Singapore for 2 days

[mmakay]

I have a business trip in Singapore in Sept. I get in at 12:25am on the 7th. I will have that Friday and Sat. free before my conference starts on Sunday.

Any suggestions on where I can get in some diving during these 2 days? I understand that diving right around Singapore has strong currents so I am willing to travel to one of the outer islands.

 

[victor]

When does it start on Sunday?
You could fly up to Tioman but I think you just miss the flight.
Lets try again Redang, flight departs on Friday at 14:00, that should be possible.
Flights back from Redang depart sunday morning at at 10:20
see http://www.berjaya-air.com/flightschedule.htm for flight times and prices etc.
It may be possible to get to Tioman by bus / car and ferry, it would take some looking into.

 

[Live_in_Sin]

Tioman is feasible....depends on what time your conference starts on Sunday.
you could fly there on friday noon frm Sing.
http://www.berjaya-air.com/flightschedule.htm

or take a bus leaving Fri early AM to Mersing
http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ptasingmersing.htm

or take a cab from Sing to JB then hire a cab from JB to Mersing
earliest speed boat leaving mersing to Tioman is at around 8am. 0r till they can fill up the boat.

http://www.divetioman.com/

 

[mmakay]

The conf. starts at 9am who starts a conf. at 9am on a weekend????

It sounds like taking the boat will get me over to the island the earliest and get the most diving in.

What would be the latest I could take the boat back on Sat. night?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Live_in_Sin]

actually if you take bus + speedboat is about the same as taking plane. coz it takes about 3hrs+ to Mersing then 1hr to Tioman.
last speed boat am not sure. check with dive operator in tioman.

 

[victor]

Given that you miss the flight to Tioman on the friday afternoon and have to be back in Singapore by 9:00 am on Sunday, I think your only option to get any diving is to hire a car, or get a taxi from the malaysian border (cost about R200 I think).

Driving in Malaysia is very civilised and I suspect it would take about 3 hours to get to Mersing or by about 5:00 pm, hopefully in time for the last ferry out to Tioman.

As you won't be flying back you can spend all day saturday diving and catch the last ferry back to Mersing.

I know it looks a bit rushed but if you only have 1.5 days it's tough to fit it in.

Have fun and tell us what you decide. Me I would tell my boss that I had terrible jet lag and had to stay an extra week.

 

[Live_in_Sin]

I think he's arriving 12:35 AM (most of flights from US arrive around mid night) so having plenty of time to catch the flight from Seletar.
well, if you want to maximize your diving on Friday. arrange private transport to/fm Mersing. leaving sing at arround 4 am. maybe dive operator in Tioman has some contacts of private driver. (they usually pick you up at home/hotel etc... in singapore, did once. 4-5 years ago, don't have contact anymore...)

BTW, Taxi from JB to Mersing is normaly RM 100. if you are hard negotiator, RM80

 

[victor]

Sin
He arrives at 12:25am, I was thinking it was midday not midnight.
Then no problems drive up and catch the first ferry out to Tioman on Saturday morning.
Even better if he can get a taxi to pick him up from the airport then he can catch some ZZZZZZ's on the way to mersing.
There is a hotel in Singapore airport where he could catch a few hours sleep before starting off for mersing.

 

[Live_in_Sin]

more info.
http://www.tiomanreefdivers.com/journey2.html

 

[mmakay]

Thanks for all the great info. I am researching now and hope to book within the next week. I will let you know what I end up doing.