Sipidan or Layang Layang - May 2011

[eytokyo]

Thank you everyone for your input. I've booked a week long vacation in Layang Layang. Crossing my fingers that I'll encounter some hammerheads!

 

[kurrymdiver]

Leo, don't even think about Layang² for your non diving wife.
My advice was trying instead Lankayan.

Lankayan is the place to be!! Although the diving isn't the greatest compared to Layang2 or Sipadan.

If you try to do both Layang2 and Sipadan in one week, you'll lose precious diving time!
Your best bet is to go to Sipadan b/c Layang2 is in the middle of no where......

 

[leo]

What makes it the place to be if the diving "isn't the greatest"? (it sure looks nice in the images online)

 

[Travelnsj]

Been to both...saw a couple of Hammerheads at LL 40' away at around 90'....Go to Palau or Raja Ampat!...but the land tours of Borneo are worth while!

 

[WetPup]

How does the diving work at LL for those of us who aren't comfortable going down to 50-odd meters to look for the hammerheads? I'm booked to go in April for a week and I've got 40 ocean dives and I'm ok in a current. But nothing that deep - max around 34m so far. Is the diving style "follow the DM"? Or are they ok to just buddy pair you off according to experience?

 

[Zippsy]

You are actually required to go no deeper than 40m and that is a wise rule. You are threatened with missing a day of diving if you violate that rule. Of course, I have heard many examples of people violating it without a problem and of others where the divers were required to miss dives. It's a little too easy to blow the depth so I suspect it happens more times than not - but it is not supposed to be. Yes, most dives at the Point are "follow me" down over the edge of the reef to 35-40m, out into the blue for 5-10 minutes of staring down and around then back to the reef for a gentle ascent back up the wall to a safety stop on the reef top. If you are uncomortable with that, I suggest you stay close to your guide (above him by 5m and just behind so he is easy to see but you are out of his bubbles) and keep an eye on him. When he sees something and points, you'll be the first to know and can get closer. Another option (that misses the point of going to LL, IMHO) is to skip the Point dives and just do the great wall dive down to 30-35m. You'll likely miss the hammerheads but you will have more comfortable dives.

 

[WetPup]

You are actually required to go no deeper than 40m and that is a wise rule. You are threatened with missing a day of diving if you violate that rule. Of course, I have heard many examples of people violating it without a problem and of others where the divers were required to miss dives. It's a little too easy to blow the depth so I suspect it happens more times than not - but it is not supposed to be. Yes, most dives at the Point are "follow me" down over the edge of the reef to 35-40m, out into the blue for 5-10 minutes of staring down and around then back to the reef for a gentle ascent back up the wall to a safety stop on the reef top. If you are uncomortable with that, I suggest you stay close to your guide (above him by 5m and just behind so he is easy to see but you are out of his bubbles) and keep an eye on him. When he sees something and points, you'll be the first to know and can get closer. Another option (that misses the point of going to LL, IMHO) is to skip the Point dives and just do the great wall dive down to 30-35m. You'll likely miss the hammerheads but you will have more comfortable dives.

Thanks for the info I suspect I'd be ok at 35-40m, but 50m seemed a bit far. I'll take what you say under advisement though. I'm really going there to hopefully see the hammerheads, and I want to take the opportunity to do those dives. But not to the point of stupidity.

 

[kurrymdiver]

it's kind of regarded as a party island, or was at least. staff there are great! and yes, it is a beautiful place. the diving really isn't that bad, but after doing more than 50 dives at Sipadan, it doesn't compare. =)

 

[kurrymdiver]

^
that post was in reply to leo...sorry. haha

 

[Reef Hook]

Hope you canput up with four whinging Poms WetPup.....see you in Layang Layang!