Singapore...to dive or not to dive...that is the question

[mudguppy]

So, okay...I'm new to all this.
Here's the question.
I have a plane ticket for Singapore to visit my brother in Singapore from May 1st thru the 14th. I would like to take my dive gear with me and do at least a couple of day dives and a night dive. Is it possible to do just a one day trip there in the area or am I going to need to plan a several day thing? I am on somewhat of a limited budget. Is it possible to just walk in a dive shop and ask who is diving and could I tag along?
I will not have a dive buddy with me and have not done a dive in the ocean yet so I am a little nervous. I have my AOW thru SSI, and will have my SSI Master Diver in 2 weeks, along with some specialties. The sad part is it has all been in the Idaho lakes and hot springs with like a meter or 2 visibility. I've heard Singapore is poor visibility, but I thing I am probably used to not seeing anything, but it sure would be nice!!!
Could someone help me out here and give me a clue how I would go about planning a dive out there from Idaho? I was hoping I wouldn't have to reserve a package deal from here, but if I need to, who, & how would I do that?
Much appreciation!!.........mudguppy

 

[Zept]

Viz around Singapore is usually 1-2m. It can be as much as 5m, but I wouldn't count on it. We usually see a few fish, and there's some silt-covered coral, and occasionally people see turtles, and very occasionally they see seahorses. Then again, it can be completely dark at 10m. On one dive we didn't see the bottom for 5-10 minutes, and when it finally appeared I was so excited I almost pointed it to my buddy.

By May, there won't be many people running trips in local waters, but if I haven't managed to put you off yet (did I mention the viz?), I can give you the e-mail address of the people I dive with. They go out almost every weekend with students and it's usually okay to tag along.

If you can, you'd be much, much better off going up the east coast of Malaysia for a couple of days. Popular destinations include Pulau Tioman and Pulau Aur. You'll get much better viz up there and there's a lot more to see. Many of the Singapore dive companies run weekend trips up to these islands -- you pay an all-in price for transport, accommodation, food, tanks, weights, divemaster and so on. Alternatively you can get yourself up to Tioman and dive with one of the companies that is based there.

There are several other Scubaboard members who live in Singapore. Some of them can probably give you more specific advice about sites and dive companies -- I've only been diving since last summer, so my experience is pretty limited.

Hope that helps you get started,


Zept

 

[ymy]

Some URLs you can look at for info on Tioman Island "near" S'pore

http://www.tiomanisland.com/

http://www4.jaring.my/spsj/island/tioman/tio_main.htm

Think there is a direct ferry (~ 4 hours) from S'pore.

Or you can go futhur north to Redang/Lang Tengah/Perhentian Islands. All in Malaysia.

You should be able to get a package deal for less than USD200 easily

 

[LisaR]

I lived in Singapore for a year, and wouldn't dive there. The water is really really murky. I would definitely get on a weekend trip. A place to look up is the Marsdon (sp?) Brothers. It is run by an entire family from OZ or New Zealand and they are good. They have trips to Malaysia all the time. A good weekend trip is Tiomen Island. An easy trip and good diving.

I hope this helps.
Lisa

 

[mudguppy]

Zept...
Thanks for the info. It sounds too close to what I've already been diving and I do want to see SOMETHING someday!

ymy...
Great websites. I looked them up. Helps alot. Thankyou.

LisaR...
Thanks for the response. My nephew that lives in Singapore certified thru the Marsden Bros. dive shop and spoke highly of them, but with him being new and all, I was still not ready to go by just his recommendation. Good to know they are a good place to go thru. My husband is not going with me on this one and I want to deal with a good reputable place that will take good care of me.
Thanks again....................mudguppy

 

[Zept]

I also dive with Marsden Bros

Web: http://www.marsbros.com/
E-mail: marsbros@pacific.net.sg

Web site is a bit of a mess at the moment owing to some changes in the way dive trips are sold in Singapore, so it might be better to e-mail them. I know the May trips are filling up (everyone is excited about the start of the new season), so don't leave it too long.


Zept

 

[FredT]

I had a 6 hour window for a dive in Oct 2000. Steve managed to make a bit of an extra effort and get me wet. I had brought BC, mask, & reg. They provided tanks, wieghts and and fins. Overall it was an excellent experience given my restrictions. All things considered I'd give the group my highest recommendation for a charter service as far as service, customer care, and working with what they had. They even put up with my cajun diveskin. 100 foot vis is great, but generally not avialable. 3 to 10 meters is good "killing vis" for hunting, and acceptable if not hunting.

Compared to a "good site" vis sucked at the mouth of the harbor, but the critters were there, and I got a close up look at the things I did see. Top of the list was a football sized cuttlefish well within touching range.

FT

 

[mudguppy]

FredT;
Thanks for the post. I feel alot better to stop in and see about some dives now. I hear they do night dives on tues. nights.
The viz sounds better than what I have been diving up here (sad, huh).
I look forward to better viz's!

Zept...Yes I would be interested in an email:bounce
Thanks again.

mudguppy:

 

[FredT]

Remember singapore is 10 or 11 hours and day ahead of you, so call about midnight or later your time

Marsden # is 475 0050

I was also diving solo, and was provided an interesting dive buddy for the first dive (Steves wife?) while Steve dealt with students. Both are excellent in the water. They even dug up some heavy steel tanks for me to use somewhere.

Singapore has reasonable phone rates compared to many overseas locations. Phone rate was similar to dialing from an ATT pay phone was here aobut 10 years ago. Steep, but not out of bounds. (vs Bahama Tel's highway robbery of over a dollar a minute for calls to the US anyway.)

BTW be aware that the 17 hour flight over sucks, even in business class. Cattle class on the Singapore airlines A300 needs a basting brush to get the olive oil on so the sardines will pack right. My next trip I will try to arrange a 12 hour or more layover in HI to "unkink" and catch some Z's both ways, or just fly over and back via Micronesia Air's island chain jumper with as many days layover as I can arrange on each island chain. ;-)

FT

 

[Liang]

Hi,

I have been diving for a while. My comment would be that it will be a waste if you come all the way here and dive in Singapore waters. The waters around this region (Indonesia and Malaysia) are excellent.

If you have a weekend to spare. Please go to any dive shops in Singapore and you will be able to go to either Pulau (Island in Malay) Aur or Pulau Tioman.

Rough details of the trip :
- Leave on Friday evening at around 7pm
- A 4 hours coach ride from Singapore to Mersing
- A 4 hours boat ride from Mersing to the island. You will reach there at about 4am on Saturday morning
- You will do 3 day dives and one night dive on Sat
- Do another 2 dives on Sunday
- Back to Singapore on Sunday at around 10pm

It will not cost more than US200, Everything in!!! additional charges for equipment rental.

You can expect to see
- Most tropical marine stuff
- Vis up to 20m - 30m
- Barracudas
- Wrasses
- Turltles... etc

If you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Mantas and Whale sharks there. I have seen them in Pulau Aur.

Have fun in Singapore.

liang