.

1933: Sipadan was declared as a bird sanctuary by the British as at that time, Sipadan was an important stopover for migratory birds.

1961: A lighthouse was built at the southern part of the island as an aid to navigation for pilots at sea.

1964 - Pulau Sipadan becomes part of the turtle egg native reserve of Sabah - an important step in protecting the very species that would make Sipadan famous.

1983 - Although dive trips to the island were being run by Borneo Divers as early as 1983, Jacques Cousteau's film, 'Ghost of the Sea Turtles' brought international fame to Malaysia's only truly oceanic island. Jacques Cousteau once said "I have seen other places like Sipadan, 45 years ago, but now, no more. Now, we have found again an untouched piece of art..."

1997 - Sipadan is now well recognised as not only a major tourist draw for Malaysia but also a place of outstanding natural beauty under threat. Its fame is bringing divers to its reefs every day with at least two to three hundred divers and snorkelers visiting each day.

2000 - On April 23 year 2000, my friend Lee along with 20 other people were kidnapped by the Filipino Islamist terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. The armed terrorists arrived by boat and forced 10 tourists and 11 resort workers at gun point to board the vessels and brought the victims to their base in Mindanao. All victims were eventually released.

2002 - In the past, the island was at the centre of a territorial dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia. The matter was brought for adjudication before the International Court of Justice and, at the end of 2002, the Court awarded the island along with the island of Ligitan to Malaysia, on the basis of the "effective occupation" displayed by the latter's predecessor; Malaysia's former colonial power, the United Kingdom and the absence of any other superior title. The Philippines had applied to intervene in the proceedings on the basis of its claim to Northern Borneo, but its request was turned down by the Court early in 2001. The dispute between the 3 neighboring countries show commercial value that Sipadan possess.

2004 - The Government of Malaysia announced Sipadan Island as a National Park under direct protection of the government bodies responsible of conservation works. The government ordered all on-site dive and resort operators of Sipadan to move their structures off the island by the 31st of December 2004. Dive operators were quick to relocate and rebuilt their resorts at nearby islands like Mabul and Kapalai as well as establishing dive centers at the town of Semporna. Soon, Mabul Island, Kapalai Island, Mataking Island and the town of Semporna became popular as the new place to stay and dive and as an alternative to the now restricted Sipadan.

2005 - The Government of Malaysia announced that only 120 visitors are allowed to visit Sipadan each day, from 6am to 6pm only. This made Sipadan no longer accessible forsunset and night dives. Only a few selected dive operators were given quotas to lead trips to Sipadan and each operator were given a fair share of the 120 permits.