Philippines or Sipidan

[harrywask]

Just had to change plans for going to Sharm the last week of August. Am now thinking about Sipidan or Philippines - Apo, Malapasscua or Anilao. Would appreciate information on diving conditions at each place at that time of year. Thank you

 

[sjparkinson]

Just had to change plans for going to Sharm the last week of August. Am now thinking about Sipidan or Philippines - Apo, Malapasscua or Anilao. Would appreciate information on diving conditions at each place at that time of year. Thank you

why'd ya change plans?

 

[scubashooter]

Sorry to hear you've changed your plans. I understand but wish you wouldn't.
Anyhow, which Apo are you referring to? Apo Island or reef?
August is really considerred the low season for the philippines due to the SW monsoon. Diving is year round though and it's just a matter of small weather changes but it is leading into the wetter months of the year.
Sipadan in Aug is peak season so be ready for very crowded sites.

 

[jiveturkey]

Philippines is great but Sipadan is better.

 

[clgsamson]

Philippines is great but Sipadan is better.
__________________
Greg


Depends where you dive the "Philippines". It's a country not a single dive spot. Research "tubbataha, palawan, philippines", comparable? even better.

 

[jiveturkey]

Depends where you dive the "Philippines". It's a country not a single dive spot. Research "tubbataha, palawan, philippines", comparable? even better.

Sipadan is better than any of the Philippine dives sites the OP mentioned.

 

[piet2do]

Sipadan is better than any of the Philippine dives sites the OP mentioned.

Mate, be tolerant: any divesite can have its beauties just attractive to one person but not to another.

For me Sipadan is great - yes. BUT it's diving and noting else.
I would like to compare Sipadan with Palau, also pricewise - although Palau is one step above on site-quality.

Personally I like on my vacation to chill out, hang at a deck with a beer and a couple of guys and gals...just having a good time and chat about diving and the world. Great places are Malpascua, Dumaguete(Apo) and certainly PG, all of them in the PI.

Now, if you look at the new stilt-resorts around Sipadan, you have no other choice then being trapped at this "pirate"=places (Sabahan's ancestors were the most famos pirates in the region, but ventured now into tourist biz ): food mediocre, entertainment nil, beer and wine a rip-off....but well, the diving is great, yes.

So, just accept that other people may have other priorities. I prefer the sites in the PI, although I'm resident in MY.

 

[Bombarie]

...do you intend to stay in the Philis / Malaysia? To me this would make a big difference in deciding where to go.

Considering its typhoon season in the Philis now, I would think (but am not sure - just raising the issue) that you are limited to diving in the Visayas (where the typhoon's are not supposed to come cause its to far south). That is not a bad thing: if you have, say 2 or even 3 weeks, you can dive all of Moalboal (for Pescador, the rest is a waste of time IMHO), Apo Island, Alona Beach (Balicasag, Cabilao) and even Malapascua Island by just travelling around yourself (very do-able). Whilst none of the dive sites in itself at these place can rival Sipadan, the overal experience will be very good nevertheless. Topside entertainment should be better as on Sipadan (no longer possible, Mabul is the place today I think) if only cause there is no unlimited diving in these place, three dives a day is already above average - the 5/6 dives a day routine on Sipadan simply killed off the nightlife (for me!).

If you only have a week or so, I would just try to maximize bottom time and find a decent resort as close as possible to best dive spots. Don't know where you are travelling from but remember that travel to Sipadan is a 36 hour non-stop expedition from Europe: 12 hour flight to KL, 4 hour flight to KK, short night, 1 hour flight to Tawau, 3 hour bus drive to Semporna, 2 hour speedboat ride to Mabul. Might be a bit much for a week.

One last thing, not totally unimportant for a Dutch guy like me: three weeks of diving in the Philis will likely still be cheaper as one week full-fledged on Sipadan.

Let me know if you require more info on either place - regards, Arie.

 

[YCW]

...travel to Sipadan is a 36 hour non-stop expedition from Europe: 12 hour flight to KL, 4 hour flight to KK, short night, 1 hour flight to Tawau, 3 hour bus drive to Semporna, 2 hour speedboat ride to Mabul. Might be a bit much for a week...

Now budget airline Air Asia flies cheap direct from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau. The only thing to watch out for when flying with them is their strict 15kg limit check-in luggage policy. That should save you some traveling time.

 

[seafox69]

Just had to change plans for going to Sharm the last week of August. Am now thinking about Sipidan or Philippines - Apo, Malapasscua or Anilao. Would appreciate information on diving conditions at each place at that time of year. Thank you

no liveaboards to Tubbataha at the time of year that you want to go so primarily land based diving in PI.

Check out www.atlantishotel.com.