MV Celebes Explorer

Celebes Explorer is the only liveaboard cruising around Malaysia’s Sipadan

Ever since diving celebrity Jacques Cousteau raved about Pulau Sipadan's diversity of marine life, this dive mecca has been indisputably the most famous scuba destination in Malaysia. It is located off the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia's Eastern most State, and lies on the North-Eastern corner of Borneo, the World's third largest Island

MV Celebes Explorer offers budget year round dive cruises in this rather remote dive spot and promises incredible encounters and some pristine scuba diving.

What you can expect

MV Celebes Explorer is the only Malaysian liveaboard operating in the Sipadan area.

The 29 meters Celebes Explorer is one of only a few liveaboards cruising around Malaysia’s Sipadan. However, you will have to compromise on comfort since the Celebes Explorer is not a luxury option. Built in 2001, it is a wooden mono-hull motor yacht that can accommodate up to 16 Divers.

Facilities include 8 air-conditioned cabins and an air-conditioned Saloon/Restaurant with TV, DVD and music system. There is also a Sundeck for soaking up the rays and a shaded area for keeping cool or enjoying a massage after a fun filled day diving around the Pulau Sipadan area. 

The vessel has an indoor Lounge with a mini-bar as well as a partially covered Sundeck where you can relax. Chairs, mats and tables are spread around for your convenience.

The delicious buffet meals are prepared fresh everyday and included a mix of Malaysian and Chinese fares. Weekly re-provisioning means that only the freshest ingredients are used by the Chef of the MV Celebes Explorer Sipadan liveaboard. Meals are served buffet-style with waited table clearing and assistance. Dishes tend to feature Asian cuisine with some elements of International food.

You can choose to unwind in the cool of the Saloon, perusing the marine library in a number of languages or in the shaded seating area of the Sun Deck where the views over the islands can be spectacular, particularly at sunset.

The Celebes Explorer features 8 cabins on-board, for a maximum capacity of 16 guests on each trip. Moreover, every cabin comes with an en-suite bathroom as well as air conditioning.

Also, you can choose from a few cabins layout. Indeed, the cabins are either 1 double bed or a double bed with single bunk on top.

For liveaboard lovers or keen Divers who just want to dive Sipadan as much as possible, if you are not concerned about the little luxuries in life, the Celebes Explorer is your best option.

Thanks to the high number of park diving permits that this boat has secured, you don't have to worry about whether or not you will make it to the most glamorous dive sites; you will be doing plenty of dives around the island. Choosing this liveaboard means you can dive at Sipadan every day of the week, except on Sundays. 

The downside of doing so many guaranteed dives at Sipadan means staying on a very simple and less-than-stylish liveaboard.

How to get there

Please refer to logistics section of each itinerary to find detailed info on how to get there.