Sipadan-Mabul dive resort

[thebib]

Hi,

We plan to spend one week round Sipadan-Mabul, ands need some advise on dive resorts in Mabul. We're looking for budget / mid-range resort offering clean room with good mattresses, clean bad room (can be shared, but clean), laidback atmosphere and reasonable rates. From the dive ops, we expect experimented and professional DM, limited group and good materials.

Until now, I’m considering Scuba Junkies (it seems that their guesthouse in Semporna is crappy, but their new resort in Mabul looks ok) would you have any other dive resort to recommend ?


We also plan some dives in others islands in Celebes Sea like Sibuan, Mantabuan, Mataking,….

Would you recommend those islands ? Is it easier to arrange our dives leaving from Semporna or from Mabul ?


Thanks

 

[tstormdiver]

I was at Borneo Diver's Resort on Mabul about a year & a half ago. Very nice accommodations- Air conditioning, clean rooms,.... food was so so (but then I'm a spoiled American with certain tastes. Their cuisine was towards the Malaysian sort, I just wasn't used to it. Their House reef offers some fantastic diving. I had some of my best night dives, ever, there. If you want to dive Sipadan, make sure you know how many permits you'll be getting to diver there, beforehand, so there are no disappointments.

 

[Luko]

Another vote for Borneo Divers, comfy bungalows, the staff is just fantastic, probably the best DMs around (They are the pioneer operation in the area and they experience little turnover, which is a proof of the management quality. I first dived with them in 2004, on approx 10 guides more than half of their current DMs were already there).
May I say, it's my favorite dive operation in the world so far.

Maximum dive group will be at peak season 6 or 7 divers. I have often dived with only 1 or 2 divers accompanied by one DM. hey sometimes take you to Si Amil island for diving, if they don't have enough permits for Sipadan. I don't know whether Mataking is worth going compared to Mabul, Kapalai or Sipadan's fauna wealth.

I noticed they've been slightly improving food quality for a year, though don't expect high level (I'm a repeater : I was there this year in feb and in august, you can check my reports and click on the links to my photo galleries embedded in my signature.). They also adapt to the guest tastes, for instance they will put pasta on the buffet for italians, grill some lamb for ozzies, provide kimchi for Koreans, etc.

A more budget operation will be the Seaventure on the ex-oil rig, I've had good reports on the dive guides and the evening ambiance, which looks quite wild up there.

I have not been diving with Scubajunkie, it has not been recommended to me by some of the people I know though.
Personally, I prefer diving with local guides that have a perfect knowledge of the area, Scuba Junkie have too many westerner guides for my taste, I doubt they can challenge Steven, Lorence or Eljer from Borneo Divers on their experience... but that's me.

 

[DevonDiver]

I'd say the guys at Scuba Junkies were pretty good. They have some transient DMs working there... but the long-time staff really know how to find great stuff on the dives.

I've not seen their new resort on Mabul, but have heard that it's nice. Their Semporna accomodation was really aimed at the super-low cost backpacker option. I wouldn't recommend anyone to stay in Semporna... unless your hobby is rat counting...

 

[thebib]

Hi Luko,

Thanks for your Sipadan-Mabul report. Nice pics.
Borneo Divers looks very nice, but their prices are real bites :depressed:
I'm waiting for a price list from Seaventures. I've read good comments on them.

 

[OnTheSpot]

Seaventures Dive Platform is a great value for money.

Unlimited free diving under the rig - even night dives and a few drinks in the evening with the best view of the sunset.

 

[BiggerBoat]

My first post of many I hope (be gentle)! I hear quite alot about high season and low season. Could someone clarify when this is? We are hoping to go in 2011 and are flexible on dates and would prefer smaller crowds.

 

[DevonDiver]

Seaventures Dive Platform is a great value for money.

Unlimited free diving under the rig - even night dives and a few drinks in the evening with the best view of the sunset.

That's an awesome dive site.... but it is deep for repeated dives. I suppose it depends on how many hours per day you want to spend underwater! lmao

I didn't realise that Seaventures was so cheap - but at that price I would be sad to lose out on the variety of shore diving at Mabul itself.

One of the benefits of the Mabul island based resorts is the shore diving.... shallow, world-class, dives on your doorstep. I've spent hundreds of hours around Mabul with my camera and always hunger to go back for more.

Real economy comes with 'resorts' like Uncle Changs.

One of my dream holidays would be Mabul, with SCR, a great camera.... and good weather.

 

[Luko]

I hear quite alot about high season and low season. Could someone clarify when this is?

High season would be mostly :
Xmas+new year period
Chinese new year holidays (early feb)
Easter holidays in Europe (April)
Golden week (first week of may)
Europe summer holidays (July-august)

Basically, you have to watch out for all Singaporean/HongKong/Malaysia school holidays, their main Sipadan customers + European holidays. But it can be a matter of one week.

For instance : the week after chinese new year, it was packed, a week after (4th week of feb) I could have one boat and a DM for myself along with absolutely great weather...

If you are flexible, try to get your holidays in the April-May period, (beware of golden week and easter holidays tho), according to all the DM I spoke to, that's the best season for searching critters like ghost pipefish or frogfish...

 

[BiggerBoat]

Thanks Luko!