Located at the south of Sipadan Island Turtle Patch is slightly different to other Sipadan dive sites because it doesn't drop straight down into the abyss. First it slopes off in stages to 40m. Then it drops into the abyss.
Currents can be strong here so this dive is often done as a drift dive. Sipadan boat captains drop divers in and then drift with the bubbles so that when the divers surface the boat is right there waiting to pick them up.
Large schools of trevally can surround divers here and as the name suggests turtles are prolific.
There is a larger turtle population at Sipadan Island than anywhere else in the world, divers will see dozens of green turtles at Turtle patch and at most other Sipadan dive sites. Hawksbill turtles can also be seen in lesser numbers.
The turtles are protected around Sipadan (although they are hunted for their shells, eggs and meat elsewhere in Malaysia) and the touching of them is strictly prohibited by the local divemasters. Divemasters seem less strict however about divers touching the coral, an area that needs improvement.
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