suggestions about diving around Kita-Kinabaly;Malaysia, Borneo

[muha]

Dear divers,

I am looking for information and suggestions about diving around Kita-Kinabaly (Malaysia, Borneo). I would be very grateful for your recommendations concerning diving areas, dive shops, hotels and weather.
Thank you in advance!

 

[Vie]

I think you mean Kota Kinabalu (KK). For diving areas, there’s Abdul Rahman Tunku Park (5 islands about a twenty-minute boat ride from KK). About 300 km NW of KK is Layang Layang, a Malaysian-occupied atoll at the edge of the Spratsley archipelago. It’s a good place to see schooling Hammerhead sharks (February - June) and great wall diving. There are also Malaysian navy ships, if you’re the sort of person who enjoys perusing a copy of Jane’s Fighting Ships. Layang Layang has only one resort and you have to fly there. www.layanglayang.com/

I stayed briefly at the Hotel Shangri-La in KK—it is clean and pleasant enough; nothing special. www.kkshang.com.my

The one dive shop I saw in KK was O2 Diver. I have no personal experience in dealing with this establishment so cannot recommend it. www.o2diver.com

 

[davidlkh]

There are many hotels in KK.
ShangriLa Tanjung Aru and Sutera Harbour are just outside the main town.
Promenade and Hyatt are in town.

There are more economical hotels in town.

Not far from Hyatt there is a building with a lot of dive operators near the sea front.

Besides diving nearby Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, there are other dive locations further away:

The 4 Wrecks of Labuan
Mantanani Group of Islands and Wrecks
Layang Layang
Langkayan
Sipadan
Mabul
Kapalai
Mataking

If you travel down to Miri in Sarawak, there is also some diving there.
There is even diving in Brunei, but you need to know who to hook up with as I cannot think of anyone advertising scuba diving trips anymore. Now it is through private arrangement in Brunei.

 

[Mark Goodchild]

Hi there,

Here is a general guide to Sabah.

Hope its useful.

http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/Sabah%20feature.htm

 

[Nikki T]

Dear divers,

I am looking for information and suggestions about diving around Kita-Kinabaly (Malaysia, Borneo). I would be very grateful for your recommendations concerning diving areas, dive shops, hotels and weather.
Thank you in advance!

Kota Kinabalu is always a good place to start out from, as all the best Malaysian dive areas are nearby. If you haven't done Sipadan, please do so ! Fly from KK to Tawau and then a van ride to Semporna. From there, you can head out to Kapalai or Mabul. I just came back from Kapalai resort - excellent place to spend a few days. Diving will be at Sipadan as well as Mabul and Kapalai house reef.
Contact Pan Borneo Tours & Travel to arrange for diving package to the resorts at Mabul or Kapalai.
Layang Layang is also a good place to go but tends to be a little more expensive. Hammerhead haven, if you are lucky. Fly straight from Kota Kinabalu to Layang Layang.

 

[hiddenaughty]

Mantanani Island Resort ( Operate by Borneo Sea Adventures )
Contact:
bornsea@tm.net.my or bornsea@streamyx.com
Website: http://www.bornsea.com
Picture: http://groups.msn.com/BorneoSea or http://groups.msn.com/Mantanani