Centrals, I appreciate that you think the Philippines is a good option for the OP, and you have a point, but that doesn't make Sipadan a bad option.
Regarding the length of the trip, the way I read the first post (and the way most of my customers phrase their requests to me) is that the OP wanted to spend "5 days or so" (note the flexibility implied there) at one of those two dive destinations, not necessarily spend 5 days door to door. With 5 days at Sipadan there should be plenty of time to enjoy the dive sites. But it is also possible to enjoy them with only four diving days, or even three.
As for Sipadan only being appropriate for advanced divers, do you realize that people actually take their basic scuba training at Mabul, and once certified they get to go dive at Sipadan like everybody else? There's plenty to see above 18 meters there, and just because the drop off goes down 600 meters doesn't mean a diver is obliged to dive beyond 18 meters for it to be worthwhile. Furthermore, Sipadan itself is brilliant for simple snorkeling, so how could it be a waste of time for a young diver who can actually go below the surface to a significant depth?
As far as permits go, it's true that during the first year that the permit system was implemented (2008) there was a lot of confusion and a number of disappointed guests. But since then the resorts have got their own booking systems coordinated with the permit system and we don't hear the kind of complaints from guests that we did when it was a new policy. In my experience, the Mabul resorts have been very up-front about the availability of permits over the past two years. In fact, I was just at the ADEX show last weekend talking about the procedures each resort uses at the time of booking, and they are all pretty much the same. They make it quite clear that the guest will have limited access to Sipadan diving, and they state what minimum number of trips a guest can expect during a typical stay.
As an agent I have to take issue with your portrait of an industry that is dishonest. I am certainly very honest about the Sipadan permit system when I book my customers into Mabul resorts, and I believe my colleagues are as well. A good agent listens to her customers and tries to provide the information the customer needs in order to make a decision. She doesn't try to force an alternative choice on the customer, regardless of what her personal views might be. The OP specifically asked for information regarding Palau and Sipadan. For all we know, these are two places she's been dreaming of going, and given the opportunity, she wants to dive either at one or at the other. Insisting that the Philippines is the only logical choice for the OP is rather disrespectful of her right to make decisions based on her own priorities rather than on what you think her priorities should be.
Regarding the length of the trip, the way I read the first post (and the way most of my customers phrase their requests to me) is that the OP wanted to spend "5 days or so" (note the flexibility implied there) at one of those two dive destinations, not necessarily spend 5 days door to door. With 5 days at Sipadan there should be plenty of time to enjoy the dive sites. But it is also possible to enjoy them with only four diving days, or even three.
As for Sipadan only being appropriate for advanced divers, do you realize that people actually take their basic scuba training at Mabul, and once certified they get to go dive at Sipadan like everybody else? There's plenty to see above 18 meters there, and just because the drop off goes down 600 meters doesn't mean a diver is obliged to dive beyond 18 meters for it to be worthwhile. Furthermore, Sipadan itself is brilliant for simple snorkeling, so how could it be a waste of time for a young diver who can actually go below the surface to a significant depth?
As far as permits go, it's true that during the first year that the permit system was implemented (2008) there was a lot of confusion and a number of disappointed guests. But since then the resorts have got their own booking systems coordinated with the permit system and we don't hear the kind of complaints from guests that we did when it was a new policy. In my experience, the Mabul resorts have been very up-front about the availability of permits over the past two years. In fact, I was just at the ADEX show last weekend talking about the procedures each resort uses at the time of booking, and they are all pretty much the same. They make it quite clear that the guest will have limited access to Sipadan diving, and they state what minimum number of trips a guest can expect during a typical stay.
As an agent I have to take issue with your portrait of an industry that is dishonest. I am certainly very honest about the Sipadan permit system when I book my customers into Mabul resorts, and I believe my colleagues are as well. A good agent listens to her customers and tries to provide the information the customer needs in order to make a decision. She doesn't try to force an alternative choice on the customer, regardless of what her personal views might be. The OP specifically asked for information regarding Palau and Sipadan. For all we know, these are two places she's been dreaming of going, and given the opportunity, she wants to dive either at one or at the other. Insisting that the Philippines is the only logical choice for the OP is rather disrespectful of her right to make decisions based on her own priorities rather than on what you think her priorities should be.
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and the Philippines 
, there is also very nice diving on the east coast of the Malay peninsula, which offers easier access than Sipadan and nice diving for a youngster and his mom, and there's also Bali with a beautiful wreck that is shallow enough for a JOW to dive and enjoy.
