Questions on Sipdan / Mabul / Layang Layang etc

[hinsonme]

Hello all

I’m new to the boards and I have a few questions re. Sipadan / Mabul / Kapalai / Mataking and maybe even Layang Layang. I have done quite a bit of reseach on the internet and searched the forums to narrow it down a bit, but now I have some more specific questions!

First of all a bit about us. We’re planning a 3 week backpacking trip to Sabah and as part of it we’d like to do 5 or so days of diving. The dive part of our holiday is usually the treat part after a couple of weeks roughing it! We are Open Water qualified (Belize 10 months ago), but we’ve not done any more dives than those so we’re not very experienced. We’ll need a bit of a refresher and we’d like to do Advanced Open Water. We’d prefer to book in advance and know everything was arranged for the tuition, rather than just turn up.

So, the questions:

* Do you think that the diving in the above areas will be suitable for us? I get the impression many of the people who dive these areas are very experienced. The first thing we would do is the Advanced OW, so we won’t just throw ourselves into a group dive. What do you think?
* Any opinions on the areas? Sipadan / Mabul / Mataking area or Layang Layang?
* Any opinions on Dive Operators? Borneo Divers consistently get a good write up. North Borneo Divers have a few recs too. Has anyone dived with Sipadan Water Village (I saw JonnieB’s great trip report), or the Reef Resort on Mataking? Given our inexperience, which do you think would suit us?
* Accomodation wise, recommendations? We would usually try to stay in more budget accommodation separate from the dive operations, and then dive with one of the big centres. But so far in my research it seems like there are only all-in dive resorts on all of these islands. Is that correct? It’s not possible to stay somewhere a bit more budget but then dive with one of the Mabul operators? I know I can do this if we stay in Semporna but we’d like to stay on the islands (even if we do pay for it).
* For the instruction, do you have to pay the 3 dives a day package AND the instruction fees? This would make it seriously expensive. I think we would like to do AOW first off and then be a bit more flexible for our remaining days – not necessarily tie ourselves down to three dives every day. Should I just negotiate a package to suit us with the resorts?

Thanks in advance, any opinions and / or advice would be really welcome. If you think we should try somewhere completely different and would be hopelessly out of our depth please say!

Maz

 

[tzeyap]

Hi Hinsomme,

Since you are going to be in Sabah, it'll be a shame if you miss out of some of the greatest dive sites in the world. Do it.

I would suggest that you give Layang-Layang a miss on this trip. Layang2 dives can be quite challenging with strong currents and fairly often big surfs.

You will probably be more comfortable in Sipadan and Mabul. I would recomend Smart on Mabul. If you do your AOW you will not have to pay additional for dives for the duration of your course and I believe you will still be entitled to unlimited shore dives. The house reef at the back of the resort ,by the water bungalows is very good and fairly easy diving. you should confirm this when you book.

Staying in Semporna will be cheaper but you will have to put up with the long and sometimes uncomfortable boat rides and of course miss out on the shore dives as well.

There is a Scubaboard member who is a tour operator and instructor who regularly leads groups to Sipadan. If you join his group you may be able to get a deal tailored for you at a lower cost than booking direct. PM me if you want his contact.

You should try not to miss Sipadan !!!

 

[hallboy]

When are you going to sabah? From Nov to feb it's not exactly the better season. For sipadan you will get the better rates with Smart or borneodivers just going to their office at quite the last moment: you could get 100$ a day and not 145 if you use internet. for that, avoid july august and end march beginning april

 

[Scuba Susie]

Hello all

I’m new to the boards and I have a few questions re. Sipadan / Mabul / Kapalai / Mataking and maybe even Layang Layang. I have done quite a bit of reseach on the internet and searched the forums to narrow it down a bit, but now I have some more specific questions!

First of all a bit about us. We’re planning a 3 week backpacking trip to Sabah and as part of it we’d like to do 5 or so days of diving. The dive part of our holiday is usually the treat part after a couple of weeks roughing it! We are Open Water qualified (Belize 10 months ago), but we’ve not done any more dives than those so we’re not very experienced. We’ll need a bit of a refresher and we’d like to do Advanced Open Water. We’d prefer to book in advance and know everything was arranged for the tuition, rather than just turn up.

So, the questions:

* Do you think that the diving in the above areas will be suitable for us? I get the impression many of the people who dive these areas are very experienced. The first thing we would do is the Advanced OW, so we won’t just throw ourselves into a group dive. What do you think?
* Any opinions on the areas? Sipadan / Mabul / Mataking area or Layang Layang?
* Any opinions on Dive Operators? Borneo Divers consistently get a good write up. North Borneo Divers have a few recs too. Has anyone dived with Sipadan Water Village (I saw JonnieB’s great trip report), or the Reef Resort on Mataking? Given our inexperience, which do you think would suit us?
* Accomodation wise, recommendations? We would usually try to stay in more budget accommodation separate from the dive operations, and then dive with one of the big centres. But so far in my research it seems like there are only all-in dive resorts on all of these islands. Is that correct? It’s not possible to stay somewhere a bit more budget but then dive with one of the Mabul operators? I know I can do this if we stay in Semporna but we’d like to stay on the islands (even if we do pay for it).
* For the instruction, do you have to pay the 3 dives a day package AND the instruction fees? This would make it seriously expensive. I think we would like to do AOW first off and then be a bit more flexible for our remaining days – not necessarily tie ourselves down to three dives every day. Should I just negotiate a package to suit us with the resorts?

Thanks in advance, any opinions and / or advice would be really welcome. If you think we should try somewhere completely different and would be hopelessly out of our depth please say!

Maz

Hey Maz,

We were in Mabul in May 2006. I would highly reccommend SMART divers. They are on the other side of the island than Borneo Divers. The accomadations are a bit nicer but certainly not as expensive as SWV. You are also looking directly at Sipadan and not at the really ghetto poor village on Mabul. The people in the village are really nice though just EXTREMELY poor. SMART has both chalets and over the water bungalos (a bit more expensive). We really liked the service, the food and the diving was THE BEST!!!!!!! And it is very easy diving....no tough currents or the like. I think you can't go wrong in a place that Cousteau called on of the top 5 dive destinations in the world!
Good luck,
Susie

 

[Mel.B]

LOL scubasusie...I just noticed your new countdown timer. I thought I was bad starting it with 212 days to go!

Not long now and have just ordered my WA and macro lenses.

Mel.b

 

[Scuba Susie]

LOL scubasusie...I just noticed your new countdown timer. I thought I was bad starting it with 212 days to go!

Not long now and have just ordered my WA and macro lenses.

Mel.b

Hey Mel...see how far you have come? You are on your way to fun and excitement in 3 weeks...ya lucky dog! I have to plan so far in advance because of my darn job but at least it gives me something to look forward to!

Is 2007 really so far away????



Susie

 

[malaysia-islands]

I would suggest that you give Layang-Layang a miss on this trip. Layang2 dives can be quite challenging with strong currents and fairly often big surfs.

And Layang Layang can be too expensive for average Joe like me. Not to mention the resort in Layang Layang tends to quote everything in US Dollar price, *gulp* (Are we becoming Bali or Phuket? LOL)

Staying in Semporna will be cheaper but you will have to put up with the long and sometimes uncomfortable boat rides and of course miss out on the shore dives as well.

I agree. There are pros and cons of staying in mainland Semporna. Since I can't afford the premium night stays at either Kapalai Dive Resort or Mabul Water Village, my favorite lodging place when going to Sipadan would be Dragon Inn Semporna.

 

[hiddenaughty]

Dive Sipadan? Look for Uncle Chang, their office are the 1st one next to Semporna Jetty. I got his namecard, it said RM50 Per Day for accommodation on Mabul Island with 3 simple meals.(Long House Style) while diving, i heard it's around RM300 - 350 Per day for 3 dives at Sipadan with Sipadan Permit & Equipment Rental all in!.. If you want more then 3 dives, you could try another option: Seaventure Dive-Rig... They have very nice view over Mabul Island From the Rig.. No Sand Fly, easy access to the water ( Dive from the lift ).. Romantic Sundeck.. they offer 2 dives at Sipadan, 1 boat dives either at Kapalai / Mabul.. and Unlimited house reef dive.. it's about 18m from Surface to bottom.. Lots of macro, a more quiet & clean environment.. Just imagine staying at Mabul with more then 2000 ppl on a small island.. to me, at 1st i couldn't accept Seaventure dive-rig, they don't have nice beach, not an island.. but after i try it once.. i love it.. i enjoy the food, cool breeze, nice view.. and we take a short trip to Mabul Island for a walk.. i found that it's full of people.. rubbish all over.. even i'm standing on the beach.. it's smell bad, i won't wanna touch the sea at all.. when i get back to the Rig.. i really feel that i'm in heaven.. Sometimes it's good to try a different option... it's good to dive one of the world class dive site.. It's good to stay at the one and only dive-rig in the world.. it feel good when standing on the lift ( in the middle of the sea ).. worth to try.. in terms of experience & Value!

 

[xsynie]

How about a budget accommodation diving package, its one of the cheapest in town, please visit www.bahrmansipadan.com for further information.

Just came back from the said place, food were marvelous, the DM was always on 'safety first',

 

[davidlkh]

Mataking is a bit costly compared to the others.

Layang Layang is also costly with the additional private flight charter to get to the place.

For backpacker style perhaps stay in Semporna and take the daily ride out.

I am also told walk customers to Borneo divers sometimes get slightly cheaper rates.