How much does it cost to dive Sipidan?

[scottfiji]

I'm wondering how much it costs to dive sipadan for a week or a week and a half per person, flying out of singapore (or bali).

assuming 2 people are going..

I'm assuming something like this

$300 for flights + $20 for boat ride + $25 for hotel in KK + $20 food in KK = $365 one time charge

in sipadan, $200/day for 3-4 dives a day + all meals at a dive resort +room, is that right, or are there much cheaper options?

so cost for 7 days would be $1400 + $300 = $1700 per person ($3400 for 2 people)

does this sound right, or can it be done cheaper?

thanks!
scott

 

[Live_in_Sin]

I used Planet scuba (use to be Nemo travel) from Sing. and Airasia from JB. much cheaper
Dive Trips & Holidays - Planet Scuba | Singapore | Malaysia | Indonesia | Thailand | Papua New Guinea | Philippines | Rest of The World

ask Alex he's on SB.

 

[Rickg]

Scott,

We booked our diving through Save-Money-Diving when we went in DEC 07. If you go to their website you can get an idea of what prices are at the various resorts in the area. Unfortunately they don't do the airfare portion. We flew from the US so I can't help you there. For our airfare from the U.S. I called Malaysia Airlines directly (their US office is in Carbondale, IL) and got R/T airfare from LA to Tawua for $1,330 per person.

Save Money Diving -:- Diving in Malaysia- Discounted dive packages

Good luck.

 

[TJ_Diver]

We went to Sipadan in August and stayed at SeaVentures Dive Platform for 5 nights and had 1 night in a hotel in Tawau. The total cost ex-KK was just about $1,000.
There are 3 scheduled dives/day (2 in Sipadan; 1 in Mabul) and free unlimited dives under the dive platform. There are pros & cons to staying at this location, the biggest con is being on the platform is rather isolating from other locations. The rooms aren't luxury, but they are too bad.

 

[Lj82]

I used Planet scuba (use to be Nemo travel) from Sing. and Airasia from JB. much cheaper
Dive Trips & Holidays - Planet Scuba | Singapore | Malaysia | Indonesia | Thailand | Papua New Guinea | Philippines | Rest of The World

ask Alex he's on SB.

Airasia no longer flies tawau from jb i believe.
So you wld need to fly to kk then tawau from jb if u choose airasia.
(or kl to tawau)

 

[Rickg]

One other thing to consider is that Borneo Diver's Resort on Mabul has a nice freshwater swimming pool that is great to relax in. I don't believe any of the other resorts on the island have pool.

Rickg

 

[Live_in_Sin]

Airasia no longer flies tawau from jb i believe.
So you wld need to fly to kk then tawau from jb if u choose airasia.
(or kl to tawau)

really? went to airasia's website, they are still flying..
Welcome to airasia.com...Now Everyone Can Fly...


Yup, swimming pool at Borneo Divers Mabul is nice to hang around between dives and after dive...

 

[Lj82]

really? went to airasia's website, they are still flying..
Welcome to airasia.com...Now Everyone Can Fly...


Yup, swimming pool at Borneo Divers Mabul is nice to hang around between dives and after dive...

Oh..
My mistake then...there were some discussions on another board abt this issue.
Someone actually called airasia and got a confirmation that the flight was cancelled.
Would be great if it isn't

(just checked..it SEEMS that the flights are only cancelled for a few weeks in jan.)

 

[MatD4D]

One other thing to consider is that Borneo Diver's Resort on Mabul has a nice freshwater swimming pool that is great to relax in. I don't believe any of the other resorts on the island have pool.

Rickg

Sipadan Mabul resort has a small pool.

If you are really on a budget you could try Scuba Junkies in Semporna. It's a backpacker place that runs daytrips to Sipadan. I'm not recommending it because I think it's much nicer to stay on Mabul or Kapalai but it is a cheaper option.

 

[bcdannymalone]

From experience, I would avoid Sempoerna and Scuba Junkies at all costs. Sempoerna is a dirty *********** ad SJ staff and equipment was atrocious when I was there last April. Borneo Divers Mabul Resort was top-notch and reasonably priced. And yes, the pool bar was great for a post-dive relaxed drink.