A top Mabul prize: the beautiful (and deadly) blue-ringed octopus
Mabul Island offers a smorgasbord of rare and unique macro critters, making it the perfect destination for underwater macro photography.
Images credit: Shutterstock
Mabul Island, a small island off the southeastern coast of Sabah, is arguably one of the most popular muck diving destinations in Asia. This tiny oval-shaped island is lauded for its sandy beaches and its fascinating location on the tip of a breathtaking reef renowned as a macro heaven.
Equally enjoyable for snorkellers, these muck diving sites are surrounded by colourful and enthralling biodiversity. Mabul offers much deeper and explorative waters, in contrast to other neighbouring islands.
Mabul’s reef sits on the edge of the continental shelf and has a depth of approximately 25 to 30 metres. These waters are perfect for muck divers eager to dive into underwater macro photography and capture stunning images. The sandy sea floor offers lower visibility at times but don’t be fooled, as the seabed is host to peculiar yet wonderful macro critters. Bobtail squid (Sepiolida), mimic octopuses (Thaumoctopus mimicus), flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) and possibly even lethal blue-ringed octopuses are just a few of the creatures that divers may spot during their dives. Crustaceans such as boxer crabs (Lybia tessellata) and harlequin shrimps (Hymenocera picta) are a common sight along the sandy sea floors. The Mabul reefs are littered with various gobies including metallic shrimp gobies (Amblyeleotris latifasciata) and spike-fin gobies (Discordipinna griessingeri). There is also an abundance of deep-water frogfish (Nudiantennarius subteres) in the region and keep your eyes peeled for scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae).
Crocodile Avenue
Located off the northern shore of Mabul, Crocodile Avenue is an ideal spot for macro divers as well as enthusiast underwater photographers. However, you won’t find any toothy reptiles in these calm waters. Rather, the site gets its name from the countless crocodilefish (Papilloculiceps longiceps) that roam the sandy bottoms. But these harmless fish are difficult to spot in these murky waters, as their impressive camouflage skills allow them to blend into their surroundings. Divers may also encounter slender snake eels (Brachysomophis crocodilinus) and ghost pipefishes (Solenostomus paradoxus). Crocodile Avenue is an exceptional choice for a serene night dive. You will be able to catch a glimpse of more exotic and rare marine creatures under a completely different light.
House Reef
A stunning peacock mantis shrimp on the House Reef
Mabul’s House Reef is a muck diving paradise bursting with an impressive array of underwater life thanks to multiple artificial reef structures put in place by local dive operators. These wrecks and metal structures have encouraged marine species to flourish just below the jetty.
The House Reef is full of hidden creatures such as frogfish, harlequin shrimp, seahorses, porcelain crabs and pink squat lobsters (Lauriea siagiani). Keen-eyed divers and macro photographers should also look out for leaffish, ghost pipefish, and nudibranchs of all shapes and sizes. Larger creatures can also be found in the vicinity, including morays, sea turtles, pelagic stingrays, and large schools of trevally.
This article is from Issue 6 of AsianDiver 2021, which can be purchased here.
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