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/ Sipadan-Mabul Resort The
place you have heard and dreamed about! Malaysia's
best diving is found off Borneo, with Sipadan pretty much at the top of the list.
The people to dive with have to be Borneo Divers, one of the longest established
and most reputable dive operation in Borneo. In order to preserve the rich marine
diversity of Sipadan, the island has been declared as a protected national park
reserve and as of 1st January 2005, all resorts based on the island of Sipadan
itself closed down. However, divers wanting to enjoy the wonders of Sipadan
need not fear as the nearby Mabul Resort provides excellent accommodation and
the opportunity to enjoy all the favourite Sipadan dive sites every day !
Sipadan Dive
Sites
DROP
OFF - is considered to be the best beach dive site in the world. Just 10metres
or so from the shore, the wall plunges a staggering 600 metres down and is rated
as one of the top 5 Beach Dives in the world. The wall is encrusted with different
varieties of coral, turtles abound and a multitude of lion fish & smaller
reef dwelling fish live on this wall. The entrance to TURTLE CAVERN is
also found about 22 metres down along this wall. You
are allowed to do all the beach dives you want, also all night dives are at the
drop off. At night you will see the huge (1½ to 2 meters) Bump Head Parrot
Fish sleeping in the wall. Turtle Cavern - Sipadan is famous for its population
of both Green Turtles and the smaller Hawksbill Turtles. It was at one time speculated
that the cavern was their mausoleum and that they came to this site to die. However,
a more accurate representation, is that the turtles became lost in the caverns
at night and drowned. BARRACUDA
POINT - Great dive site with lots of variation. As the name suggests, Barracuda
Point is where a large concentration of Pelagic's converge. Expect to see large
shoals of Barracuda, Jacks, Grey and White Tip Reef Sharks. The schools number
in the high hundreds. Current is super-strong. It is a fast moving, high voltage
dive site. There maybe no guarantees in diving, but there's every chance that
you can find yourself in the middle of a swirling vortex of chevron barracuda
on this, one of Sipadan's most treasured sites. You may see small critters too.
Even a Leafy Scorpion Fish, Nudibranches and the Clown Trigger Fish. It is little
wonder that visitors leave with so many "Barracuda Point" entries in
their logbooks. You should have one too....
These
are just a few of Sipadan's sites, but rest assured, the others, Coral Gardens,
White Tip Avenue, Turtle Patch, South Point, Staghorn Crest, Hanging Gardens,
Lobster Lair, North Point and West Ridge are equally stunning.
Mabul
Dive Sites In
addition to the Sipadan sites, there are some 8 dive sites around Mabul itself,
which in their own right offer the choice between lovely reefs, walls or muck
diving. When you dive at places like Froggy Lair and Nudibranch
Centre make sure you have the macro lens attached to your camera, you will
need it.
Add
to this the fact that the first two dives each day are actually made at Sipadan,
the choice of dive sites is very large indeed. In the morning you will dive
the "deep blue" off Sipadan with the very real possibility of getting
up close and personal with turtles, various kinds of reef sharks, and the odd
encounter with whaleshark, hammerhead and manta. Then after lunch you
do your third boat dive of the day around Mabul, looking for frogfish, seahorses,
and ribbon and garden eels. And if that is not enough, the nightdiving at Mabul
is great, spanish dancers the size of rugby balls and hermit crabs the
size of soccer balls, are not a figment of my imagination (it's not deep enough
to get "narked"). You can see them too, just come and experience the
magic of Mabul.
Borneo
Divers Mabul Resort,
is the perfect place to stay when diving Sipadan. This
new resort, is set close to the water's edge, and offers fantastic diving, beautiful
accommodation and great food at prices hard to believe.
The
resort is located on the northern end of the island with a fishing village to
either side of the resort. This is a small, comfortable resort, managed to the
high standard Borneo Divers is known for. At the resort reception you can browse
a large choice of regional fish guide books. You can also buy buy few souvenir
items, and they sell ice cream. Off the lobby is a TV room, which also has a VCR
for showing off your latest dive adventures. There is also Broadband wireless
internet connection for those with own laptops, as well as a few PCs in the conference
room for complimentary use for guests.
The
restaurant is open from early morning to late evening. All meals are buffet style
with a choice of Asian, western and vegetarian dishes, salads, sashimi and soup.
Accommodation
The generously
sized rooms are beautifully furnished, have air-conditioning and of course ensuite
facilities. All rooms have a verandah, inviting you to enjoy the sunset and/or
a cool drink. Rooms are located just a short walk from the restaurant and the
beach. Dive Shop The
dive shack is right on the beach from where you board the dive boats. Separate
fresh water tanks to wash your dive equipment and cameras, an outside fresh water
shower to rinse off, and individual spaces to leave your gear if you wish. The
dive shop is locked once the last divers are back after the night dive. Gear hire
is available at a reasonable cost. Tanks are loaded directly on to the dive boats.
All dives (other than the night dive) are guided by local guides with good English
language skills, of Dive Master or higher qualification.
|
2008 Accommodation/Dive Packages (prices per person) |
Dbl/Twin |
5 days/4 nights 4
dive days/up to 3 dives per day, with 2 dives each day at Sipadan |
US$
852 |
| 8
days/7 nights 7
dive days/up to 3 dives per day, with 2 dives each day at Sipadan |
US$
1491 |
|
Additional nights/extra dive days/rates for non-divers
|
|
we can put together packages of any duration, please contact us for different
durations and non-diver prices |
| Inclusions:
- Accommodation
at Borneo Divers Mabul Resort as per booked duration, with 3 buffet style
meals (a good selection of western, Asian and vegetarian dishes available), return
transfers from Tawau to Semporna by mini bus, and from Semporna to Mabul by speed
boat.
- 3
boat dives per dive day with Borneo Divers (2 morning dives at Sipadan,
one afternoon dive at Mabul), weights, belt and tank, qualified dive guides. Please
note there is not 3 dives on your arrival and departure days.
Extras:
- Sipadan
fee US$12 per day
- cost
of transportation to Tawau
- any
accommodation en route
- Dive
gear rental if required
Note:
please e-mail
us for any additional information and packages which include airfares
| Important
Transfers
to Mabul: departs Tawau at 08.00 hrs (8AM) and
14.20 hrs (2.20PM)
Transfers
to Tawau: departs Mabul at 06.30 hrs (6.30AM)
and 11.30 hrs (11:30AM)
In
addition to the above departures it is possible to arrange private transfers at
US$200 per boat | | |