Semporna Hike Bohey 3 Island Snorkel Dive Tour and Lunch

Three islands, one big view. This Semporna day trip combines the 600-meter climb at Bohey Dulang with clear-water stops at Mantabuan and Sibuan. I like the mix of mountain views and reef time, and I like that lunch, park fees, gear, and a small-group boat are included. The main catch is that the hike depends on weather and park rules, and there is no refund if officials cancel it.

The tour runs for about eight hours, beginning at 8:20 a.m. from Semporna Jetty. You can choose snorkeling or two short introductory scuba sessions, with the order of the islands changing according to tides and sea conditions.

Key points at a glance

• Bohey Dulang’s 600-meter trail: A short but worthwhile climb to a famous view over a turquoise lagoon and neighboring islands.
• Two different reef stops: Mantabuan and Sibuan offer swimming and snorkeling, with the exact order set by tides and weather.
• Small group limit: The boat carries a maximum of 12 people, which should make instructions and equipment handling easier.
• Scuba option costs extra: Two 20-minute introductory scuba sessions are included in the activity package, but a RM150 Tun Sakaran fee applies to each scuba participant.
• Useful inclusions: Park admission, guide fees, boat transport, lunch, a 1.5-liter bottle of water, mask, snorkel, life jacket, and scuba equipment are covered.
• Weather can change the day: Officials may cancel the hike, and the operator may move the boat to another snorkeling site.

Why this Semporna day trip is appealing

Semporna is a useful base for reaching the islands of Tun Sakaran Marine Park, and this outing gives you three different ways to enjoy the area in one day. You get a forested hill walk, a high lookout, a local lunch, and long water stops instead of spending the whole day on the boat.

I especially like the balance. Bohey Dulang gives the morning a clear goal, while Mantabuan and Sibuan let you slow down in the water. If you prefer to stay dry, you can also enjoy the beaches and views during the swim stops.

The maximum group size of 12 matters here. A small boat group usually means less waiting when you collect equipment, hear safety instructions, or get back aboard. It also gives you a better chance of receiving direct help from the instructor, which is useful if you have never snorkeled before.

Still, you should book with flexible expectations. The itinerary is not fully fixed. Tide, wind, sea conditions, government rules, and park safety decisions can alter the order or remove the hike. If Bohey Dulang closes, the trip continues with snorkeling or scuba, but the stated terms do not offer a refund simply because you were unable to hike.

Starting at Semporna Jetty at 8:20 a.m.

You meet at Jeti Pelancong Semporna Jetty on Jalan Bangau Bangau in central Semporna. Hotel pickup and return are not included, so you need to arrange your own way to the jetty. The tour finishes back at the same meeting point.

The early start is practical. It leaves most of the day for the marine park and gives the operator room to adjust the island order. It also means you should arrive ready for a full day in sun, spray, and changing conditions.

The boat tour, dock taxes, and taxes are included in the $113 price. The listed group limit is 12 people, and the activity is near public transportation. Confirmation is provided when you book, so keep the booking details available on your phone.

At the jetty, expect the practical business of an island day: getting on the boat, receiving safety guidance, and organizing masks, snorkels, life jackets, or scuba equipment. A multilingual instructor is provided, and the tour includes instruction for both snorkeling and scuba participants.

Bring personal items carefully. The package includes one 1.5-liter bottle of water and a lunch box, but personal expenses are your responsibility. Since the supplied information does not list dry bags or towels, you might want to plan for your phone and spare clothes accordingly.

Bohey Dulang and the 600-meter climb

Bohey Dulang is the trip’s main visual reward. The island formed from volcanic remains, and the trail climbs about 600 meters through scenic surroundings to a high viewpoint.

This is not described as a long trek, but it is still a real hike. You should be comfortable walking uphill and handling warm, humid conditions. The value is not only exercise. From the top, you can look over a turquoise lagoon, green mountains, nearby islands, and the Celebes Sea.

The view gives the geography some meaning. Instead of seeing separate islands from a boat, you see the lagoon and surrounding sea as one connected setting. That makes the climb worth prioritizing if the park allows it.

Park access has two separate costs built into the package for foreign visitors: the Tun Sakaran Marine Park entrance fee and the hiker and guide fee for Bohey National Park under Sabah government rates. That helps explain why the price is more than a basic boat ride.

The hike is the least certain part of the day. Official park restrictions apply to all operators, and the tour cannot promise special access. Weather, trail condition, road conditions, and other safety risks can close the route.

The policy is strict: if the park cancels the hike, the boat continues with water activities, but no refund or date change is offered. If you personally decide not to hike, the stated terms also do not provide a refund. Read this carefully before paying, especially if the summit is the main reason you are booking.

Mantabuan Island for coral and fish

Mantabuan is described as a crumbling brick remnant that once housed a small sea-nomad community. The island’s story adds context to what might otherwise seem like a simple reef stop. You are not just swimming beside a beach. You are visiting a small island shaped by both marine life and human settlement.

The water stop is the main activity. You can snorkel, swim, or choose the scuba option if you booked it. The tour provides masks and snorkels for all participants. Scuba participants receive fins, a BCD, regulator, gauge, oxygen tank or cylinder, and instructor support.

The scuba package includes two sessions of 20 minutes each. However, a separate RM150 fee per scuba participant applies to Tun Sakaran Marine Park. That is an important extra cost, and you should include it in your budget before choosing the underwater option.

The coral and tropical fish are a strong reason to choose this tour over a sightseeing-only boat ride. One especially useful detail is that the instructor is prepared to assist first-time scuba participants. Din, identified as a dive master, received particular praise for being attentive, helpful, and calm with beginners.

If you are new to scuba, remember that two 20-minute sessions are introductory in length. This is not a full certification course or a day built around long underwater sessions. It is a chance to try scuba in a marine park setting, with snorkeling available for the full stop duration.

Lunch under the canopy

After time in the water, you get a local lunch box under the shade of a canopy. The shaded break is a small but important part of the day. After a morning boat ride, hike, and swim, you will appreciate sitting down rather than eating hurriedly on the vessel.

The meal is included, but no menu is provided. If you have dietary restrictions, contact the operator before booking rather than assuming substitutions are available.

Lunch also gives you a natural pause between active stops. The day is not just a series of rushed photo stops. You can eat, dry off, and prepare for the next water session before returning to the boat.

Sibuan Island and the second reef stop

Sibuan is the second snorkeling destination, although it may come before Mantabuan depending on the tide. The island is described as quiet and lightly visited, with a blue-sand beach and an isolated bay.

The underwater area is known for large schools of colorful fish and coral formations. If sea conditions allow, you can snorkel for the full duration of the stop. If you prefer not to enter the water, you can stay on the beach or look toward a stone arch along the coast.

This flexibility makes Sibuan useful for mixed groups. Strong swimmers can spend longer in the water, while someone who is tired from the hike can enjoy the shoreline. The boat skipper may choose a different site if weather conditions require it, so treat the named island as the intended plan rather than an absolute promise.

The tour includes swim stops throughout the day. That is good news if you want plenty of water time, but it also means you should be ready for repeated transitions between boat, beach, and sea. A life jacket is included, and the instructors provide guidance on snorkeling and scuba use.

What the $113 price really covers

At $113, this is not the cheapest possible way to reach the islands. It is priced as a full-day package rather than a simple transfer. You are paying for a boat tour, two marine park and hiking-related fees for foreign visitors, lunch, water, equipment, instructors, taxes, and dock charges.

For snorkeling, the value is easier to judge. You receive two dedicated reef stops, a Bohey Dulang hike when permitted, food, gear, and a small group. If you arranged each part separately, the park and dock charges alone would complicate the comparison.

For scuba, add the RM150 park fee per person. The package includes the equipment and two 20-minute sessions, but that additional charge changes the final price. Ask for the current exchange value before booking, since the tour information lists the fee in Malaysian ringgit.

The strongest value comes when you want all three elements: a viewpoint, island beaches, and reef time. If you only want to snorkel at one site, a simpler local boat might cost less. If Bohey Dulang is closed, the value also depends on how much you care about the snorkeling and scuba portions.

What can go wrong, and how to prepare

The biggest risk is not the scenery. It is the gap between the planned itinerary and what nature or park officials permit.

The hiking trail may close because of weather, trail conditions, government policy, or another hazard. The boat may also change its route because of sea conditions. These decisions apply to the entire operation, not just one booking.

A past customer-service complaint involved a disagreement over returning during poor weather while the park had not officially canceled the excursion. The operator disputed that account, so I would not use it to predict every tour. But it does point to a sensible rule: ask clearly at the start what happens if you feel unsafe, if the park remains open, and if the boat changes the schedule.

You should also understand the cancellation terms. Cancel at least 24 hours before the 8:20 a.m. start for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. Personal inability to hike does not qualify for a refund under the stated terms.

The experience has a 3.7 rating from three published ratings, which is too small a sample for a firm verdict. The positive details are consistent in tone: attentive instructors, a good boat, professional handling, attractive islands, and strong snorkeling. Din receives specific praise for helping first-time scuba participants. The one serious complaint concerns customer service and weather expectations, so clear communication matters.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend this day for someone who wants variety and has only one full day in Semporna. You get a proper island circuit without arranging a separate hike, reef trip, lunch, and equipment rental.

It suits active visitors who can handle a 600-meter uphill walk and several hours around the water. It also suits first-time snorkelers because multilingual instructors, masks, life jackets, and guidance are included.

Families or mixed groups may appreciate the choice between snorkeling, swimming, beach time, and scuba. The maximum of 12 people is another plus for anyone who dislikes a large boat crowd.

I would be more cautious if you are booking solely for the Bohey Dulang summit. The park can cancel that part, and the terms provide no refund if officials close the trail. I would also compare other operators if customer service and weather flexibility are your top priorities.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want one busy, varied day that combines Bohey Dulang, two island water stops, lunch, and gear in one price. The small group, capable instructors, and praise for Din’s help with beginners strengthen the case.

Before paying, budget for the extra RM150 scuba fee, arrange your own transport to the jetty, and accept that tide and park rules may change the plan. If you can live with that uncertainty, $113 is fair value for a full day in Tun Sakaran Marine Park. If a Bohey Dulang hike is non-negotiable, choose only after confirming the current park conditions and accepting the no-refund rule for a canceled climb.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Jeti Pelancong Semporna Jetty on Jalan Bangau Bangau in Semporna at 8:20 a.m. The activity finishes back at the same meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The day trip lasts approximately eight hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to and from the Semporna jetty.

What happens if the Bohey Dulang hike is canceled?

The tour continues with snorkeling or scuba activities. The stated terms do not allow a refund or date change if the hike is canceled because of park rules, weather, trail conditions, or another safety concern.

Is scuba available, and what extra fee applies?

The scuba option includes two 20-minute sessions and the required equipment, but each scuba participant must pay an additional RM150 Tun Sakaran fee. This fee does not apply to snorkeling.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.