I reckon the key to a good diving experience is having realistic expectations.
Someone earlier said:
There will probably be some surface chop, but once you are down the conditions rarely change at Sipadan.
That's really not the case. Sometimes the visibility in Sipadan can drop to very little indeed. I was there in January once and the vis was really poor. There was a constant shower of particles like snowfall and you could feel it on your exposed skin. I was surprised. I was there last November and it was pretty good vis and pretty calm seas.
I have also been there during peak season when the seas were glass flat, the visibility was awesome and you can see for miles.
However regardless of visibility there is still plenty to see in Sipadan even in poor conditions (you just have to look through the particles).
So November/ December are definitely not within the optimum period to dive Sipadan. having said that the conditions cannot be predicted with any certainty and there are often windows of clear water in low season that can last for weeks. Find yourself in one of these and you are laughing. Low diver numbers in the water, peace and quiet in the resorts and some of the best diving you are ever likely to have.
So I don't want to be a prophet of doom but just wanted to sound a note of realism. Don't expect A1 conditions - but you will still have some great diving experiences.
Also just to counter another misleading statement:
The dive guides are generally very good
.
Err.........yeah they won't take you against the current too much but the guides in Sipadan may not operate in the same way you are used to. They lead the dives. Often they will not 'hold your hand' stopping every few minutes to OK everyone and that sort of thing. They tend to get everyone buddied up and into the water and then off they go and you follow.
Quite often I hear people complaining that the guides did not show them enough personal attention. It is true. Although some divers want to have their ears tickled and arses wiped and expect every dive guide to be like their OW instructor, I think this criticism of Sipadan guides is actually quite merited.
Again, nothing to worry about, but forewarned is forearmed.
