Just checking...Sipidan new rules

[Scuba Susie]

Hey y'all,
Can anyone review the new proceedures for diving Sipidan for me? I was there 2 years ago and understand they have now limited the number of divers per day. I am planning on staying at SMART and dive Sipidan at least 2 out of the 3 dives a day. Is this still happening? We used to be able to talk the DM into all 3 dives over on Sipidan. Is that still possible? Do they still do the dawn dives? And do you have to pay extra for them? Any extra for the night Mandarin dive on the back side of Mabul?
Thanks guys
Susie

 

[SnappyTheDiver]

I have been to SMART three times last year. Therefore...

The Government is strongly enforcing the limit of 115 divers per day. There is an allocation per resort and that allocation is also spread over three times of the day. Some divers go at 5:30 AM, others at 9 AM, and others at 12:30 PM. I did not recall any groups doing three dives at Sipadan but that might still be possible. Whether you like it or not - yes, there are dawn trips - 5:30 AM. There is no extra charge. I do not remember the deal with the Mandarin dives.

By the way, the SMART House Reef keeps getting better. There is a resident school of Jacks, several Frogfish, several large Groupers, and some nudibranchs.

I will be there in March - enjoy.

 

[Rickg]

Scuba Suzie,

The rule pertains to the # of divers visiting the island per day and not the # of dives per day. One Of the 3 days we went to Sipadan with Borneo Divers we did all 3 dives on Sipadan. They had only a single boat going that day and all of the guests on the boat agreed to that plan. Of course that meant the DMs finished up their day earlier than usual also so it worked out to the benefit of everyone involved.

Rickg

 

[travelem]

I have been to SMART three times last year. Therefore...

The Government is strongly enforcing the limit of 115 divers per day. There is an allocation per resort and that allocation is also spread over three times of the day. Some divers go at 5:30 AM, others at 9 AM, and others at 12:30 PM. I did not recall any groups doing three dives at Sipadan but that might still be possible. Whether you like it or not - yes, there are dawn trips - 5:30 AM. There is no extra charge. I do not remember the deal with the Mandarin dives.

By the way, the SMART House Reef keeps getting better. There is a resident school of Jacks, several Frogfish, several large Groupers, and some nudibranchs.

I will be there in March - enjoy.

Does the dawn trips - 5:30 AM count as one boat dive? Or you can do 3 boat dive plus one dawn dive everyday?

How many divers does one DM carry in SMART?

 

[Scuba Susie]

When we were there 2 years ago, there was one Instructor and one DM who ran sweep with 7 of us. But in our group was one Instructor, one DM and 2 DM candidates. I never found it to be a problem and they let us do pretty much our own thing. We pushed the limits on a couple of dives but how often do you see mating sharks underwater from 20 feet away? Totally awesome!
Susie

 

[fdog]

Yes - they are enforcing the limit pretty strongly.

The result (limiting the divers per day) is that to get more clients onto the island, the dive master will tell you to answer to a name that isn't really yours. All the dive operations have bought into this practice that I can see.

Hey - the last week we were there, I wasn't really me once! How 'bout that?


All the best, James

 

[Rickg]

Does the dawn trips - 5:30 AM count as one boat dive? Or you can do 3 boat dive plus one dawn dive everyday?

How many divers does one DM carry in SMART?

travelem,

When we were on the MV Celebes Explorer in DEC 07 we were told that rule pertains to the number of divers allowed to dive Sipadan Island each day, not the number of dives per diver per day. We dove 4 dives a day for 4 straight days at Sipadan. One of the 3 days we dove with Borneo divers we did all 3 dives at Sipadan - but everyone in the boat had to agree to that. The other 2 days it was 2 dives a day on Sipadan.

 

[MatD4D]

An agent told me,

"All permit applications go into a queue. So once they reach the quota for the day, those late in the queue will not get a permit.

Of the 3 boat dives each day, once will be at Sipadan Island and the other 2 dives will be at other nearby islands. Occasionally (not often), when quotas are not met, you could get a chance to dive Sipadan Island twice in a day."


This would support what fdog is saying, the resorts are sharing one permit among multiple divers to try and get as many guests to Sipadan as possible.