Any opinions on Mataking?

[Wiggsy]

Has anyone stayed at the Reef Resort on Mataking (in that Sipadan region)? Opinion seems to vary, but reports have improved a great deal. Just wondering how the diving compares to Kapalai or Mabul? Obviously further from Sipadan, but the island looks beautiful and more isolated and attractive than Mabul. I would value any comparisons.

 

[gee13]

Its a rather long way out from sipadan, further boat ride than from semporna apparently. I did research the possibility of going there as an alternative to Mabul as well but some bad tripadvisor reports about the militant management didnt favour. Apparently that's changed now with new management and things may be different.
Its a fair boat ride, 3 hours plus return not my idea of time well spent and also may be more expensive to dive sipadan from there. The beaches look great though.

 

[mantajohn]

I'm booked in to Mataking for the 1st week in April. If its not too late for you, i'll post a trip report when i get back.

We chose it as a compromise - not so good for Sipadan, but looks a nice resort for non-diving wife.

Fingers crossed that we've chosen a good resort!

 

[Wiggsy]

My thoughts exactly - I did Kapalai, Mabul and dived Sipadan last year. Kapalai is very expensive as is Sipadan Water Bungalows and the SMART divers. Borneo Divers is a bit too homely for my wife and our group (I'd be fine with it). I also was not overly impressed with the muck diving around Mabul and Kapalai and was hoping for better visibility at Mataking. Loved the critters, but just not the darkish greenish water with poor vis. My other option was Lankayan, but when I was around SIpadan last year, the word was that Lankayan was similar to Mabul and Kapalai with green water and poor vis. I was just hoping Mataking might be blue water, corals and fish. With such limited diving opportunities at Sipadan, I think my group might be disappointed with 4 or 5 days at Mabul. A tough choice - if the diving as Mataking is good then I would really consider it. I would love to hear how the diving compares -

 

[InDaWata]

Loved the critters, but just not the darkish greenish water with poor vis.
My other option was Lankayan, but when I was around SIpadan last year, the word was that Lankayan was similar to Mabul and Kapalai with green water and poor vis. I was just hoping Mataking might be blue water, corals and fish. With such limited diving opportunities at Sipadan, I think my group might be disappointed with 4 or 5 days at Mabul. A tough choice - if the diving as Mataking is good then I would really consider it. I would love to hear how the diving compares -

REALLY? Are you sure you were at Mabul?

Although its hard to say, being everyone has their own criteria they judge a place on- I would definitely say that from your description you were visiting during some unusual weather/sea conditions. Ive never seen the dives around that area with green water and low vis. Usually 15m+ ....

Anyway, I have been to Mataking before- and personally Im not really a fan. I thought there was definitely less marine life in that area, more coral damage, etc.

 

[OnTheSpot]

Mataking is great for couples. Nice shore dives with three dives at Sipadan twice a week (not guaranteed) - Wednesdays and Saturdays unless you have a group.

The boat rides are not too long - one hour from Semporna and one to two hours to Sipadan depending on the flatness of the sea.

Have a look at our Mataking Resort video.

 

[gee13]

Never had any dark waters with poor viz in Mabul, we always had 15m+ a little less by the SWV house reef. Actually a fantastic drift dive with plenty of life at Stingray city where we had around 20m easy. Must have been poor weather conditions perhaps.

 

[Wiggsy]

Well - maybe I have misjudged Mabul and Kapalai......We had green water and on some dives lost the dive guide (take a photo and turn around and everyone's gone....!) The dive at the Seaventures platform was quite gloomy and photography was challenging in the conditions. And the locals didn't seem to think the vis was anything unusual. I kinda thought that this was typical for the area!...It was still workable...but just. But Sipadan also only had around 15 metre vis. so it is likely that we caught it all on a bad week. My overall impression was that Sipadan diving rocked, but that Mabul and Kapalai were pretty ho hum by comparison - the house reef at Kapalai was ordinary, but I can imagine that in 15 m plus visibility it would be a very different story.

 

[InDaWata]

Wow!
15m at sipadan! Yeah.... I think you came at some sort of weird planetary alignment, or something.
I know it can get terrible for a week or more if theres a storm. Just be thankful it wasnt 1m< ... THAT was fun!

 

[broadreach]

I've had some dives on mabul before with poor viz (<10m) and dark water - on a cloudy day after some heavy rain in late November (I think). The muck diving is still very good.
Sipadan was much clearer on the same trip.