Suggestions for Sipadan or North Sulawesi?

[bottomdweller8]

I'm trying to plan a dive trip to Sipadan or North Sulawesi which are high on my list. I lived in Malaysia for many years but didn't discover diving until I came to US (kicked myself many times for this). Now, I'm visiting some family in Jan or Feb, and want to take advantage of some world class diving.

Which one do you recommend? I definitely enjoy diversity and variety of diving; not sure if I can do murk diving for several days. Which dive resort do you suggest?

 

[Nudie Dreamer]

Hi BD8,

You can choose to stay at the resorts I have listed below. All are located nearby Sipadan.

• Kapalai Resort
• Mabul Seaventures
• Sipadan Mabul Resort
• Mabul Water Bungalows

As for which resort is best to stay in, it all depends on your budget. SMART (Sipadan Mabul Resort) & Mabul water Bungalows are a good choice especially for those who enjoys shore diving.

Hope that helps!

 

[RinaW]

Hi BottomDweller,

I've never been to Sipadan, but I can comment on N. Sulawesi. You can do muck diving in Lembeh Strait and reef diving in Bunaken. The distance of the two are about a 2 hr drive. Some resorts offer transfers between the two locations. I wouldn't go to N. Sulawesi without making a stop at both.

 

[Luko]

I would rather go to Sipadan than N/Sulawesi, the Sipadan/Mabul combo is one of the only places I know where you can spot tornados of cudas or occasionally a hammerhead in the morning and look around for pygmy seahorses some hours later.

I like N/Sulawesi too, especially Bangka and Lembeh, but if you're not into small critters, you might get a little overall tired of macro stuff and the relative lack of pelagics.

It's a mystery to me why Nudiedreamer forgot to mention Borneo Divers Mabul Resort, which is the pioneer operation of diving on Sipadan. The dives they provide are guided by some of the most experimented staff around. I have stayed and dived 4 times with them since 2004, twice this year (check out my reports), I would recommend them anytime -going back at Xmas time).

Borneo divers is located just on Paradise 2 reef, which is considered as one of the best shore dive in Asia. Besides that Borneo divers is a little less expensive than all the resorts quoted by nudie dreamer except Seaventures.

I hardly know anyone of their customers who was not satisfied with their services. Really.

 

[Nudie Dreamer]

I would rather go to Sipadan than N/Sulawesi, the Sipadan/Mabul combo is one of the only places I know where you can spot tornados of cudas or occasionally a hammerhead in the morning and look around for pygmy seahorses some hours later.

I like N/Sulawesi too, especially Bangka and Lembeh, but if you're not into small critters, you might get a little overall tired of macro stuff and the relative lack of pelagics.

It's a mystery to me why Nudiedreamer forgot to mention Borneo Divers Mabul Resort, which is the pioneer operation of diving on Sipadan. The dives they provide are guided by some of the most experimented staff around. I have stayed and dived 4 times with them since 2004, twice this year (check out my reports), I would recommend them anytime -going back at Xmas time).

Borneo divers is located just on Paradise 2 reef, which is considered as one of the best shore dive in Asia. Besides that Borneo divers is a little less expensive than all the resorts quoted by nudie dreamer except Seaventures.

I hardly know anyone of their customers who was not satisfied with their services. Really.

Hey Luko, its no mystery that I can be such a forgetful dork.

 

[Luko]

Hey Luko, its no mystery that I can be such a forgetful dork.

Don't worry I am a dork diver too...

 

[Cruiser24]

absolutely concur with luko. wld definitely choose sipadan over n sulawesi. u can get to see both the big stuff and the small ones too.

 

[leo]

SMART (Sipadan Mabul Resort) & Mabul water Bungalows are a good choice especially for those who enjoys shore diving.

Hope that helps!

ND,
I'm considering a trip with stay at a Mabul Island resort. You mention shore diving, and since I'll be with my non-diving wife I will not be able to do afternoon boat dives. Yet, just me, but I must be in the water!

So, our afternoons are typically spent somewhere with shore-accessible reef, I can freedive or if with a buddy do a shore dive, and she has the freedom to choose to snorkel with me or stay on shore (nice beach is great, rocks is OK, pier for sunning might do).

- So, you believe Mabul offers such an afternoon program?
- Where would the wife hang if not snorkeling (beach, rocks, pier, etc.)?
- Is such diving/freediving locations really good, or "there" but not so great?
- Why would SWV not be a good choice for such afternoons, are the reefs only accessible if one stays at a specific resort?

(We are looking for a resort that offers over the water accomodation, clean (if basic) room with Western bathroom, top and memorable local/Asian food, A/C and internet and hot water, some massage/spa for wife).

Thanks!!
-Leo

 

[Luko]

memorable local/Asian food

I think that's one thing you won't get anywhere on Mabul... unfortunately...

 

[Midget]

Kapalai is a gorgeous resort with fantastic snorkeling. They even have an artificial beach.

About Kapalai

You don't really need AC because there are ocean breezes. I thought their food was good with a variety of western and asian at every meal. They have a house reef you can dive....just step off the boardwalk near the dive center. Email them and ask about a massage. They don't have a spa. None of the resorts at Sipadan do.

Reviews of Kapalai on TA. Do look at the photos.
Sipadan-Kapalai Island Resort (Pulau Sipadan, Malaysia) - Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor