mabul/sipadan in december

[njcfm]

my wife and I are headed to mabul/sipadan for 5 days and 4 nights in December, we currently have 2 problems
1) not sure where to stay
2) want to do whatever we can to ensure we get to dive sipadan

I know it is a quick trip and that appears to be why we are having such a hard time getting a guarantee, however I have heard that these really don't mean anything and getting to go to sipadan is sort of a right place right time thing on a daily basis.

Is this area "busy" in early december? should getting the guarantee be a requirement or are the chances good we would be able to make the trip anyway, even if we have to pay the $200 to purchase a pass from another resort?


We have spoken to an agent about almost all of the resorts in the area and at the moment the following have "guaranteed" at least 1 day in Sipadan.

-borneo divers - they will guarantee at least 1 day at sipadan
-seaventures - they will guarantee at least 1 day at sipadan
-SMART - no guarantee and no promises that we'll be able to purchase a pass either
-pulau mataking reef resort - no guarantee and a $110 fee per person, plus the fee to try to get a pass from another resort
-Sipadan water village - will guarantee at least 1 day at sipadan (however this is a much longer trip, and only 2 dives)

We are looking to book this quick, and I'm curious as to what wetpixel's experiences are at these places:
-Are they clean?
-Decent food?
-Which would you go with?

thank you in advance!

 

[chillyinCanada]

Believe you will be happy with Borneo Divers. If you book with them, and if I recall correctly, my experience was that they picked me up at the airport, took me to hotel for overnight in Kota Kinabalu, then picked me up again in early a.m. for flight to Tawau. Met all their clients at the airport and then drove us to Semporna, where we waited a bit for a boat over to the island of Sipadan. Later they transported me only, to Mabul, where I stayed another few days. That said, Sipadan is now closed to overnight divers, ergo, you will go straight to Mabul on the boat. On the return, it all happens in reverse. On of the best dive trips I've been on. Hope you have a wonderful time and good weather!

 

[ocdiver1]

have stayed at both SMART and Seaventures and woudl recommend them both. I don't think anyone can absolutely guarantee a Sipadan pass, but I would think that in a 5 day stay you wouldn't have a problem going at least once. Last time I was there was Chinese New Year with every place booked solid and I still had the opportunity to go 3+ times in a week.

 

[Luko]

I don't think anyone can absolutely guarantee a Sipadan pass,

Some operations like Borneo Divers absolutely guarantee at least one day diving Sipadan providing you're staying at least 5 days.
They can be very confident since they have a good guests to permits ratio whereas SMART is a larger resort with the same numbers of pass. Also they're on the safe side, I have already stayed 4 days at Borneo Divers and got 3 days in Sipadan.

 

[nivla80]

I went with Seaventures in June, and went to Sipadan twice in 4 days of diving. Ask for DM's Taufik and Cat. Taufik's a superstar when it comes to critter hunting and DM Cat found me my first Pygmy Seahorse! Thomas, the Resort Manager is great to work with too... Hope you have fun, and I'm jealous!

 

[Quero]

A lot depends on the mix of the guests at the resort. I was recently with SWV for four days and went to Sipadan two of those days. The resort was full, but it was full of Malaysian, Singaporean, and Hong Kong Chinese; about 90% of Chinese people can't swim, so they snorkel, and they do use some of the passes for snorkeling at Sipadan, but mostly they snorkel someplace else. This may also explain why at CNY ocdiver was able to get to Sipadan so many times.

 

[njcfm]

all great information and suggestions.

I'm pretty sure we are going to end up staying at smart, just waiting for the paper work to come through.

 

[gee13]

Im wondering if Smart who has the 2 resorts - over water luxury bungalows and the standard resort whether they still only have 14 day passes? If so would appox if they have 60-80 guests the ratio to sipadan wont be high.

 

[Quero]

Yes, they still have the same 14 passes for both resorts combined. I think they pick up extras from Roach Reef or another further away place to help top up their pass numbers, though.

 

[Cumbo]

We're also going to Mabul in December. I was interested in the price of accommodation and diving in Mabul resorts. I already have some responses to my emails. Initially, we thought about going to Borneo Divers, but the price is really high - at least for us and when compared to some other resorts. We're not looking for homestay/dorms or such, but rather a room with air-con, decent meals 3 times a day etc..

Borneo Divers, would charge 765 MYR (~200 € / $ 250) per person for one night in shared room (meals included). 3 dives per day are included in that. Sipadan is extra and so is equipment and nitrox.

Any other options to suggest? We would stay 7 night, so one'd think there's some sort of extra discount available..