Go to Layang Layang. Also a great spot. Should be safe and i will say safer than East London or NYC. The Malaysia Navy has a small outpost there. It is a nice Diver resort with great walls and reefs.
diving in Sipadan
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mydivecenter
Registered
I tried the layang layang website, it not working, so i am not even sure they are open for business this time of the year. Sounded pretty silly for a major dive resort. just wondering if any diveshop in KK, singapore, malaysia or hong kong offering any thing?
OnTheSpot
Contributor
The Layang Layang Season runs from 1 March to 31 August. April and May tend to be the best times to dive there, with the greatest likelihood of encountering a vast school of scallopped hammerheads.
It is this extraordinary event that is the focus of much of the marketing, which belittles the excellent healthy corals, great walls and other marine life. Even if you don't see hammerheads you can have great dives.
More information including a video of the resort and the diving is here.
For many people, Layang Layang, with its limited number of guests and ease of diving is superior to Sipadan. Although the sheer biomass of fish at Sipadan is unrivalled.
There is a navy base on the island although the number of security personnel in the Sipadan area is several times more and has been for years. By the way, Sipadan is still popular and people seem to be taking this latest 'security threat' with the pinch of salt it deserves.
It is this extraordinary event that is the focus of much of the marketing, which belittles the excellent healthy corals, great walls and other marine life. Even if you don't see hammerheads you can have great dives.
More information including a video of the resort and the diving is here.
For many people, Layang Layang, with its limited number of guests and ease of diving is superior to Sipadan. Although the sheer biomass of fish at Sipadan is unrivalled.
There is a navy base on the island although the number of security personnel in the Sipadan area is several times more and has been for years. By the way, Sipadan is still popular and people seem to be taking this latest 'security threat' with the pinch of salt it deserves.
Richy
New
The Layang-Layang website that I found was working two days ago and seems to be broke (again). I remember the site had lots of info with pricing and contact info in Kota Kinabalu as well.
I have travelled recently to Kota Kinabalu for some offshore work and will be going there again for more work in late May/June and plan to dive at either LL or Sipadan depending on how much off time I have. Malaysiaian's are very friendly and KK is safer than most large cities and it is a nice town too - great boardwalk, food, etc. As always respect those around you and you will have a blast.
- Rich
I have travelled recently to Kota Kinabalu for some offshore work and will be going there again for more work in late May/June and plan to dive at either LL or Sipadan depending on how much off time I have. Malaysiaian's are very friendly and KK is safer than most large cities and it is a nice town too - great boardwalk, food, etc. As always respect those around you and you will have a blast.
- Rich
It is not silly, due to the monsoon season, there is no diving during this time of the year!
You can try these 2 S'pore based diveshops:
6D5N Diving Layang Layang, Sabah, East Malaysia, Borneo
Nemo Travel (TA1476)| Fishing | Kelong Fishing
Cheers!
Dreamdivegirl
Contributor
Hi Jennyjo,
The advisory warning for Sabah is currently focused on the Semporna / Sipadan area (South East coast). It does not currently cover Layang Layang which is approx. 300 km north-west of Kota Kinabalu on the west coast of Sabah. Layang Layang is a permanent Malaysian Navy base and they have 'real guns' (they practice shooting them at around 1pm most days ;-). So there is protection there.
The diving at Layang Layang is fantastic. It's recognised as a world class dive site alongside Sipadan. I've dived there personally a couple of years a go (not had the time to go back, but plan to) - so my feedback is based on my experience then.
The drop-offs are covered in stunning corals. I was blown away by the colours when I did my first dive at Layang Layang. You get a good range of pelagics in April - May you get Hammerheads mating there (but you still need to be lucky to see one close up as they tend to be deep). You still see turtles (just not as many at Sipadan as it's not a nesting island) and similar marine life to what you'd see at Sipadan. What's nice with LL is get you get to dive the drop-offs every day (there is not the same diving permit issue as at Sipadan). The resort is nice - it has a swimming pool, free wifi, a bar and serves lots of good food. There's also nesting bird colonies near by you can go and watch (if it interests you).
I've never dived the cod hole (again, on my list of places to dive . . . .). So I can't compare the two. But hopefully this helps you consider your options for a great diving holiday and choose the one that's best for you.
The advisory warning for Sabah is currently focused on the Semporna / Sipadan area (South East coast). It does not currently cover Layang Layang which is approx. 300 km north-west of Kota Kinabalu on the west coast of Sabah. Layang Layang is a permanent Malaysian Navy base and they have 'real guns' (they practice shooting them at around 1pm most days ;-). So there is protection there.
The diving at Layang Layang is fantastic. It's recognised as a world class dive site alongside Sipadan. I've dived there personally a couple of years a go (not had the time to go back, but plan to) - so my feedback is based on my experience then.
The drop-offs are covered in stunning corals. I was blown away by the colours when I did my first dive at Layang Layang. You get a good range of pelagics in April - May you get Hammerheads mating there (but you still need to be lucky to see one close up as they tend to be deep). You still see turtles (just not as many at Sipadan as it's not a nesting island) and similar marine life to what you'd see at Sipadan. What's nice with LL is get you get to dive the drop-offs every day (there is not the same diving permit issue as at Sipadan). The resort is nice - it has a swimming pool, free wifi, a bar and serves lots of good food. There's also nesting bird colonies near by you can go and watch (if it interests you).
I've never dived the cod hole (again, on my list of places to dive . . . .). So I can't compare the two. But hopefully this helps you consider your options for a great diving holiday and choose the one that's best for you.
cog
Registered
I went to Sipadan a few years ago and it was awesome - and didn't feel in the least concerned/threatened/worried about kidnapping etc. I've no idea of the actual stats, but would guess you're probably much more likely to be the victim of random crime at home than get kidnapped on a diving holiday...
Sipadan Permit system can be a problem.
There are a lot more divers there than they are permits and the authorities have been cracking down.
Some divers have had a very few dives at Sipadan even though they have stayed for a week.
Do some research here and you will find threads on the subject.
I am looking forward to going there myself but I am waiting until the permit issue is resolved rather than any security issues.
There are a lot more divers there than they are permits and the authorities have been cracking down.
Some divers have had a very few dives at Sipadan even though they have stayed for a week.
Do some research here and you will find threads on the subject.
I am looking forward to going there myself but I am waiting until the permit issue is resolved rather than any security issues.
InDaWata
Contributor
Well, sorry to say- but I hope they keep the permit system in place forever. Its a great idea.
And it isnt so bad- just book ahead of time!
I too found that warning a bit ominous. We first saw it on a travel site connected with DAN (Divers Alert Network) then on our own Canadian Embassy web site for Malaysia. We are keeping our eyes and ears open but we expect to be there in March 15- 19th. Hope to see you there.
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