Mantanani diving- has anyone dived there before?

[madfish]

Hi, I am planning to do a 5d4n dive at Mantanani but seems like not many people talk about it. Has anyone dived there before? How is it like? I am planning to go in Oct or Nov.

Any comments are welcome.

Thanks.

 

[hiddenaughty]

Hi, I am planning to do a 5d4n dive at Mantanani but seems like not many people talk about it. Has anyone dived there before? How is it like? I am planning to go in Oct or Nov.

Any comments are welcome.

Thanks.

Feel free to visit the following link for some Information about Mantanani Island Resort
- http://www.bornsea.com
- http://groups.msn.com/BorneoSea
- http://www.finsonline.com/index.php/destinations/resorts/mantanani.html

Please note that it's monsoon season around North Borneo during end of the year.. If you expect to have nice sunshine, calm sea.. i suggest you come between Apr - June.

Have a nice day!

 

[malaysia-islands]

From above, Mantanani seems like an AMAZING island!

 

[hiddenaughty]

From above, Mantanani seems like an AMAZING island!

Yes it is.. we spotted Nicky ( the dugong ) since end of april and he started to play with divers recently, sometimes too close he accidently hit people!
other family of 2 shy dugong also around. if you are lucky you could see them too.
Some people play with them when kayaking infront of the resort.

 

[malaysia-islands]

Yes it is.. we spotted Nicky ( the dugong ) since end of april and he started to play with divers recently, sometimes too close he accidently hit people!
other family of 2 shy dugong also around. if you are lucky you could see them too.
Some people play with them when kayaking infront of the resort.

About this Dugong thingy, is this the same as Florida's manatee? They look kind of similar and only live around tropical waters. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[hiddenaughty]

About this Dugong thingy, is this the same as Florida's manatee? They look kind of similar and only live around tropical waters. Correct me if I'm wrong.

YES! they are the same! just one American & one Malaysian! he he

 

[malaysia-islands]

Hmmm..
In Straits of Malacca, there were a few occurence where the "dugongs" were caught on fishing trawlers. Poor those little cute animals :-(

But a bit surprising to know that "dugongs" or manatees live in murky and busy water channels like the Straits of Malacca. The ones I saw in Florida thrives on clear waters.

 

[hiddenaughty]

Hmmm..
In Straits of Malacca, there were a few occurence where the "dugongs" were caught on fishing trawlers. Poor those little cute animals :-(

But a bit surprising to know that "dugongs" or manatees live in murky and busy water channels like the Straits of Malacca. The ones I saw in Florida thrives on clear waters.

Mantananai got crystal clear water most of the time too!
Dungong (Nicky) see diver quite offen, now will play with people.. sometimes they lose control and bang in to divers!! we try to feed them, if they will take food from us, then we could guarantee dugong for our guests!

 

[Vie]

About this Dugong thingy, is this the same as Florida's manatee? They look kind of similar and only live around tropical waters. Correct me if I'm wrong.

They both belong to the scientific Order Sirenia. “Dugongs are quite different from manatees and are actually more closely related to the extinct Steller’s sea cow than to any living species of manatee. They are never found in fresh water, but spend all their time in salt water where they feed on sea grasses. Dugongs are easy to distinguish from manatees by their “whale-like” flukes in place of the typical “paddle-like” manatee tail. Dugongs also have tusks, which are absent in all the manatee species. They may live to be greater than 70 years old in the wild, but are threatened by habitat degradation and other environmental impacts,” according to Sirenian International— http://www.sirenian.org/dugong.html