Sabah or Sarawak for PADI OW class

[charlier]

Hi
This is an post for a friend that is interested in taking a PADI OW class with his adult daughter. Both are strong swimmers and have lots of snorkeling experience. In March they are going Sarawak area (Bako National Park etc.) and perhaps Tanjung Datu and Talang-Satang national park.

I was curious about recommendations for PADI instruction that offers high quality instruction, decent gear, and dive boats in Sabah. They are good travelers, so they could fly to Kota Kinabalu if the diving and choices for instruction are better in Sarawak. They would like to avoid crowds (they passed on climbing KK due to the crowds). All suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks in advance. cmr

 

[Progen]

Hi there, I'm over in Kuching, Sarawak. You'll definitely want to go to Sabah for your courses because the few diving spots off Kuching are quite far away and you'll be wasting a lot of time travelling to the jetty and from the jetty a long distance out to sea. The gradient is pretty gentle so you'll need to go a LONG way out before you get water that's decently deep and clear enough for diving. That's why although there are a lot of certified divers in Sarawak, the diving scene is non-existent since almost everyone flies out to dive.

 

[diversteve]

This might be a problem for them though...

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ma...pension-activities-all-islands-off-sabah.html

 

[Progen]

I might be affected too since I have a trip there at the end of this month. Let's hope all the nonsense there gets settled quickly. Made me glad that I didn't stay in my hometown of Tawau. The ones in the eastern side that are well known for diving will definitely be affected since they're accessed from Semporna which is right in the middle of that ****zone.

---------- Post added March 3rd, 2013 at 03:15 PM ----------

By the way, charlier, feel free to drop me a message if your friend would like to do the Open Water course in Kuching instead. I can put you in touch with some instructors here but you'd have to let me know in advance because I will be flying over to Kota Kinabalu at the end of March for some diving.

Another alternative is for your friend to take the Open Water course in Kota Kinabalu IF the marine park which is bare minutes away from Kota Kinabalu city is still accessible. Perhaps I can ask the dive centre where I'll be taking my Advanced course whether they can offer a discount for the 2 of them since I'll be doing two course with them and they've knocked off RM100 from the second course.

---------- Post added March 3rd, 2013 at 04:00 PM ----------

By the way, the official announcement from the Sabah tourism board is that the islands are OPEN to tourists.

 

[DownbelowDiver]

Hi. I am from Dive Downbelow and I would like to forward our dive centre for your consideration since I believe we pass all of your requirements


High quality instruction - our PADI Instructor Team is made up of highly qualified PADI instructors in teaching status and led by PADI Course Director Richard Swann


Exceptional standards of equipment & safety.


No crowds - we are the only operator based at our location on Gaya Island, we are a PADI 5 Star IDC Centre


We offer a multitude of PADI diving courses, do check us out at www.divedownbelow.com

p/s - we are located in KK, hundreds of KM away from the troubled areas of Lahad Datu and all islands here are operating as usual.