Safety in Sipadan/Mabul islands

[trad66]

I know this topic has been beat to death in other threads on here. I have a tripped that is already booked for August to dive Sipadan. This is a trip of a lifetime for my family and it has and still is going to cost me a lot of money to go there. In light of recent events with Bin Laden does anyone have any thoughts on safety in the area for westerners. I have been beating myself up over this and I wonder if I am making a good decision for the safety of my family to go there. I have not said anything to my wife and kids and they don't know about the previous incidents around the eastern islands. I now have a lot of deposit money down on this trip and my family is very excited to go. Just wanted some thoughts from you guys on the current killing of Bin Laden, if you think there will be a greater retaliation against Americans at this time.

 

[vladimir]

After the abduction at Sipadan in 2000, the Malaysian Navy posted a boat there. It would be worth asking questions about security of your resort, in my opinion. My fiancee and I will continue to travel without qualms to our usual destinations in the region, but I don't know how kids would affect my thinking. You can't dismiss the risk altogether.

 

[Kilili]

Stay out of nightclubs and such in transit cities and you'll be fine. The dive resorts tend to be more Asian than anything else, and just aren't that newsworthy.

 

[tstormdiver]

I was there 2 years ago at Borneo Diver's Mabul Resort & felt perfectly safe at all times. As was mentioned, there is a very vigilant military presence on Sipadan Island. The villagers around the resort were very friendly & loved showing us their hospitality. Hopefully you'll find the diving there as magical as I did. It is by far the most beautiful diving I have ever seen.

 

[DevonDiver]

Stay out of nightclubs and such in transit cities and you'll be fine. The dive resorts tend to be more Asian than anything else, and just aren't that newsworthy.

Nightclubs? In Tawau? In Semporna?

I lived in Semporna... it's a safe and friendly place. There was a thread from pirates, but that is well ended, since the Malaysian military now maintain a presence in the area. It's old history.

The area isn't commercialized or highly westernized, like Bali.... so I doubt there'd be any risk involved with travelling there now.

 

[trad66]

Thanks for your input guys. We have talked to the resort we are staying at about safety matters and they said it was perfectly safe, but that is also there source of income. When I booked this trip back in January I couldn't wait to go, then I did a search on this forum about sipadan and read some of the travel concerns to that area and it got me thinking I made a bad decision. My son and daughter are 16 & 15 and our diving vacations are the one thing we do every year as a family together. Like other posts on here have said you can have problems in any American city, if it was just me going I wouldn't think twice. I just don't want a great family vacation to turn into a terrifying ordeal.

 

[jmojiwat]

There are actually military bases located on all dive destination islands in the area including Mabul Island, Kapalai Island, Si Amil Island and of course on Sipadan Island. They also patrol the waters around the area.

I was there twice last year (with a 7 year old daughter in tow), once staying on Mabul Island and another time staying on Kapalai Island. I noticed their presence and never felt like I was in danger.

I hope you'll have the same wonderful experience we had.

 

[trad66]

Thanks jomjiwat, that puts me at ease a little more. I am looking forward to the diving.

 

[jh_MacLeod]

You can't dismiss the risk altogether.

While I tend to agree with the majority opinion: that Mabul and Sipadan are quite safe and not easy targets (and I would not disrupt plans to vacation there), I also agree with vladimir that you can't entirely dismiss the risk in the region. I would certainly not be entirely comfortable cruising the region in my catamaran right now.

Scan the news today for Sulu and you may find details on this one.
Gunmen seize Malaysian businessman in Philippines | My Sinchew
And how far is Sulu from Sipadan? I'm guessing about 300 km?

 

[The Wolf]

No issues at the east coast of Sabah. It's been relatively safe since the incidents some 8-9 years ago. I go regularly at least 5-6 times a year and have no worries.

There is a major warning to all foreigners going to Mindanao/Jolo anyways and that part of the Philippines should be avoided. It's unsafe and the risks are very high.

As far as Sabah goes, no stress or worries.