Diving

[Adele]

Dear all (don't worry, i'm not starting another official letter formatting thread),

here's some info that i gathered from a friend on diving in Sipadan:

"u can try googling sipadan scuba or borneo dive.
http://www.sipadanscuba.com/

Padi course is 750, i have a reader who managed to find cheaper but that is the standard rate charge. accomodation when taking course is on the mainland semporna, better ones is the sipadan inn, you can google that too. 75 per night for two.

food is cheap on mainland, lots of restaurant so just bring sufficient money to eat. you won't be able to eat much anyway if u're taking the course.

diving in sipadan cost RM300 for a boat out to sea to sipadan ,plus another RM40 for the permit to enter sipadan. there's no lodging on the island, you can either stay on mainland or Mabul island, try uncle chang, RM50 include three meals a day.
http://www.sipadanbackpackers.com/index_files/Page375.htm


fly airasia to tawau, how cheap depends how when you book and if there's a promo fair. it's an hour from semporna, port to sipadan. the rest do check out my blog under Malaysia label. :)


Have fun,

Nicole
nicolekiss.blogspot.com"

Kenneth suppose to come back on Tioman soon and Chung Ming will share on Perhentian too. let's decide by end of this month k? hope to hear from you all soon!!

[kwimango]

so you know nicole! check out her holiday pics on her blog. it was what inspired me to go sipadan. i dont know nicole personally though, am just a lurker in her blog

[JC]

MAS now zero fair. Grab it. :)

[Anson F-Clef]

Kenneth suppose to come back on Tioman soon and Chung Ming will share on Perhentian too. let's decide by end of this month k? hope to hear from you all soon!!

YES - I am waiting tooooo!!!! I oso got kaki wanna join in as well leh! :laugh: However I am still waiting until at least 10th to get in touch of a good ol fren regarding diving fees but she recommended that first and foremost it's better to learn from Diver's Den, oppsite UH and KWSP in Petaling Jaya..........

[Hedgehog]

YES - I am waiting tooooo!!!! I oso got kaki wanna join in as well leh! :laugh: However I am still waiting until at least 10th to get in touch of a good ol fren regarding diving fees but she recommended that first and foremost it's better to learn from Diver's Den, oppsite UH and KWSP in Petaling Jaya..........

Hi Mr Clef & kakis, definitely better to get OW and at least 10-20dives before heading to Sipadan. Diving in Mabul/Kapalai is muck diving haven and it's quite easy dive there but once in Sipadan, mainly require some skills esp with downward current, strong current and basically there will only be one DM or two DM taking a group of 6-8 divers, so mainly buddy taking care of buddy. It's quite easily to get drift out to open ocean near Baracuda Point, South Point bcos of strong current, always bring a diving sausage along:), and rent a dive comp because it's really easy to go deep without realising as it's bottomless. Enjoy Sipadan....I really did have a good time there ....eat, dive, sleep, eat dive, sleep...:)

[Hammerhead]

Hi Mr Clef & kakis, definitely better to get OW and at least 10-20dives before heading to Sipadan. Diving in Mabul/Kapalai is muck diving haven and it's quite easy dive there but once in Sipadan, mainly require some skills esp with downward current, strong current and basically there will only be one DM or two DM taking a group of 6-8 divers, so mainly buddy taking care of buddy. It's quite easily to get drift out to open ocean near Baracuda Point, South Point bcos of strong current, always bring a diving sausage along:), and rent a dive comp because it's really easy to go deep without realising as it's bottomless. Enjoy Sipadan....I really did have a good time there ....eat, dive, sleep, eat dive, sleep...:)

Waaahhh! You are scaring them leh.......errrrm , anyone wants to rent buddy..?:o:D

[yee keong]

yeah, i dont mind offering myself to be rented. AOW diver with over 50+ dives. i stop counting after 50 :P

but i havent dived sipadan. it's wall diving and might get to see hammer heads!!

[ryan_khoo82]

Adele, I didn't know you know Nicole personally. Yes you will intro me to her someday. I would like to see her up close and decide if she is everything that people say she is :D


Yup I think Sipadan only worth going with at least OW and some dives under your belt. Btw, I have a friend going in early June to Sipadan. RM1,300 excluding gear rental and flights. But food, accomodation provided with unlimited dives. He is an instructor there so I guess that's why the price is good.

I'll probably do AOW there as well. But don't worry Adele, I still have your July trip in mind somewhere on East Coast ok?

[yee keong]

RM1300 is cheap! worth going and considering the additional rental (max RM80/day) and flight (RM300-400 with AirAsia), still less than RM2500 quoted last time!! (all in package though)

[Adele]

Adele, I didn't know you know Nicole personally. Yes you will intro me to her someday. I would like to see her up close and decide if she is everything that people say she is :D


Yup I think Sipadan only worth going with at least OW and some dives under your belt. Btw, I have a friend going in early June to Sipadan. RM1,300 excluding gear rental and flights. But food, accomodation provided with unlimited dives. He is an instructor there so I guess that's why the price is good.

I'll probably do AOW there as well. But don't worry Adele, I still have your July trip in mind somewhere on East Coast ok?
Yes, i know her personally. having lunch with her next Tues if you're interested to join us. sorry, i'll be there though :p

do update on the East Coast thingy soon.
Hi Mr Clef & kakis, definitely better to get OW and at least 10-20dives before heading to Sipadan. Diving in Mabul/Kapalai is muck diving haven and it's quite easy dive there but once in Sipadan, mainly require some skills esp with downward current, strong current and basically there will only be one DM or two DM taking a group of 6-8 divers, so mainly buddy taking care of buddy. It's quite easily to get drift out to open ocean near Baracuda Point, South Point bcos of strong current, always bring a diving sausage along, and rent a dive comp because it's really easy to go deep without realising as it's bottomless. Enjoy Sipadan....I really did have a good time there ....eat, dive, sleep, eat dive, sleep...:)
oh my! so scary indeed!! thinking twice now.
yeah, i dont mind offering myself to be rented. AOW diver with over 50+ dives. i stop counting after 50 :P

but i havent dived sipadan. it's wall diving and might get to see hammer heads!!
we always glad to get free service but how much does it cost to "rent" you.:eek:

[yee keong]

rental cost is just paying for everything to get me there and back and whatever misc expenses!!

[cxtreme]

Quote i got for DIver's Den (pj)

if do the pool and theory at PJ and dives at redang, i'tll be RM 1480 for 3d/2n with 5 dives or rm 1680 for 4d/3n with 7 dives. Accomodation is at redang kalong on twin sharing basis with a/c and attached. Advantages of having the course in pj is that u can do pool sessions as often as u want and practice etc


if do everything on the island, will be a 5d/4n course at rm 1550

[yee keong]

very important is to get a proper instructor to teach, and not those intructor who just want to pass students. even though diving is a safe sport, it's like driving a car. you need to know how to perform certain things properly, and how to reach to emergency. if not, accidents will happen, and you pay with your life! car got ABS + EBD + airbag. when you are 20m down there, you got nothing (except your buddy). a good buddy is like the ABS + EBD + airbag

[Anson F-Clef]

Last Tuesday I got a phone call from my good fren that there is a good package 5d 4n at a resort in Perhentian - wanna consider or not? BTW I m bound to meet my good fren some time next week for details :D If u have my mobile number, pls don't hesitate to ring me up or email me OK? :D

[cxtreme]

anson y don u put up the details of the deal here.