Diving options from Singapore

[dannyboy504]

Hi there,

I will be in Singapore mid ~ end November and would like to do some diving. Have been looking at the threads posted here and would appreciate some additional advice. Have come to the following conclusions so far.....

(i) Sipadan / Mabul tops the list in terms of quality diving.
Unfortunately it's not easy to get to from Singapore, requiring two flights an overnight stay and a bus ride. Perhaps I'm missing something.... is there an easier way to get there from Singapore? Plus there appears to be an issue with dive permits? Are these handed out on a daily basis?

(ii) Similan Liveaboard
This seems to receive some good reviews as well. Plus, Phuket is easy to get to from Singapore with the budget airlines. The only problem is that I've done shore based diving from Phuket (King cruiser, anemone reef... etc) and experienced poor visibility.... plus there wasn't much marine life. Is the quality of diving much better, also given the time of year?

Is there another destination worth considering? Many thanks for your time and kind advice!

Daniel

 

[OnTheSpot]

Hi Daniel,

Both Sipadan and Similan areas should not disappoint. I guess it depends on whether you prefer land based diving (Sipadan/Mabul) or liveaboard diving (Similan/Surin) and also what is on your wish list for fish encounters.

1). Diving Sipadan - there is a permit system in place to dive at Pulau Sipadan Island but the resort islands also boast some excellent macro dive sites which are a great complement to the breathtaking big fish action of Sipadan Island.

2). Similan Islands - without question, Similan/Surin Islands diving is the best that Thailand has to offer. November/December visibility should be 25+ meters with excellent diving conditions with an abundance of marine life from seahorses to whale sharks and everything inbetween.

You can compare these destinations on video - here.

 

[Luko]

(i) Sipadan / Mabul tops the list in terms of quality diving.
Unfortunately it's not easy to get to from Singapore, requiring two flights an overnight stay and a bus ride. Perhaps I'm missing something.... is there an easier way to get there from Singapore? Plus there appears to be an issue with dive permits? Are these handed out on a daily basis?

Now that AirAsia.com cut their direct flight to Tawau, you have to take two flights either SIN/KUL/TWU or SIN/BKI/TWU pick your choice, but whichever way you'd be at Tawau airport in the morning and diving Mabul waters in the afternoon (that is if you're staying on Mabul).

Sipadan diving requires permits but in November I wouldn't really be worried, that should be low season for the operators, which would allow you to go to Sipadan almost everyday. Check this beforehand directly with the resort you want to pick.

Phuket is easy to get to from Singapore with the budget airlines. The only problem is that I've done shore based diving from Phuket (King cruiser, anemone reef... etc) and experienced poor visibility

Wot...shore based diving on Anemone reef??? I suppose you mean "day trips" as opposed to "liveaboard".
Viz on KC or AR can vary a lot depending on the time of the year and weather conditions. Personally I find that Anemone reef or Shark point can rival most of the Similans site. If you say there wasn't much marine life on AR or SP.... well, you might then definitely prefer going to Sipadan!

I wonder how you got to the conclusion there were only these two options above, departing from Singapore, I would name a few others :
In Indonesia, it's easy to get to Bali (Airasia.com) or Manado/North Sulawesi (SilkAir).
You could also consider diving Moalboal using Cebu Pacific flights from SIN to Cebu, you wouldn't have any time wasted, i think they depart late at night at 00:20 and arrive around 4:40 in the morning, time to get a cab to Moalboal and you're there at 8 AM in the morning, if you're not tired you could be in the water for both the second morning dive and the afternoon dive.

 

[dannyboy504]

Wot...shore based diving on Anemone reef??? I suppose you mean "day trips" as opposed to "liveaboard".

Yes, sorry I meant day trips......

 

[fishonland]

How about bali? It's a short direct flight from Singapore and offers lots of options both in pelagics (e.g. mantas at manta point, nusa penida) and macro (e.g. seraya, puri jati). Nov is a bit late for the mola mola but you never know.

Good apres-dive activities too if you choose the day trip option (perfectly do-able) rather than safari. Lots of budget airline options to Bali.. (e.g. Air Asia, Jetstair) and cheap full -service flights (e.g. Garuda, KLM).

 

[Mucksavage]

As another poster said - Cebu Pacific from Singapore to Cebu is a great connection - but I'm more in favour of Malapascua (I live here). We have daily Thresher Sharks sightings, we have the biggest Pelagic Mantas imaginable, super wrecks and great, great macro.

And a bottle of beer costs $1 . . . .

 

[frogfish]

As another poster said - Cebu Pacific from Singapore to Cebu is a great connection - but I'm more in favour of Malapascua (I live here). We have daily Thresher Sharks sightings, we have the biggest Pelagic Mantas imaginable, super wrecks and great, great macro.

And a bottle of beer costs $1 . . . .

All true for Malapascua - But not much reef fish; have they all been eaten ? :shocked2:

 

[Mucksavage]

Not all! But yes Malapascua excels in the large - Pelagic Mantas, Thresher Sharks, Devil Rays, Hammerheads (seasonal-ish), White Tips and jumbo snakes - and the macro - shrimp, cuttlefish, pipefish, sea spiders, nudis, frogfish, zebra crabs etc etc. The wrecks are great too. We have less of the medium for sure.

However Monad Shoal, where we see the big stuff - is a great stuff without sharks and mantas - we do see schooling tune, huge potato groupers, schools of batfish, barracuda. There is no shortage of decent fish there.

 

[dreamwaltzz]

In fact i wanted to go to Malapascua Island to dive this DEC, however as I am travelling alone and the distance between the bangkok airport to the island is too ar away which got my family worried so I gave up.

@Mucksavage do u hav any suggestion where I can get to Malapascua with a shorter travel time?

 

[dreamwaltzz]

In fact i wanted to go to Malapascua Island to dive this DEC, however as I am travelling alone and the distance between the bangkok airport to the island is too ar away which got my family worried so I gave up.

@Mucksavage do u hav any suggestion where I can get to Malapascua with a shorter travel time?

Sorry I meant cebu city not the airport. ^^