Access to Sipadan from Kota Kinabalu

[stuba]

Hi All,

I am new on the forum and have been busy studying your reports/suggestions for my upcoming Holiday in Kota Kinabalu.

I have a few questions - Hope you don't mind ;-)

We have our accomodation booked and paid for in KK for a week. My wife is happy sitting by the pool for a day whilst I venture out diving. I was really hoping to get down to the Sipadan/Mabul Area to enjoy some diving but I just wanted to know if it's possible to fly there early morning - have a couple of dives and then fly back to KK that evening. Or would I need to stay overnight?.

Also is it worth diving at the islands off KK? A few people on this forum haven't really rated it so I wonder if it's worth exploring?

Finally - does anyone know if and when they start to see the Whale Sharks off KK? I will be there for two weeks at the start of May.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time,

Stu

 

[Kevrumbo]

I believe you would have to overnight --but even such a brief excursion out to Sipadan/Mabul would not be worth the traveltime and effort to get there even from KK. IIRC my Itinerary from April 2000, from KK I took an early morning flight to Tawau, then a van shuttle from Tawau to Semporna, and then finally a boat trip out of Semporna to Sipadan (Borneo Divers Lodge, when they were still based on the Island). Arrived around mid afternoon in time for a checkout dive, and then a later night dive. After a week's stay, on the return leg, I left Sipadan Island right after lunch arriving back at KK in the late evening around 8pm or so. . .

 

[Christian]

I'm afraid that it's impossible to do in one day. Remember you have to wait 12 hours before flying after your last dive. Why not bring your wife?
The diving in Tenku Abdel Rahman Park is not to be compared with Sipadan, but if you are there, why not dive? The islands are beatiful.

/christian

Hi All,

I am new on the forum and have been busy studying your reports/suggestions for my upcoming Holiday in Kota Kinabalu.

I have a few questions - Hope you don't mind ;-)

We have our accomodation booked and paid for in KK for a week. My wife is happy sitting by the pool for a day whilst I venture out diving. I was really hoping to get down to the Sipadan/Mabul Area to enjoy some diving but I just wanted to know if it's possible to fly there early morning - have a couple of dives and then fly back to KK that evening. Or would I need to stay overnight?.

Also is it worth diving at the islands off KK? A few people on this forum haven't really rated it so I wonder if it's worth exploring?

Finally - does anyone know if and when they start to see the Whale Sharks off KK? I will be there for two weeks at the start of May.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time,

Stu

 

[malaysia-islands]

99% chances it is not possible to do day trip from KK. Assuming the boat dive leaves Semporna around 9am, and 1 hour land transfer from Tawau Airport, and I'm not sure about flight schedule. And YES, whatever happen to waiting 12-18 hours before flying after diving?

I'm in the middle of revamping my pages on Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (went to Manukan and Sapi). But at the moment, you can still read and view some photos here.

Enjoy your trip! I always loved my stay in Kota Kinabalu during the old days when I was outstationed there.

 

[Quero]

Stuba, first you have to fly from KK to Tawau, then get a land transfer (at least an hour's drive) from the airport to Semporna where the boats can take you out to the islands. The speedboat will take another chunk of an hour. It's impractical for a daytrip kind of dive experience. Add to that the fact that you can't simply jump on a plane at the end of a dive day, and you are looking at two or three overnights just to get in one decent day of diving.

The options I can think of nearer KK would be Tunku Abdul Rahman, as mentioned above, and Pulau Tiga (where the tv show Survivor was shot). Getting to P. Tiga is a bit more troublesome, but it can be done without flying. You could probably hire a speedboat transfer for what it would cost for an air ticket to Tawau.

Admittedly, the diving at TAR marine park and P. Tiga isn't the same standard as Sipadan....

 

[stuba]

Wow - thanks a lot for the quick responses.

Hmmm so is it possible to organise accomodation in Semporna from KK? I mean if the wife is happy to come along and skip a few nights of our already PAID Accom in KK.

We are on a pretty tight'ish budget (should have researched a llittle more i know) - what would two or three nights cost us in a Hotel in Semporna? I really would love to experience diving in the Sipadan Area.

Thanks Again people ;-)

Stu

 

[Batfish]

In Semporna there are a couple of decent hotels (decent by Semporna standards) - the Seafest and Dragon Inn. You could take the 6:10am flight from KK to Tawau and be in Semporna in time for a day trip with an operator there like Uncle Changs. Stay a night in the hotel and fly back to KK from Tawau next day. Ideally you need to allow 18 hours between diving and flying.

So, it IS possible just about, but your wife might prefer to stay in KK rather than enjoy the delights of Semporna

 

[Christian]

Wow - thanks a lot for the quick responses.

Hmmm so is it possible to organise accomodation in Semporna from KK? I mean if the wife is happy to come along and skip a few nights of our already PAID Accom in KK.

We are on a pretty tight'ish budget (should have researched a llittle more i know) - what would two or three nights cost us in a Hotel in Semporna? I really would love to experience diving in the Sipadan Area.

Thanks Again people ;-)

Stu

There are a few ok. places in Semporna, I've stayed on Dragon Inn which is descent. But Semporna isn't most peoples idea of a place to vaccation in, so better try to see if you can stay on Kapalai or Mabul. I'm pretty certain your wife would enjoy that environment more.

/c

 

[malaysia-islands]

I've stayed at both Dragon Inn (in 2002, 2003, RM80/nite with a/c) and Seafest Hotel (in 2002 and a few weeks ago, RM95 modern room with a/c and hot shower).

I'm VERY impressed with Seafest Hotel when staying recently. I think they had refurbished the rooms. A few minutes walking distance from all the dive operators.

I haven't resized my photos from Seafest Hotel yet. Otherwise I would love to share.

 

[Jason Ooi]

I stayed Dragon Inn before but I prefer Seafest hotel new and better environment.
Jason

I've stayed at both Dragon Inn (in 2002, 2003, RM80/nite with a/c) and Seafest Hotel (in 2002 and a few weeks ago, RM95 modern room with a/c and hot shower).

I'm VERY impressed with Seafest Hotel when staying recently. I think they had refurbished the rooms. A few minutes walking distance from all the dive operators.

I haven't resized my photos from Seafest Hotel yet. Otherwise I would love to share.