Sipadan "walk up"

[tboxcar]

Will be in Kota Kinabula (and then onwards to Sipadan/Mabul) on around July 24th, I hear it's cheaper to go there and find an available dive resort instead of making bookings ahead of time. Can anyone give me insight to this? And if so, any ideas of who to possibly book with when I get to KK. I know I am taking a chance of finding space, but I hear it's done alot?

 

[Sun Tan Man]

I'm headed the same way in KK on Aug 10th 2004 for three weeks so I am in the same boat as you. But nobody has answered you? Its been a year LOL

 

[David B]

This is a copy of an e-mail that I sent to Tboxcar in April. Sorry to repeat myself but as you have repeated your question I assume you did not receive my e-mail.

I stayed at the Abdillah Sipadan Paradise Resort - excellent. Their website is http://www.borneo.org/asp/ I booked my accommodation and diving over the internet as they had a special singles deal for February. The cost of diving is very reasonable actually. It cost me $106 per day for my accommodation, all meals, 3 boat dives and as many shore dives as you want. Try getting that sort of deal in the USA. I don't know how long you are going to be there but if you are going for a couple of weeks then go on the Celebes Explorer liveaboard for a few days. You travel to some of the smaller islands where the dive sites are not as busy. The boat is great and food fantastic. You will have a brilliant time with the crew. I did 4 days on the Celebes Explores and a week on Sipadan.

I have heard that you can pick up cheaper rates by walking in at KK. Borneo Divers seem to have a few deals like this. Their address in KK is: 9th floor, Menara Jubili 53 Jalan Gaya 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The problem is that when you get there they may have no accommodation but it could save you quite a bit of money. The KK address for the Abdillah Sipadan Paradise Resort and Celebes Explorer is Ground Floor, Lot 4, Block A, Taman Fortuna Shoplots, P.O. Box 12248, 88825 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

If you stay at the Abdillah Sipadan Paradise Resort then take a trip to Mabul and have Mike as your guide. He is brilliant and the "muck" diving there is great.

Enjoy and let me know how you go on.

Regards

David

PS: Enjoy your stay at Sipadan because from the end of the year it will be no more.

 

[maxteo98]

Hi David,

I am heading to Abdillah Sipadan Paradise Resort this september. I will like to have a day of muck diving in mabul or kapalai , did u arrange the additional trip with abdillah sipadan parasdise or with some resort/dive shop in mabul? how much it cost?

regards,

Max

 

[David B]

Hi Max

I arranged the trip to Mabul at the Abdillah Sipadan Paradise Resort. Just ask at the office to arrange it. Get Mike as your guide if you can. He was a divemaster at Mabul for a few years before going to Sipadan and he knows where everything is. We saw loads of nudibranches, pigmy seahorse, frog fish and lots of other stuff. When you travel on the boat from Sipadan to Mabul look out for the flying fish as well - amazing. I went to Mabul with 3 other people who I met at Sipadan. 4 was a nice number. I can't remember what it cost but it was not much - anyway you won't get another chance to stay at Sipadan after this year so take in as much as you can. We did a morning dive then sat and had a packed lunch on our rib. You will have plenty of time before your afternoon dive so take a walk right round the island. It is interesting to see the local fishermen on the far side. We dived again in the afternoon and then paid a visit to the m/v Celebes Explorer which was moored nearby. Have a look at their web site.

http://www.borneo.org/asp/

Max I can guarantee that you will have a wonderful time and I wish I was going with you. You will see so many turtles, sharks, barracuda, jacks etc that it will blow you away.

The staff at the resort are great. We played volleyball on the beach with them when we weren't diving. Ask if you can have a guide to take you round the island at night to see if there are any turtles. We did two trips but had no luck. Give the guide $5 and he will be your friend for life.

I am off to the Red Sea in two weeks. 1 week liveaboard and 1 week shore based. It's a hard life but someone has got to do it.

I've attached a few photos that I took just to wet your appetite. They are not brilliant but it gives you an idea of ehat you might see.

Send me a report when you get back as I would love to know how you enjoy your stay.

Regards

David

 

[maxteo98]

Thanks for the info, David!
Will post a report when i am back.

regards,

Max

 

[Sun Tan Man]

thanks for forwarding on the information. It looks like I have no chose but Sipadan Lodge. Seems everything is booked up on the Islan. O well I will stay there and around that area 4 -5 days then I might have to go see what your talking about. O the research before a dive vacation is monotonous...Thx Again

This is a copy of an e-mail that I sent to Tboxcar in April. Sorry to repeat myself but as you have repeated your question I assume you did not receive my e-mail.

I stayed at the Abdillah Sipadan Paradise Resort - excellent. Their website is http://www.borneo.org/asp/ I booked my accommodation and diving over the internet as they had a special singles deal for February. The cost of diving is very reasonable actually. It cost me $106 per day for my accommodation, all meals, 3 boat dives and as many shore dives as you want. Try getting that sort of deal in the USA. I don't know how long you are going to be there but if you are going for a couple of weeks then go on the Celebes Explorer liveaboard for a few days. You travel to some of the smaller islands where the dive sites are not as busy. The boat is great and food fantastic. You will have a brilliant time with the crew. I did 4 days on the Celebes Explores and a week on Sipadan.

I have heard that you can pick up cheaper rates by walking in at KK. Borneo Divers seem to have a few deals like this. Their address in KK is: 9th floor, Menara Jubili 53 Jalan Gaya 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The problem is that when you get there they may have no accommodation but it could save you quite a bit of money. The KK address for the Abdillah Sipadan Paradise Resort and Celebes Explorer is Ground Floor, Lot 4, Block A, Taman Fortuna Shoplots, P.O. Box 12248, 88825 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

If you stay at the Abdillah Sipadan Paradise Resort then take a trip to Mabul and have Mike as your guide. He is brilliant and the "muck" diving there is great.

Enjoy and let me know how you go on.

Regards

David

PS: Enjoy your stay at Sipadan because from the end of the year it will be no more.

 

[David B]

I love doing the research before a holiday. I spend hours on the internet looking at different options - suppose I'm a bit of a sad devil really.

Enjoy your stay in Sipadan.

David

 

[reddishman]

cheapest u can get is some few dive resort on simpadan island itself. i heard they have quite bad reputation in food and polluting the sea, thats way they r cheap and will b closing down. a bettle place is find dive reosrt at mabul island, they r more professional and control
i m goin gend of there year
share us ur experience ok