If you want turtles and sharks, splendid drop offs and reefs to snorkel then you'll love Sipadan. This island off the east coast of Malaysian Borneo used to boast the worlds excellent shore dive. About 10m/30ft from the seaside the wall drops to 680m/2200ft. Since 2005 the island is a marine park and is covered from dynamite fishermen and over diving by way of the Malaysian Navy and Sabah Parks officials. scuba West Sumbawa Divers should live on nearby Mabul or take day journeys from the coast metropolis of Semporna.
For such a fantastic dive site you'll count on top rate prices, but Sipadan is surprisingly available for those on a shoestring finances. Get yourself to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore and observe the guidelines under for a unforgettable dive holiday with out breaking the financial institution.
Book your international flight to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore and then get yourself to Semporna thru Tawau.
How to get from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau
Book a flight from KL to Tawau with Air Asia for around RM200 plus taxes.
Air Asia leaves from the Kuala Lumpur LCCT which stands for Low Cost Carrier Terminal. Its about 10km from the main worldwide terminals. Follow the signs from arrivals to the automobile park and you may locate the bus station and a switch bus for RM1.50. It takes around 15 mins but depart some time to spare.
Air Asia are very strict approximately excess bags and its luxurious however they may be very friendly to scuba divers. Pack your tools one by one and identify it whilst you check in and you'll pay most of RM30.
How to get from Singapore to Tawau
Book a flight from Johor Bahru to Tawau with Air Asia for around RM200 plus taxes.
Johor Bahru is the Malaysian metropolis throughout the causeway from Singapore. After you land, take the educate into city after which a bus from Queen Street bus station to Malaysia! Total fee much less than S$5. You will want to get a taxi to Johor Bahru airport (also referred to as Senai airport) because the buses are difficult to locate however this ought to most effective cost you RM20 or so.
How to get from Tawau to Semporna
All day boats to Sipadan and transfers to Mabul inns begin in Semporna, a fishing metropolis 100km from Tawau. The diving day and hotel transfers begin early so it's far higher to head direct to Semporna while you arrive.
Leaving Tawau airport you've got two options. The bus price tag counter will sell you a ticket to Tawau (RM10) and direct you to the bus behind the police station. Tawau city is 30km from the airport south. Semporna is 70km north. If you visit Tawau first you'll have to retrace 30km to your 2d bus earlier than getting closer to your destination.
So before you buy your price ticket to Tawau, pass and look at the back of the police station. You will probable find a mini bus going direct to Semporna and that they charge simplest RM20. Save your self hours and RM20 and move direct!
If you're tired, overdue or fancy forking out, a taxi costs round RM100 and will in shape up to a few tired divers and their tools! You ought to keep yourself all that hassle through reserving diving ahead. Most dive accommodations will come and collect you if you book ahead.
So, whilst you get to Semporna what are your alternatives to dive on Sipadan? Surprisingly you can do day journeys from Semporna or live on an island hotel for an awful lot the identical charge so that you choose for different motives.
If you want to enjoy the relative freedom of staying the mainland so that you can go shopping and pick your restaurant within the night then your value is longer boat times to the days diving. If you need to break out and take advantage of unlimited diving and quick boat trips you then ought to e book several consecutive diving days and stay all-in on an island lodge.
Staying in Semporna and having day journeys
Scuba Junkies are probably the largest day tripper from Semporna (internet site offline at book date). For smaller boat corporations you may try Blue Sea Divers who opened this summer time and are a couple of doors down the road.
Staying on the island motels
Many of the motels on Mabul and Kapalai are expensive however there are price range options. The most inexpensive is actually Uncle Chang's Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge. It's very simple, mattresses at the ground and shared bathing however you go to the islands for the diving and the hotel for rum party evenings now not to capture up to your sleep.
For a bit extra cash you may try something absolutely exclusive and take a room on the transformed oil rig known as SeaVentures. This offers you the possibility for limitless diving below the rig together with your pal which makes all of it great value. You also have extra chance of having a few sleep at the rig!
Staying in Semporna
Whether its one night before a lodge switch or several days and day journey diving, your first-rate option in Semporna is Scuba Junkies backpackers lodge. They have beds for as low as RM20 in step with night and that includes breakfast.
You might be tempted to move a bit upmarket to City Inn or Dragon Inn resorts where you may an ensuite room but be careful, those do now not encompass breakfast nor provide any refreshment services in any respect.
Sipadan isn't the simplest diving destination in Sabah. Why now not spend some days in the nation capital and discover the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park just 1/2 an hour from the city jetty.
Kota Kinabalu is a very easy city to spend a few days in. There are many backpackers however for sure the classiest is Velvet which opened early 2007. The rooms are immaculate and they provide unfastened use of the washing device! You can go white water rafting, submerge your self in sulphur baths or for the more adventurous you can climb the mountain.
T.A.R. Marine park has a number of diving consisting of numerous artificial reefs near the islands that are very successful in attracting a variety of fish. You can see a few magnificent marine lifestyles even if the visibility is low when compared to Sipadan. While several dive centers function in Kota Kinabalu, we located the customer support of Sabah Divers to be 2d to none and at a very good price.