Sipadan!

Today we would do four dives at Sipadan.  This was going to be the highlight of the trip; the whole reason for coming here!  Special permits are needed to dive here because it is so protected.  Jacques Cousteau said, "I have seen other places like Sipadan, 45 years ago, but now no more. Now we have found an untouched piece of art."  It has been named the number one dive location in the world along with the Galapagos Islands and Truk in Micronesia due to it's rich and varied marine life.

Here is the guard post on the island, complete with machine guns.  On 23 April 2000, 21 people were kidnapped by the Filipino Islamist terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, known as the 2000 Sipadan kidnappings. 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 Jolo. All victims were eventually released.

As we approached the island, we happened upon some mating turtles. photo by Adam Clifford

Our first dive was at the famous Barracuda Point.

Grey reef sharks abound

An incredible abundance of life.

White-tipped reef shark

The sharks have fish following them so the can skim themselves against the shark's sandpapery skin to clean themselves.

  

Here we saw a thrilling barracuda tornado! photo by Adam Clifford

photo by Adam Clifford

photo by Adam Clifford

 Barracuda tornado!!!!!!!  It went on for almost 2 minutes.  My camera quality isn't great, and I managed to splice in Adam Clifford's short clip.

Reef shark with small green eels sticking out of the sand. photo by Adam Clifford

photo by Adam Clifford

photo by Adam Clifford

Fishes, fishes everywhere!

In the Turtle Cave

photo by Adam Clifford

End of a great day with my dive buddies Dave and Cat.