Semporna: Bohey 3 Islands Hike, Snorkel/Dive Tour with Lunch

Bohey Dulang is the star of this seven-hour island trip, but the real appeal is the combination: a steep 600-meter walk to a famous viewpoint, followed by clear-water stops around Mantabuan and Sibuan. I like that you get both a land-based view of the Tun Sakaran Marine Park and time in the water, rather than spending the entire day on a boat.

I also like the practical support for first-time swimmers and first-time scuba participants. Guides help with life jackets, safety rings, masks, and the basic briefing, while instructor Din has been especially helpful with beginners. The main drawback is that extra fees are not included, and the hike may be canceled by weather, sea conditions, or park rules.

Key points at a glance

• Bohey Dulang’s 600-meter trail: A tiring climb rewarded with wide views of the turquoise lagoon and nearby islands.
• Two water stops: Mantabuan and Sibuan offer swimming, snorkeling, or two 20-minute DSD sessions with an instructor.
• Lunch on a quiet island: You get a lunch box and a long break in the shade, though bringing extra snacks is sensible.
• Support for nervous swimmers: Life jackets, safety rings, multilingual instructions, and attentive crew make the water stops more approachable.
• Important extra costs: Foreign visitors pay RM30 for the marine park, while hiking adds RM50 for the permit and RM7 for insurance when the hike operates.
• Weather controls the plan: The captain may change the order of the islands, and the Bohey Dulang hike is subject to official park approval.

Why Bohey Dulang is worth the effort

The day begins at Jetty Pelancong Semporna, where you complete registration before boarding the speedboat. You need to provide your full name and nationality in advance for registration, and you should arrive at the stated meeting time rather than treating the jetty as a casual departure point.

The first boat ride takes about 80 minutes. That is a long stretch on open water, so motion-sickness tablets or another proven remedy are sensible if you are prone to queasiness. Keep your passport or an accepted copy with you, along with cash for the required fees.

Bohey Dulang formed from old volcanic activity, and its shape gives the island much of its appeal. The trail is around 600 meters, but the short distance can still feel demanding because you are climbing rather than strolling. Bring proper hiking shoes, not smooth sandals, and expect the walk to make you sweat in the tropical heat.

At the top, you look across the young green peak, the lagoon below, nearby islands, and the Celebes Sea. The view is the payoff for the climb, and it gives you a sense of the marine park that a boat-level tour cannot provide. Several people have described the climb as tiring but worthwhile, which is a fair description.

The route is not guaranteed. Government park rules, weather, road conditions, and sea conditions can close the trail. If the hike is canceled, the tour continues with the swimming and snorkeling or underwater sessions, but the related hiking permit, park entry, and insurance charges do not apply.

If you book the no-hike option, you cannot decide at the last minute to join the climb. The park requires permits to be issued under the names of people who are hiking, so you will wait at the jetty while the hiking group goes up. That makes the hiking choice something to settle before departure.

Mantabuan brings the first water stop

After Bohey Dulang, the speedboat takes about 15 minutes to Mantabuan. This island has a different feel from the main viewpoint. It was once home to a small sea-gypsy community whose members lived mostly on the water, and the remains of crumbled brick are a reminder of that earlier way of life.

The stop lasts around 35 minutes and includes time for swimming, snorkeling, and viewing marine life. The crew gives a safety briefing before you enter the water. If you are not a confident swimmer, tell the guides clearly, use the life jacket, and stay close to the support offered by the boat crew.

For snorkelers, the included mask and snorkel keep the arrangement simple. Fins are included for the DSD option, along with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, gauge, cylinder, and other standard equipment. No scuba certificate is required for the introductory sessions, but the instructor still controls the pace and safety of the activity.

The underwater scenery is one of the strongest parts of the day. Expect coral and schools of tropical fish, with the exact viewing conditions changing according to weather, tide, and the captain’s choice of site. If you are an experienced snorkeler, you may want more time in the water than the schedule allows, since the group must move together and accommodate beginners.

That is the tradeoff. The arrangement is friendly to mixed groups, but it is not designed as a long, specialist snorkeling trip. You get two scheduled water stops rather than hours at a single reef.

Lunch gives the day a slower middle

After the first water stop, the boat heads to a secluded island area for a break of about 1.5 hours. The order can change because the crew works around tides, weather, and lunch timing. That flexibility is useful in a marine park, where the best plan on paper may not suit the actual sea conditions.

Lunch is served in the shade and comes as a lunch box. The meal is local in character, but the available information does not promise a particular menu, so I would not book this trip for a gourmet meal. One practical tip is to carry extra snacks if you are selective about food or tend to get hungry after a hike and water activity.

This long pause is valuable. You can change clothes, dry off, walk a little, and rest before the second snorkeling stop. Bring a waterproof bag for wet items and a full change of clothes. The tour includes one 1.5-liter bottle of water, but additional drinking water may be worth packing if allowed by the operator.

The lunch stop also helps balance the pace. Without it, the combination of a boat ride, climb, and two water sessions would feel rushed. You will still spend much of the day moving, but the break gives you time to recover.

Sibuan offers a quieter final swim

The final island is Sibuan, reached by another boat ride of about 15 minutes. The stop lasts around 40 minutes and includes swimming, snorkeling, and marine-life viewing. The captain chooses the exact bay and water area based on the day’s conditions, so you should think of the location as flexible rather than guaranteed.

Possible sights include a secluded blue-sand beach, a stone arch beneath the coast, and underwater formations with large numbers of colorful fish. These features make Sibuan a pleasant finish, particularly if the water is calm and visibility is good.

The crew may also choose a place that local residents rarely see. That does not mean you are guaranteed a particular arch or reef formation, but it does explain why the captain has room to adjust the plan. In a marine setting, flexibility is better than forcing a fixed stop in poor conditions.

The second water session is also useful for comparing sites. Mantabuan and Sibuan do not offer exactly the same setting, and the change from one island to another keeps the day from feeling repetitive. Still, 40 minutes passes quickly once safety instructions, entering the water, and regrouping are counted.

After Sibuan, the return ride takes about an hour. The full day is advertised at 450 minutes, or seven and a half hours, although the exact starting and ending time can shift with sea conditions, government approval, and the day’s order of stops.

What is included, and what costs extra

At $58 per person, the trip offers solid value if you want several different activities in one day. The price covers the speedboat trip, lunch box, 1.5-liter water bottle, life jacket, dock taxes, multilingual instructions, mask and snorkel, and the basic support needed for the scheduled activities.

If you select snorkeling, two snorkeling trips are included. If you select the DSD option, you receive two 20-minute sessions with an instructor. Equipment includes fins, BCD, regulator, wetsuit, gauge, and cylinder. The 20 minutes refers to the underwater session and does not include the safety briefing or the entire stop.

You should budget for these additional charges:

• Tun Sakaran Marine Park fee: RM30 per person
• Bohey Dulang permit and climbing fee: RM50 per person when hiking is available
• Bohey insurance: RM7 per person when hiking is available, under the stated park regulation
• Marine park scuba fee: RM150 for each foreign visitor or RM100 for each Malaysian visitor who takes part in the DSD activity

That last fee applies only to the scuba option, not snorkeling. A foreign visitor who hikes and takes the DSD option could therefore face RM237 in listed additional charges, before any personal spending. A foreign visitor who only snorkels would pay the RM30 marine park fee, plus the hiking charges if the climb operates.

This changes the value calculation. The base price is attractive for a full day, but you should compare the final cost rather than stopping at the $58 headline figure. Snorkelers get the simpler price structure. People choosing the introductory scuba option receive more equipment and instruction, but also face a much higher marine park charge.

The crew and the group experience

The crew speaks Chinese, English, and Malay, although the level of spoken English may vary among individual staff members. Communication can be limited at times, so pay close attention to the safety briefing and ask questions before entering the water.

Support in the water is a strong feature. Guides can assist people using life jackets and safety rings, and the crew has experience helping nervous swimmers. This makes the trip a reasonable choice for families and mixed groups, including people who are not ready to swim far from the boat.

Instructor Din has been singled out for working well with first-time DSD participants. If you are new to scuba equipment or uneasy underwater, tell the team before the session begins. You should expect a basic introductory experience, not the independence or longer bottom time of a certified scuba excursion.

The pace also suits solo visitors. You join a group, but the schedule gives you a clear structure and the crew helps manage the movement between boat, trail, beach, and water. Families with children aged 7, 10, and 12 have completed the outing successfully, though every family should consider the climb, heat, boat ride, and children’s swimming ability.

Who should book this Semporna tour

I would choose this trip if you want the broadest sample of the marine park in one day. You get a major viewpoint, two island stops, lunch, swimming, and a choice between snorkeling and introductory scuba sessions.

It is particularly suitable for:

• First-time snorkelers who want close support
• Families comfortable with a full day outdoors
• Solo visitors looking for a structured island outing
• Couples who want both scenery and time in the water
• People who want a scenic hike without committing to a full mountain day

I would be more cautious if your main goal is extended time underwater. The schedule serves a mixed group, so experienced snorkelers may find each water stop short. I would also reconsider it if you dislike long speedboat rides, struggle with motion sickness, or have respiratory issues, since the activity is not suitable for people with respiratory problems.

Pack hiking shoes, a waterproof bag, cash, a passport or accepted copy, spare clothes, motion-sickness prevention, and a wetsuit if you prefer your own. The operator lists a wetsuit among the suggested items, even though equipment is supplied for the DSD option.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want one energetic day that combines Bohey Dulang’s famous view with two different island water stops. The best parts are the climb, the support for less confident swimmers, and the chance to see both the islands and reefs around Semporna.

Choose another style of trip if you want a slow beach day, a long specialist snorkeling session, or a fixed schedule that will not change with tides and weather. Before paying, confirm whether you want hiking, snorkeling, or the DSD option, then add the relevant park and permit fees. With that final cost in mind, this is a strong all-round introduction to Tun Sakaran Marine Park.

FAQ

How long does the Bohey Dulang island tour last?

The advertised duration is 450 minutes, or about seven and a half hours. Sea conditions, government approval, and the order of island visits can affect the starting and ending time.

Is hiking at Bohey Dulang guaranteed?

No. The hike depends on weather, road conditions, and official park restrictions. If authorities cancel it, the tour continues with the snorkeling or DSD activities, and hiking-related fees do not apply.

How long is the Bohey Dulang trail?

The hiking route is approximately 600 meters and leads to panoramic views of the surrounding islands, lagoon, and Celebes Sea.

Do I need a scuba certificate for the underwater sessions?

No. The activity offers DSD sessions with an instructor, and no scuba certificate is required. Each session lasts about 20 minutes, not including the safety briefing.

What should I bring to the tour?

Bring a change of clothes, hiking shoes, cash, a passport or accepted copy, a waterproof bag, motion-sickness prevention, and a wetsuit if you want to use your own. The tour includes one 1.5-liter bottle of water.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must make your own way to Jetty Pelancong Semporna. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.