Malaysia! Everyone there post here

[Coral Sea]

I've heard from divers who have experienced Sipadan that it offers awesome diving. A German couple (now living in Penang) who had been there recently said it was safe. The Canadian and U.S. governments advise against travelling to this area due to the acts of terrorism (kidnappings, murders, etc.) that have occurred since 2000.

Does anyone have any insights into the security, or lack thereof, related to visiting and diving in Sipadan?

 

[jedah]

As of Jan of this year, Sipadan is closed for overnight visitors due to environmental degradation.

You are still allowed to dive there from Mabul and Kapalai, both of which offer great macro subjects! They are about 15-30 min away.

We are going for New Year's, staying at Mabul Water Bungalows on Mabul, which is run by SMART (Sipadan-Mabul Resort). They do 3 boat dives a day, with a maximum of 2 at Sipadan (they have quotas now). Unlimited beach diving at Mabul.

The accommodations are fairly new, but the dive op has been around for a while, and they've gotten great reviews on this board.

As far as I know, Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai are safe. You have to do an overnight in Kota Kinabalu on the way there, so you can catch the first flight out to Tawau (6 AM), where the resort people will pick you up and take you to the pier of Semporna (1.5 h), and the the 45 min boat trip to Mabul or Kapalai.

Sipadan is supposed to be a pretty amazing dive site, but I am not sure how much degradation has occurred.

Some links:

www.sipadan-mabul.com.my
www.sipadan-kapalai.com

Hope this helps,

J.

 

[Scuba Susie]

Hey Gang,
Saw your posting and had to add my 2 cents! We are going with 10 people to SMART Divers on Mabul in mid May. We have been planning this trip for what seems like, forever! I have researched all the forums and boards including the one from locals. All agree the safety issue is way over blown. They say there are army dudes on all the islands and they are very visible. Although they are small in stature, these army guys carry impressive m16's or something equivilant! I was at first a little hesitant too but after everything I read, saftey is the last worry I have. I am more worried about will the bar drinks be tasty? Or will I freak when I see the swarming hammerheads?
I guess if you are really worried you could register with your Embassy. A couple in our group will be doing that.
I am sooooooo psyched to be going! We went to Lankayan last year and if it is even half as good we will be pleased!
Hope this helps,
Scuba Susie :10:

 

[Ed_Dman]

Yeah! Nothing to worry about. I was in Mataking, Mabul & Sipadan in February and the area is as safe as ever. The warning by certain embassies are just a precaution and quite back dated. Infact, I'm going to Mataking again in April (28th April - 2nd May 2005) and hopefully I'll meet up with some of you, who are going during that period.

Scuba Susie! Don't forget to bring Halle Berry for me.

Happy Diving & Keep Those Bubbles Flowing!

Ed.

 

[Ed_Dman]

Hi Fellow Divers & Scubaboarders!

Just came back from Redang & diving was great! Check out some of the photos I took during that trip.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=95255

Will post up more after my Mataking trip (28th April - 2nd May).

Happy Diving & Keep Those Bubbles Flowing!

Ed.

 

[victor]

Just back from Malaysia, my first trip.
The diving was good, visibility was only fair but the season is just starting so a little stirred up.
Redang is a little commercial for me but the diving was good.
Perenthian was great, any more laid back and the locals would have fallen asleep. Diving was fantastic, the locals were very helpfull, beautifull views bothabove and below the sea. However if you like night life then go somewhere else.
Yes we will be back.

 

[grace]

Hey Gang,
Saw your posting and had to add my 2 cents! We are going with 10 people to SMART Divers on Mabul in mid May. We have been planning this trip for what seems like, forever! I have researched all the forums and boards including the one from locals. All agree the safety issue is way over blown. They say there are army dudes on all the islands and they are very visible. Although they are small in stature, these army guys carry impressive m16's or something equivilant! I was at first a little hesitant too but after everything I read, saftey is the last worry I have. I am more worried about will the bar drinks be tasty? Or will I freak when I see the swarming hammerheads?
I guess if you are really worried you could register with your Embassy. A couple in our group will be doing that.
I am sooooooo psyched to be going! We went to Lankayan last year and if it is even half as good we will be pleased!
Hope this helps,
Scuba Susie :10:

My friends and I just came back from Mabul 2 weeks ago and we stayed at SMART too. The army dudes are only at Sipadan - you can see the occasional planes and their boats, but they do not interfere with the diving. We did not see any military personnel carrying m16s walking around I'm sure you'll have a fantatic time there. Actually 90% of the visitors at SMART were europeans during the week that we were there, and the resort was operating close to full capacity (max approx 100 divers). Just for the record, we did not see the huge schools of barraccudas while we were there but on the day that we left, one of the DMs told us that they had been spotted at Sipadan! But we saw a giant manta at Sipadan and another group saw a whale shark at the SMART house reef two days later (We missed that... drats!).

Hope you have a good time there! Happy diving!!

 

[Scuba Susie]

My friends and I just came back from Mabul 2 weeks ago and we stayed at SMART too. The army dudes are only at Sipadan - you can see the occasional planes and their boats, but they do not interfere with the diving. We did not see any military personnel carrying m16s walking around I'm sure you'll have a fantatic time there. Actually 90% of the visitors at SMART were europeans during the week that we were there, and the resort was operating close to full capacity (max approx 100 divers). Just for the record, we did not see the huge schools of barraccudas while we were there but on the day that we left, one of the DMs told us that they had been spotted at Sipadan! But we saw a giant manta at Sipadan and another group saw a whale shark at the SMART house reef two days later (We missed that... drats!).

Hope you have a good time there! Happy diving!!

Thanks so much for your posting. I am literally counting the hours until we go. I hope we get to see the whale shark but I will be happy with water temps over 44 degrees! Dang Monterey CA can be cold!!!!!!!
Susie

 

[Ed_Dman]

I bet you'll have a great time! I was there just last month, eventhough we didn't see the school of barracudas, but the dives were still fantastic. If you are staying at SMART or SWV, I suggest you check out the Crocodile Avenue (SMART Jetty house reef). We saw a group of Jacks (few thousands of them - see photo attached), still my favorite is Seaventure house reef - CrocFish, FrogFish & many more!

Jacks!

FrogFish!

Enjoy your trip! Happy Diving & Keep Those Bubbles Flowing!

Ed.

 

[Puffer'J]

Hi all,

I'll will be going to dive at Redang early Jully, any good dive spots that you would like to recommend? Thx guys.