Sipadan, "The Rig" and Topside activities in Malaysia

[tendi]

I'm just starting to plan a trip for Early November and I'm coming up with a list of questions.

1. I've read Sipadan is diveable year round. It also seems November might not be the best time?
2. We are thinking The Rig (Seaventures) might be the way to go. I'm confused by 2 different websites. Seaventuresdive.come and Seaventuresresort.com. I submitted questions to both sites and got different responses from different people. Which one is for real?
3. We plan to be in Malaysia for 2 weeks. We'd like to possibly go white water rafting or see other wildlife topside. Suggestions?
4. I've heard schooling hammerheads can be seen at Sipadan. Is there a season?
5. It seems quite a bit cheaper to fly to Kuala Lumpur and then take a separate Air Asia flight to Tuwau. Is this a good idea? And yes, I understand this increases the chance for missed flights, etc...

Thanks in advance for any comments!

 

[Zippsy]

Hammerheads at Sipadan?? It's certainly possible but more in the sense that you will be in the ocean during your dives and hammerheads always live in the ocean tharefore you might run into each other. If you do see them there, count yourself very, very lucky.

Air Asia is pretty decent. I am not sure where you are landing in Asia before Sipadan but the flight from KL to Tawau is the most cconvenient way from peninsular Malaysia.

 

[chillyinCanada]

WOW Zippsy. I guess I'm very very lucky. I just assumed the hammerheads next to me and then the river of them that went by below was usual fare at Sipidan. Often my regret is having spent so much time with the hammerheads on that dive that I missed more time with the manta rays that our buddies spent time with.

 

[Lorenzoid]

In Borneo, the terrestrial wildlife to see are the orangutans. The sanctuary or rehab center at Sepilok is the most popular. There are various outfits offering rainforest excursions in that region. We started our journey in Kota Kinabalu, visited Sepilok, then stayed in a rainforest camp for a few days to see some wildlife (including orangutans in the sad remnants of the rainforest), then made our way to Tawau and Mabul/Sipadan.

No hammerheads sighted.

 

[OnTheSpot]

1. I've read Sipadan is diveable year round. It also seems November might not be the best time?
I've had a trip to Sipadan in November, the sea was flat and diving conditions great.
2. We are thinking The Rig (Seaventures) might be the way to go. I'm confused by 2 different websites. Seaventuresdive.come and Seaventuresresort.com. I submitted questions to both sites and got different responses from different people. Which one is for real?
That is a tad confusing, they both appear to be 'official sites'. You will get the same deal from agents (and yes we are one) and a wider choice of accommmodation. Seaventures is a nice place to stay but a bit basic, although the novelty factor will probably outweigh that.
3. We plan to be in Malaysia for 2 weeks. We'd like to possibly go white water rafting or see other wildlife topside. Suggestions?
We can also arrange topside trips to Sepilok.
4. I've heard schooling hammerheads can be seen at Sipadan. Is there a season?
No Hammerheads for me either on a couple of trips, my guide did tell me he has seen them but rarely. He also informed me that to have the best chance of seeing them you have to swim out from the island and into the blue, but this is not recommended for inexperienced divers. I certainly wouldn't say that the sightings are regular enough at any time of year to plan your trip around but don't worry even without hammerheads the diving is absolutely stunning
5. It seems quite a bit cheaper to fly to Kuala Lumpur and then take a separate Air Asia flight to Tuwau. Is this a good idea? And yes, I understand this increases the chance for missed flights, etc...
On both my visits I flew KL - KK - Tawau, I had no issues. I think it's really down to you - convenience Vs cost.

Hope this helps in some way

 

[tendi]

Thanks everyone for your input! I am researching land based activities. I'd like to see the orangutans but I don't think I'll need 3 days to see them. Has anyone been white water rafting nearby?

 

[ocdiver1]

I've stayed at Seaventures twice and loved it. I looked at the two websites..seaventuresdive looks like the one I recognize..the other seems like it might just be for a general agent? In any case, great choice if you stay there. I've never really heard of hammerheads at Sipadan, but one day out there on one trip another boat reported seeing 4-5...I really, really don't think it is something you can count on.

On your flights, Air Asia in general is usually cheapest almost anywhere, but I don't remember Malaysian Air being very expensive on that route..and with them you'd have a baggage allowance where you'll pay for bags on Air Asia..and while Air Asia I find to be really reliable especially for a budget airline, Malaysian is even more so.

For wildlife...everyone goes to Sepilok, and its nice, but for a real experience you DO really have to spend 3 days or more...lots of lodges in the Sukau area of the Kinabatangan River and if you'd like to splurge a bit the Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the Danum Valley is fantastic. You'd really be missing out if you just took in the Rehab Center.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Wow, I'm still amazed at how blessed I was to see all those hammerheads. Glad I bought the DVD.