how many days sipadan/mabul

[mslise]

We're off to borneo in June and are going to spend 5 days diving around sipadan.

We're diving from semporna and the operator is asking us if we'd like to do some days diving around mabul and the other islands. I was thinking 3 days sipadan and 2 days mabul.

Is it worth doing some dives besides sipadan, or should be do all 5 days sipadan? We're doing 3 boat dives per day.

Advice appreciated!

 

[lucybuykx]

Are you staying on one of the islands or in Semporna and going out each day?

We stayed on Mabul a couple of years ago with Borneo Divers and the days worked out that we dived around Sipadan most mornings and afternoons around Mabul or the other little islands.

There are some fantastic deep clear dives off Sipadan. Loads of turtles, large fish, wall diving. Superb.

But I dont need to refer to my dive log to say that some of the afternoon dives in shallower water around Mabul were even more fun. Firstly there were fewer divers - Sipadan can be fin city and the fumes on the beach when everyone is doing their surface interval can be yucky. Secondly there is so much small life in nooks and crannies that deserves looking at that.

My advise - go for a mix - and, if your dive boat anchors up to a site with 5 other boats, negotiate to find a quieter one!

 

[Quero]

I would certainly opt to dive Mabul (and Kapalai). But I like critters. Of course it's a thrill to see the schools of barracuda and the jacks in swirls and the turtles that we experience at Sipadan, but I really enjoy things like frogfish, mandarinfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, etc. This kind of marine life is what Mabul is all about.

 

[tarzana]

I will have 13 days some resort around Sipadan during Christmas break. How is the diving in December? Has anyone stayed at the Mabul water bungalows? if so is this an isolated resort or is there a town or other resorts/hotels nearby? Are there any other resorts with AC and a bit less costly?

After diving for ??? days ( what is recommended??) I would like to go to the jungle to see the orangutans.. any suggestions for that tour and how many days to be in their area ?

tarzana

 

[victor]

The time split depends how much you want to dive and how much time you want to spend in the rain forest.

To get from Semporna to Sandakan is about 6 hours by bus. A Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre is about 40 minutes from Sempora. You need to be there when they have feeding time or you may not see one. So this means that if you leave Sempora in the afternoon, overnight at Sandakan, then go an see the Orang Utans. This will take just over a day finishing in Sandakan in the afternoon.

A sugestion, from there you could continue your diving at Lankayan Island, depending on transfers you should be able to get there the same day.

You could go and see the Turtle Island Park, Madai Baturong Forest Reserve, Danum Valley conservation area, and many others. Have a look at the Sabah Tourism Board web site at http://www.sabahtourism.com/home.php?lg=1

There are flights around Malaysia at reasonable prices however due to diving it may be better to take busses to overcome the no fly times.

Another options are taxi's, however remember to negotiate the fare before you set off.

 

[Allison Finch]

I'll admit that other than the poorer vis, I much preferred Mabul and Kapalai to Sipidan. The critters were much more fun. I have grown to prefer the "muck" diving.

 

[tarzana]

Thank you Victor for your info. I think that we have decided on 10 days at the Mabul Resort with 7 days of diving. I am jazzed to dive Sipadan!! Then we are considering a 3 day tour with the Red Ape Encounters go to the Sepilok Jungle Resort and walk to see them.

The trick will be getting from Tawau to Sandakan after the Mabul resort people drop us off at 10 am. I wrote the airlines but they have not responded. The resort people say that they can only book Malaysia Air and that it is FAX that flys there. It will work out somehow. I think a 6 hour bus will be too exhausting. Hope we don’t have to go back to KK.

I looked up Lankayan island and it seems nice… but we are limited with our time (us poor teachers only have 2 weeks during the winter holidays Ha Ha!) and since Sipadan is the main attraction, we will probably not divide our time but-- for future reference-- How is the diving in Lankayan compared to Mabul and Sipadan?

tarzana

 

[Bubble Junky]

I preferred diving Mabul too. Sipadan semed abit over-rated to me. Don't get me wrong, it's very good diving, but not much soft coral or that many big fish. Enjoyed the rig at Mabul the best - my first pygmy sea-horse !!

 

[victor]

The only flight that might suit you seems to be D71106 from Tawau to Sandakan. This only fly's monday and Thursday at 11:00.
http://www.flyasianxpress.com/site/en/fax/page.jsp?reference=faxschedule

Maybe your best option would be to get a car hire and pay the drop off charge. At least you could enjoy the drive and travel when it's convienent for you.

This is the only number I could find for Outstation Taxi 03-2078 0213.

I would check with your hotel, they might be able to get a quote for you.

 

[tarzana]

thanks Victor...I had by chance found this site this afternoon. it was not the one that i had found a few days ago.. it states below on this site:

Tawau (TWU) - Sandakan (SDK)
D72137 18:45 19:25 Daily

where did you see it say only mon and thurs??

but it was only until October, so i wonder if they will nix this flight during a peak season? we need to leave on Jan 1st in the pm

renting a car might be a good idea if, when the time gets closer, we find that this flight does not exist.

we will not have a hotel in Tawau as we hope to get out of there on the 1st. i did ask the Seafront hotel about flights and they did not respond to that question. will ask about the car rental. drop off fee might be big though??

bus it is supposed to take 6 hours.. how long if you drive your own car? i imagine the bus stops here and there often.

crazy to make arrangements this far away in a way but with some hotels booking up and Frequent flyer tickets being limited we want to get this out of the way.

thanks
tarzana

The only flight that might suit you seems to be D71106 from Tawau to Sandakan. This only fly's monday and Thursday at 11:00.
http://www.flyasianxpress.com/site/en/fax/page.jsp?reference=faxschedule

Maybe your best option would be to get a car hire and pay the drop off charge. At least you could enjoy the drive and travel when it's convienent for you.

This is the only number I could find for Outstation Taxi 03-2078 0213.

I would check with your hotel, they might be able to get a quote for you.