Bunaken vs Sipadan??

[Sib]

Many divers go to Sipadan simply because of Sipadan and nowhere else will do.

It must be boring being so myopic!

Other than the fact that the season is wrong for both Sipidan and Bunaken, I find this beat up over the Sipidan permits, well a bit of a beat up. I know because I too was stressing about the before I went. The simple solution is to book with one of the day operators with accomodation on Mabul, rather than one of the resorts. I think Scuba Junkie has the most solubrious accom of the day operators - nice clean cottages with A/C and hot water. Lovely reef of its jetty, crytal clear water with mandarin fish at dusk. Comfortable communal area and a limited bar upstairs. It is also right next to a local village so you can hang out with the kids. We got 1 day at Sipidan for every 2 days diving at peak season with no issue. And I found I loved the diving around Mabul and Kapalai. It was just as spectacular as the diving at Sipidan. Just different. Having the variety is excellent.

December/January is time for R4 and Similans. However, on the last trip to Similans (Jan 2010), the coral was in pretty bad condition due to a coral bleaching incident. The Thai govt even closed down access to parts of the national park. Will be heading to R4 in November, so can let you know what it is like, but it is only another flight on from Manado.

All the best for your honeymoon where ever you end up!

 

[Centrals]

It must be boring being so myopic!

I yet to see any diving trip for Mabul or Kapalai with Sipadan as optional side trip! It is always the other way round.

 

[gee13]

On one dive I did recently at Sipadan from Staghorn crest - Sth pt we saw a leopard shark and at least 20 white tips along with 3-4 grey reef sharks. Now I remember a dive at Sachikos, Bunaken where we saw 1-3 white tips and the Instructor with us got so excited bangin his tank, now I think I may have spooked him when I was more interested in taking shots of a pretty gorgonian fan :chuckle::chuckle:

 

[Nishan]

Whether Sipadan is better than X, Y or Z location will always be based on personal opinion but I find it weird that people complain about Sipadan being crowded but then also complain about the permits which are designed specifically to address that issue. Yes its a bummer that you cant dive Sipadan on the days you decide to but overall you will get a decent amount of dives on Sipadan if you spend a week or so there. Sometimes good things are a bit hard to get at!

 

[fishnchips]

Many divers go to Sipadan simply because of Sipadan and nowhere else will do.

Really? You are not serious, right? Are you kidding?

My dive travel has taken me to island hopping in The Caribbean, Central Americas, Blue hole in Belize, Roatan Honduras, Monterey California, Greek islands in Mediterranean, Cold water dives , warm water dives, and after > 4k plus diving the world, Sipadan, while maybe over exaggerated by some people, in my opinion, is still one of the best dive sites in the world. While there were some challenges with the daily dive permit issue, they were not major problems at all. We were diving with Borneo Divers. Most of our dives during our stay were at Sipadan. Plus we had unlimited house reef dive at Mabul. Go with a good attitude and you will enjoy Sipadan/Mabul tremendously. Go with a demanding attitude and want all your dives in Sipadan, then not only will you be disappointed, you will also missed out many beautiful, and picture perfect encounter at other surrounding dive sites.

My motto:
I would never comment on any subject that I lack 1^st hand personal knowledge and experience. Otherwise, it makes me sounds stupid.

 

[The Wolf]

Sipadan is on another level playing field. No contest.

 

[sipadanadventures]

hi There,

We are Dive operator in Mabul, If you wish to go Sipadan why dont you come with us!

Please look into our website;              Arung Hayat Sipadan Adventures The Most Cheapest Diving Centre In Celebes Sea! - Home

best regards,
Arung Hayat Sipadan Adventures.

 

[The Wolf]

Whether Sipadan is better than X, Y or Z location will always be based on personal opinion but I find it weird that people complain about Sipadan being crowded but then also complain about the permits which are designed specifically to address that issue. Yes its a bummer that you cant dive Sipadan on the days you decide to but overall you will get a decent amount of dives on Sipadan if you spend a week or so there. Sometimes good things are a bit hard to get at!

That's probably the most intelligent comment I have seen on here in a long time on this board...relating to the permits and Sipadan. A lot of the bitching and complaining is done by divers who don't understand the reasons why there is the enforcement of permits.

 

[The Wolf]

hi There,

We are Dive operator in Mabul, If you wish to go Sipadan why dont you come with us!

Please look into our website; Arung Hayat Sipadan Adventures The Most Cheapest Diving Centre In Celebes Sea! - Home

best regards,
Arung Hayat Sipadan Adventures.

Wish you wouldn't use that tag line "most cheapest in celebes seas." It's OLD and to be honest, cheap isn't always the best or the safest as we have seen over the year's as far as diving standards in Sabah are concerned.

When I see/hear the words "cheapest"...it usually means inexperinced dive leaders and/or a lack of care as far as the safety and control of divers in the water..especially at Sipadan with the currents being the way they are at times.

 

[gee13]

Spam is the most off putting form of advertising. Perhaps its the gullible folk that fall for this that keep em coming. I had a spam message from a youtube email address asking to use my video at a website - its a link to a cheap viagra site. Now I figure if no one bought from them then how can they stay in business? But Im sure some people think cheap is best...

Sorry for the slight diversion here but certainly posting rules of commercial nature should be made elsewhere apply to this irrelevant post by sipadanadventures, who should get a warning from the admin.

Now hangon..they advertise cheapest prices - 600RM for 3 dives on Sipadan ! Curious how many permit they are allocated.