Best summer month for Sipadan w/out choppy at surface

[san diego biology]

Hi all,
Any one have any feedback on best month in summer, June, July or August to avoid sea surface chop. My fiancee is prone to sea sickness and would like to avoid her being uncomfortable. Also if she does snorkeling will she be having a somewhat equal experience in any places around Sipadan or other islands instead of scuba. Thanks

 

[Luko]

Went twice in august for a week stay, I always had flat seas, although we could have rain and lower viz.
Snorkeling is excellent, everything you may see while scuba except maybe mantas and hammerheads (which are rare!) can be spot from the surface. Of course there are some places around Mabul which are not very interesting while snorkeling, sometimes even risky with currents (under the oil rig for instance), but generally the DMs know where and when to take snorkelers.

Some operations like Borneo Divers for instance have one snorkeler dedicated guide on each boat where they mix divers and snorkelers. Even with snorkelers included you won't be more than 8 people on the boat.

 

[san diego biology]

thanks Luko,
I feel bad going off and diving a day without her. Would I be missing out if we only did snorkeling all 3 days and never got out to scuba? woudl you go with Borneo divers over Scuba Junkies given our situation? Really appreciate your input.

 

[Luko]

I feel bad going off and diving a day without her. Would I be missing out if we only did snorkeling all 3 days and never got out to scuba?

I woudl recommend you go scuna at least once on Sipadan's Barracuda Point, don't worry she'll be with you anywhere you go diving : as explained, snorkelers are taken on board the dive boats and are accompanied with a snorkel guide.
If she doesn't want to snorkel while you're diving she can be waiting for you relaxing for one hour on Sipadan's beach (check my dive report on Mabul/Sipadan, you'll see the photos), at surface interval you're brought back to Sipadan (or Mabul) to spend time and lunch ith your party.

would you go with Borneo divers over Scuba Junkies given our situation?

Hahaha... BD's MILES above!
SJ is a budget no frills resort, BD is one of the 4 pioneer operations on Sipadan comfortable bungalows and dive pier, plus they really do the best to make anyone's stay enjoyable. they're much mor eexpensive of course but still they(re the least of the 4 original resorts.
Their house reef down the stairs of the dive pier is considered as one of the best shore dives in Asia.