Dive Sipadan- North Borneo DSS or Scuba Junkie?

[Aquarora]

i know.. there seems little in the prices to choose, but if you think abt it, NBDSS is offering mostly hotel/ resorts stays as compared to Scuba Junkie which is mostly longhouse/ hostels stays for only a little less...
another thing is the itinery... so far NBDSS is able to come up with a VERY personalized itinery for our group (we correspond by email/ phone calls everyday!) .. whereas scuba junkie is taking forever to reply...
and we have to book our trip soon... sigh...
looks like i have little choice isn't it?

 

[dm_junkie]

Hey,

Saw your delimna, if you are not too fuzzy about accomodation and yet does not want the long house or hostels, try lee guesthouse. The price is not too bad. Think rates is between Dragon Inn and Scubajunkie's hostels. They go by room for 2 but no breakfast included. I suppose if you got your own gears, then NBDSS can still be considered. Did you try giving their mobile a call? Sometimes it will help if you try early in the morning like 7 to 8 which most of the dive centres start loading the stuffs on board.

 

[dm_junkie]

i know.. there seems little in the prices to choose, but if you think abt it, NBDSS is offering mostly hotel/ resorts stays as compared to Scuba Junkie which is mostly longhouse/ hostels stays for only a little less...
another thing is the itinery... so far NBDSS is able to come up with a VERY personalized itinery for our group (we correspond by email/ phone calls everyday!) .. whereas scuba junkie is taking forever to reply...
and we have to book our trip soon... sigh...
looks like i have little choice isn't it?

Hi,

After I adviced you. Managed to give scubajunkie a call as my last 2 e-mails got no respong at all. Well, somehow all mails have been send into their bulk folder and got deleted.

Perhaps you can try again or like myself. Gave them a ring something like 9 to 10pm on their cellphone and talk to their manager. May go in April period as well. Depending on my dive kakis where they wish to go.

Hope you can make your decision soon or best, go with either of them...if North Borneo Divers is ok, would not mind trying them out.

 

[Aquarora]

ahaha... You guys won't believe this, but Jerry (the owner of NBDSS) saw this online forum and called me to assure you guys out there that the previous incident (on another thread) was er.. one-sided story of the whole affair, nevertheless I'm sure there was some misunderstanding on both parties and I'm not going to speculate on who's right & wrong (it takes 2 hands to clap)...

And he's also emailed me the following reference:
(pls note this is not meant to be an advertisement for NBDSS, but i say it's only fair to hear from both parties)...

Hi Violet,
Below is an e-mail from a PADI Master Instructor and owner of a dive centre in the Caribbean who
was diving with us in early November. You are welcome to put it on scubaboard as well! ahaa &
cheers!!
Jerry

Subject: I take my hat off to your staff Jerry!
From: mark fernandez (Add to Contacts)
To: NORTH BORNEO DIVE & SEA SPORTS
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 18:37:15 -0800 (PST)
Hi Jerry,
I take my hat off to your staff Jerry , The team was very frendly and worked in good Harmony
among themselfs .
The level of World Class service by a team of experience Veteran's it's becoming more rare in the
diving industry, your team has it all!
I was very impressed and would like to thank you and your team for an extra-ordinary experience.
Extending an invitation , if you or any of your team ever make it to the caribbean , it would be an
honor to have you as our gest.
Note:I made 4 diferent e-mail inquireis // by far your response was the fastest, and precisly
address all of the questions that I asked, this goes a long way for internet bookings now , and it
was why I decided to book with North Borneo / Very Happy I did!
Warm Regards and Mucho Thanks again.
Mark Fernandez
www.caribbeanoceanadventures.com
www.seaprodivers.com

 

[malaysia-islands]

Lemme relate to my experience with NBDSS as well (darn, this is no advert, OK?).

Prior to my dive trip, I had advertantly told them a wrong diving date. Only realised that one day before my flight departure! I called Jerry on his cellphone, at night (must have been 8-9pm that day). He said they already submitted our names to the park authority for the dives on the wrong date but he tried his best to change it with the authority.

He successfully managed to do that. I risked not being able to dive at all if he wasn't able to re-book my name on a different date (you know, 120 divers per day limit and what not).

Again, this is by no means a cheap plug for them. I thought their services were acceptable and comparable with other dive operators I have dived with all over Malaysia.

 

[Aquarora]

Yes! We've did it! We booked with NBDSS...finally too...
I gotta say a great big thanks to Jerry... he answered all my emails (nearly daily!!) and questions faithfully at lightning fast pace, and accomodated ALL my requests/ demands etc...
In terms of internet booking, I don't think it can get any better than this ie daily direct communication with the boss ahahaha....

 

[Aquarora]

oh yeah, for those interested in joining us...
this is the proposed itinery:
8D/ 7 N, 18 Dives...Start on 4th April (Wed)-11th April (Wed) 2007

3N on Dragon Inn Floating Hotel (while we dive the northeastern islands ie Mataking/ Boheyan)
Followed by 2N on Mabul Oil Rig,
then another 2N on Roach Reef Resort...

all for a total of SGD $1.34k (inclusive of air tickets, permits, meals, transfers, etc..except equipment rental as most of us have our own already)
They charge RM15/day for Reg, same for BCD, other equipment included)

Thank god for NBDSS, cause I dun fancy stayin in hostels/ longhouses/ dorms... (which is only slightly cheaper than this price anyway!!)

Anyone tempted??

Whale sharks & Manta Rays! Here we come!!

 

[Aquarora]

and of cos, I'll keep you all posted when we come back from this trip! safely!!

 

[Aquarora]

Hi,

After I adviced you. Managed to give scubajunkie a call as my last 2 e-mails got no respong at all. Well, somehow all mails have been send into their bulk folder and got deleted.

Perhaps you can try again or like myself. Gave them a ring something like 9 to 10pm on their cellphone and talk to their manager. May go in April period as well. Depending on my dive kakis where they wish to go.

Hope you can make your decision soon or best, go with either of them...if North Borneo Divers is ok, would not mind trying them out.

if i come back before you leave, will definitely let you know how it went *wink*

And to other fellow divers thanks for all your help & valuable input!
Hope all these info will be useful to others as well

 

[dm_junkie]

Gee, thanks gal.

Oil Rig for 2 nights? what dive sites are you covering? If it is only the oil rig I reckoned that if you like macro, stay another night at RoachReef, great macro as well. Mabul and RRR are the closest to Sipadan, try ask if you can set off early to catch the humphead departing in their schools !!!

Am considering to going to Hin Deang/Hin Muang LOB coming Christmas (20 to 25 Dec), who's game enough to join me? 950 for 4 days diving(3 night dives) only exclude the airfare and last day's rest and relax in hadyai.