Sipadan Island: Turtle Cavern

Much has been written about the turtle cavern, referring to it as a turtle graveyard. In reality the turtles enter the cavern accidentally to rest but get lost in the labyrinth, then become disoriented and drown.

The cavern is situated at the northern end of the island. Divers are often warned during their first orientation dive that they are not allowed to enter the cavern for their own safety. A signboard is also erected at the entrance of the Turtle Cavern providing further warning, so a curious diver won't end his stay in the cavern. However, visits into the cavern can be arranged with a qualified dive master leading 3 divers at a time. A cave diving certification is offered for the adventurous who wish to explore the labyrinths.

The dive begins along the wall of the drop-off and descends to about 20 metres. Depth in the cavern is about 21 metres, and you find the various connecting caverns rise to less than 4 metres from the surface. You will notice skeletal remains of perished turtles scattered randomly on the silty cavern floor. There are even the remains of what was once an egg-carrying female turtle. No coral growth is observed in the cavern. The only life forms are schools of silver sweepers, soldier fish and the flashlight fish.

# posted by kamals @ 10:27 AM