Semporna, Sabah

Welcome to

Semporna
...gateway to island dreams in Sabah...

Semporna Town comes to life each April during the unique boat festival REGATTA LEPA when the Sea Bajau dress up their Lepa-Lepa traditional sailboats for competition. More about REGATTA LEPA.

The waterfront section of Semporna has been transformed with new shop houses that host a few budget hotels. Water taxis busy plying the shore. There many inhabited islands in the Sulu Sea off Semporna

Since the dive resorts on Pulau Sipadan were ordered to ship out in a controversial move to conserve the island's fragile ecosystem, dive centers, budget motels and hotels have sprouted along the waterfront of Semporna to cater for the increasing number of tourists.

Every one come to the town of Semporna for the world-famous diving spots in Pulau Sipadan, and Pulau Mabul and Kapalai Reef.

Daily dive trips can be arranged from Semporna to Pulau Sipadan and the boat journey takes about 1.5 hours.

The local Bajau Laut ( sea gypsy) display their exotic lepa sailing boat design. They associate themselves with the bountiful ocean surrounding them. A quick stroll to the nearby fishing harbor as well as the wet market is spectacle.

Just right before sunset, witness the dozens of lepa single mask boats parading themselves home, bringing back daily catch.

Most Visitors know Semporna as a gateway to Sipadan - an island voted the world's Top 5 Dive Destinations.

But Semporna is more then that. This little town is also gateway to an ancient seafaring community on islands to be explored and discovered.

Accommodation in and around Semporna Town

Land based Accommodation	Sea based Accommodation
Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers	Sipadan Water Village Resort
Dragon Inn Resort	Sipadan Mabul Resort
Seafest Hotel	Borneo Diver Resort
Scuba Junkie Backpackers	Seaventure Resort
Singamata Adventure Water Chalet
Sipadan Inn
City Inn Semporna

HOTELS IN SEMPORNA

Hotel / Resort	Tel	Rooms	Rates (RM)
Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers	089-785088
Hotel Damai (for local)	089-782011		45 - 60
Lee's Resthouse (Hotel)	089-784491		70
Dragon Inn Resort	089-781088	100	15, 90 - 150
Seafest Hotel		150	145-1000
Scuba Junkie Backpackers
Singamata Adventure Water Chalet	019-8430550		30
Sipadan Inn	089-78766		85 - 180
City Inn Semporna
SEMPORNA HOLIDAY RESORT	089-784597	20	50-100

City Inn Semporna Located at the center of Semporna town in Sabah, the gateway to world's most spectacular scuba diving activities - Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai to name a few.

City Inn Semporna is in a very good location, You can find many shops outside your room: bank, restaurants - clinics, hypermarkets, etc are all just less than 2 minutes away by walk.

http://www.cityinn-semporna.com

LEPA Water Festival
Annual Water Festival of the Sea Gypsy

Semporna is known for the Regatta Lepa traditional boat contest in April annually.

Every April, Semporna comes to life with the Bajau people's unique festival of Regatta Lepa - a festival of contesting the most beautiful traditional sailboats. This water festival is a bonus for foreign tourists divers who come to Pulau Sipadan with a chance to be able to witness local culture close-up

DEWAN MASYARAKAT SEMPORNA

Semporna community hall

Semporna population is around 133,000 in 2006. Majority is Bajau live in sprawling stilt villages over the sea water on the outskirts of town.

Semporna is visited by tourists as a base for scuba diving or snorkeling trips to Pulau Sipadan (Sipadan Island), some 36 kilometers southeast of town.

Marine products are still the mainstay of the local economy. Pearl culturing is a major component of this industry.

The Kumpit

During the festival In Semporna waterfront are two types of boats; the decorated Lepa, and the smaller, less ornate Kumpit.

16th Regatta Lepa Semporna
18 April 2009 Until 19 April 2009

LEPA - traditional sailboats of the Bajau people, Sabah’s ethnic seafarers.

Lots of fun-filled matches such as tug-of-war, kayaking and boat racing will be held.

Highlight is the selection of the best ‘lepa’ or sailboat.

Venue: Semporna, Sabah
Phone: 6089 781 518 / 6088 232 121 Fax: 6089 781 472 / 6088 265 540
Email: zachary@sabahtourism.com Website: www.sabahtourism.com

State-Level Cultural Carnival, Semporna 2009
Date : 28 - 29 November 2009

Witness, experience and discover Sabah's cultures during the State Level Cultural Carnival held in Semporna. There will be a myriad of traditional song and dance performances, traditional activities, crafts and many more exciting events throughout the two-day event.

Further Information
Organiser : Sabah Cultural Board
Telephone : +6088 268812 / 268884 Fax : +6088 264235
Email Contact : Mackey.Apison@sabah.gov.my

In Semporna you can stop at various points along the sea side to watch the every day Sea Bajau's life such as floating villages, seaweed farming and fishing and how the locals going about their everyday chores. You'll see many different types of boats that the sea gypsy depend on for transportation.

Semporna is the 'jump-off' point for Sipadan Island the diving paradise and other islands.

Semporna is also the place where Sabah pearls are cultured.

The new Semporna public library is open in 2009. It is within walking distance from SK Pekan Semporna, a primary school originally built in 1939.

The original Semporna district office – (built in the 1930s) - is currently being restored as a heritage building by Jabatan Warisan Negara.

Tun Sakaran Marine Park (Semporna Islands Park)

Off the coast of Semporna Town is a new marine park called Tun Sakaran Marine Park (Semporna Islands Park). Tun Sakaran Marine Park was gazetted by Sabah Parks Authority in 2004.

SEMPORNA ISLANDS PARK ACTION PLAN 2001-2005 : http://www.mcsuk.org/semporna/actionplan/actionplan.htm

Pulau Gaia, off Semporna Town , is one of the most beautiful island lagoons in Sabah

Fish cage culture farm in Pulau Bum-Bum Island, Sabah : http://www.mcsuk.org/semporna/resource/23.htm

Management Plan for the Semporna Islands Park : Semporna Islands Park (PDF)

Safeguard Semporna's exceptionally high level of marine biodiversity : http://www.dive-the-world.com

Rumpai Laut - Seaweed (Eucheuma - Kappaphycus alvarezii)

Seaweed culture in Semporna started in the late 1970s. A priority of the Department of Fisheries Sabah as a supplementary income-generating activity among the fishing communities in Semporna.

A demonstration farm was set up on Sebangkat reef top in 1980.

Today many fishermen have involved in seaweed farming of Euchema cottonii because it provides a higher income to fishing. Culture plots are found mostly on the extensive ‘reef top platform’ to the north of Sebangkat and Selakan.

In SIDP, Seaweed Farming is an alternative livelihood for the fisherman in Semporna. Fishing communities now can earn extra income by growing seaweed for sale to processing plants in Sabah.

Carrageenan extracted from the seaweed is used as a stabilizer in food and cosmetics.

Department of Fisheries provided manual on seaweed farming. This manual, in Bahasa Malaysia and Bajau, made easy the farming method by illustration in cartoon drawings and step by step instructions.

Under the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP), Sabah is to produce 250,000 metric tones of seaweed by the year 2010.

This means Sabah must quickly muster the capacity to increase production since its current output only about 50,000 metric tones per year

Financial support to augment production is not likely to be an issue since the Federal Government has "identified" seaweed farming as a 'high impact project', where it is going to get high priority treatment and emphasis

Sabah has only two seaweed processing mills for 'semi refined caragenaan' (SRC):

1) Semporna seaweed processing mill

2) Lahad Datu-based seaweed processing mill

Both mill process 'semi refined caragenaan' (SRC) for export to Japan, UK, USA, China and Korea

Sabah is, therefore, looking for application of "fine technology" for the production of high-quality seaweed seedlings which feature high gel strength, faster growth rate and resistant to disease as well.
The key strategy is to improve farm technology.

For seaweed production Sabah can found in following areas:

1) west coast of Kota Kinabalu and Labuan Island;

2) Kota Kinabalu northward South China Sea islands;

3) Balabac Straits;

4) Murudu Peninsula including Darvel Bay

5) Semporna Peninsula;

6) Reefs and islands in the Semporna area.

The ocean provides eatable seaweed, abundant fish for us to eat. High quality cultivated seaweeds are grown in clear blue sea at Sipadan island off Semporna Town

Natural seaweed are processed into snacks such as seaweed crackers. Among all natural health foods, seaweed contains the highest amount of protein without any cholesterol. It is suitable for all ages. High protein vegetable seaweed are called "vegetable for longevity" which contains high contents of protein, iodine, phosphorus, calcium, iron and vitamins.

Semporna is located near the world’s largest seaweed producing areas, an vast ocean area include that of Southern Philippines and Northern Sulawesi of Indonesia.

Seaweeds are delicious, high in iron, calcium and vitamin A

In the wet markets of Sabah one can find two slimy type of seaweeds on sale, one type is yellowish, the other is dark green seaweed on stalks with round buds. Both are called rumpai laut by the local.

The seaweed culture project in Sempornah has become an income generator for the locals and is helping to enhance Semporna district's economy as the leading seaweed producer in Sabah.

In this district the seaweed culture project has already been implemented in Pulau Selakan, Kerindingan, Bum-Bum, Sebangkat, Sibuan, Pababag and Omadal.

TACARA SDN BHD - Carrageenan processing mill.

Seaweed Prawn Dumpling is now a new favorite among the West Malaysian visitors. You can find this special menu in Sabah.

You hotel can also arrange a local boat to take you to visit the seaweed farms nearby Semporna.

PPRL Banggi Seaweed Development Project was established in 1999 managed by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). The development activities carried out by UMS include :
a) Introducing seaweed culture to Banggi Islands
b) Identifying ideal seaweed culture area and Carrying out research and development on culture technique and disease
d) Commercialization and marketing of seaweed

The Semporna Islands Darwin Project (SIDP) in Sabah, Malaysia

The Semporna Islands Darwin Project (SIDP) is an initiative involving local communities in coral reef conservation in the recently gazette Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Sabah, Malaysia.

The project is managed by the Marine Conservation Society in collaboration with Sabah Parks, and the aim is to protect the outstanding features and biodiversity of the site while promoting sustainable use of natural resources, economic development and traditional culture.

Tour Agents in Semporna : Sipadan Scuba

This very small town does not have enough street lights. Most new visitor do not feel safe walking around at night.


Sipadan	Mabul	Kapalai	Mataking

Link - Semporna Travel Blogs : http://www.travelblog.org

In the Bajau and Malay language, "semporna" literally means, "perfect". The town with its feet in the sea, Semporna and its many islands are like a dream come true... pure white sandy beaches, coconut palms and tranquil waters lapping over colorful reefs in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Sulawesi Sea. The richness of the sea, fishes of all kinds, sea cucumbers, shells, pearls and in recent years, seaweed farming - all these have attracted seafarers and fisher-folks to Semporna and its islands.

The early Bajau people lived their entire lives aboard their boats. Today, most live along the coasts, perched on stilts over shallow reefs, where they continue their love affair with the sea. Every April, Semporna celebrates with a Regatta Lepa. Thousands sail into town in all kinds of boats including the gaily-decorated lepa and jungkong, their traditional boats, to compete for prizes. Arrangements can be made to explore the islands off Semporna to visit water-villages and seaweed farms, swim and snorkel. The Semporna people also boasts they have the best seafood in all of Malaysia, the freshest and least expensive!

Semporna is the departure point to the world's best dive sites and island-resorts of Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai.

Semporna is Sabah Royal Malaysian Navy's main post. State-of-the-art patrol craft ply the waters of the ocean area.

SEMPORNA OCEAN TOURISM CENTRE

SEMPORNA HOLIDAY RESORT

| Bukit Tengkorak (Skull Hill) |

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Bryant, D., L. Burke; J. McManus & M. Spalding, 1998. Reefs at Risk: A map-based indicator of threats to the world's coral reefs. World Resources Institute.

Cabanban, A.S. & Sabah Parks (in preparation) 2001. The roles of marine protected areas in Sabah with emphasis on tourism. Sabah Parks Journal.

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How to get to Semporna Town in Sabah...

Express Bus
From Kota Kinabalu to Semporna Fares: RM58 (p/pax) Duration: 9 hours
Daily Flights
MAS - from KK to Tawau Fares: *check with the nearest travel agents Duration: 45 minutes
Taxi
From Tawau to Semporna Fares: RM80 - RM100 Duration: 1hr 45 minutes

Mini Bus
From Tawau to Semporna Fares: RM12 - RM20 Duration: 1hr 45 minutes

About Semporna : April 22, 2009 12:10:33 PM