Luis Suarez: Sabah a 'must-visit' for divers @LuisSuarez9

Football star Luis Suarez is urging people to dive - not on the football pitch, but in the crystal clear waters of Sabah. 

"To all the diving and snorkeling buffs out there, Sabah is a must-visit for you! Look at the crystal clear waters swarming with exotic marine life and beautiful coral reefs,” the Barcelona and Uruguay forward said in a tweet on Saturday (March 3).

Sabah is known for having some of the best dive sites in the world, among them Sipadan Island, Layang Layang Island, Mataking Island, Mabul and the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

Last week, Suarez, who is Tourism Malaysia's ambassador, praised  Sarawak on Twitter.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Luis Suarez: Sabah a 'must-visit' for divers

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The Lite Backpacker: How to Dive in Borneo on a Budget

Heading to Malaysia and want to do something adventurous? I suggest going for a dive in Borneo, in particular the island of Mabul. The diving in Borneo is spectacular, the water is warm and clear, the wildlife is plentiful and the people are friendly.

If you are a dive enthusiast or just a lover of all things in the ocean then I can’t recommend Borneo enough! It was an amazing experience and one of my all time favourite places to dive, but there are a few things I wish I had thought/known to ask before I left. Hopefully this post can help you plan your own Borneo dive adventure.

Where did I dive in Borneo?

I stayed on the island of Mabul which is off the coast of Semporna and is where most people stay when they dive the world famous Sipidan reef. Unfortunately, because I didn’t get my act together quickly enough, I wasn’t able to dive Sipidan, but the dive spots around Mabul were amazing in my opinion (though obviously I cant compare them to Sipidan).

Is it safe to dive in Borneo?

First things first, never take chances with your safety. It isn’t worth it. There is a travel warning on most of the dive areas in Borneo, in particular Sipidan, due to pirates from the Philippines. I strongly suggest doing your own research to work out if you are comfortable traveling and diving in the area.

At first I was concerned about how many people said they weren’t going to go due to the travel warning, but the more I dug, the more I discovered that there was still a large volume of tourists visiting the area with no harm coming to them. Doing the percentages, I would be safer diving in Borneo than I would be walking the streets in London or New York.

While there, I felt nothing but safe. I can’t imagine how a pirate would be able to kidnap you. I stayed on the island of Mabul which is the launch pad for Sipidan and there was always a Malaysian navy boat in sight.

Not to mention that most of the dive sites were within eyesight of the island, which is densely populated, therefore any pirates would be seen approaching from a long way off. I had zero worries for my safety from pirates… hurricanes maybe, pirates none.

You need to make your own judgement by doing some research, but if you were to meet me on the road and ask for my opinion, I would say go for it.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: The Lite Backpacker: How to Dive in Borneo on a Budget

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The Lite Backpacker: How to Dive in Borneo on a Budget

Heading to Malaysia and want to do something adventurous? I suggest going for a dive in Borneo, in particular the island of Mabul. The diving in Borneo is spectacular, the water is warm and clear, the wildlife is plentiful and the people are friendly.

If you are a dive enthusiast or just a lover of all things in the ocean then I can’t recommend Borneo enough! It was an amazing experience and one of my all time favourite places to dive, but there are a few things I wish I had thought/known to ask before I left. Hopefully this post can help you plan your own Borneo dive adventure.

Where did I dive in Borneo?

I stayed on the island of Mabul which is off the coast of Semporna and is where most people stay when they dive the world famous Sipidan reef. Unfortunately, because I didn’t get my act together quickly enough, I wasn’t able to dive Sipidan, but the dive spots around Mabul were amazing in my opinion (though obviously I cant compare them to Sipidan).

Is it safe to dive in Borneo?

First things first, never take chances with your safety. It isn’t worth it. There is a travel warning on most of the dive areas in Borneo, in particular Sipidan, due to pirates from the Philippines. I strongly suggest doing your own research to work out if you are comfortable traveling and diving in the area.

At first I was concerned about how many people said they weren’t going to go due to the travel warning, but the more I dug, the more I discovered that there was still a large volume of tourists visiting the area with no harm coming to them. Doing the percentages, I would be safer diving in Borneo than I would be walking the streets in London or New York.

While there, I felt nothing but safe. I can’t imagine how a pirate would be able to kidnap you. I stayed on the island of Mabul which is the launch pad for Sipidan and there was always a Malaysian navy boat in sight.

Not to mention that most of the dive sites were within eyesight of the island, which is densely populated, therefore any pirates would be seen approaching from a long way off. I had zero worries for my safety from pirates… hurricanes maybe, pirates none.

You need to make your own judgement by doing some research, but if you were to meet me on the road and ask for my opinion, I would say go for it.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: The Lite Backpacker: How to Dive in Borneo on a Budget

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Diving all year round in Sabah

SEMPORNA: THE year-long “End in Sipadan” campaign organised by the Tourism and Culture Ministry will not only promote Sabah’s diving trails, but also its local dive operators, said the ministry’s state director, Ag Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar.

“The ‘End in Sipadan’ campaign, held in collaboration with Sabah Backpackers Association, began in April and has reached its pinnacle here in Sipadan.

“Throughout the journey, we saw our local dive operators doing a great job not just for the tourism industry, but also for the conservation of our reefs,” he said during a press conference in conjunction with the closing of the campaign here recently.

He said dive operators in Mari Mari Sepanggar island here and Bum Bum Island in Semporna engaged with avid divers to build artificial reefs within respective house reefs.

“Before the campaign, the heaps of rubbish in Sepanggar island could reach an average man’s shoulder. But, dive operators have cleared the garbage and transformed the island into a diving centre.”

Ag Ahmad said dive operator Blue Fin Dive and Surf from Kudat built a community-based homestay, while ND Divers from Bum Bum island provided jobs opportunities to the locals.

As for Lahad Datu-based Pirate Divers, its founder, Glen Hapirullah, sketched several hundred underwater maps in Malaysia, including 44 diving sites in Lahad Datu.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Diving all year round in Sabah

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New dive site discovered at Vernon Banks in Labuan

LABUAN: Labuan could well be the next underwater paradise for scuba divers from all over the world with more unique dive sites being discovered, including the latest one the Vernon Bank dive site’.

The new dive site,  located over 40 nautical miles off north Labuan was first discovered about five years ago by an engineer turned boat operator Ahmad Nasir Othman, 60,  who has been taking anglers there.

However, it was  Clement Lee, and his diving colleagues who explored the pristine reef for the first time in April 2017.

The Labuan born Lee, 65, is the Tourism Malaysia Ambassador for the diving segment (2017-2019) and is an internationally renowned diver as well.

Based on his observation there, he believes the dive site has the potential to be on par with other popular scuba dive sites across the globe.

“The new dive site has its own uniqueness compared with other internationally renowned dive sites and it is certainly a great site to be explored,” he said  adding that this new dive site is different from the much sought after dive sites of Sipadan and Mabul islands in Sabah when it comes to the marine species and underwater landscape.

The Vernon Bank is stated in the old British admiralty charts and publication and the site has a number of rare marine species like the porcelain crab, fishes like the bubble Goby and the colourful Nudi branch among others.

Vernon Bank’s uniqueness

Under good weather, with a twin engine 115HP boat, the journey to Vernon Bank from the Labuan marine jetty takes about one and half hours.

“I did not discover the Vernon Bank site but we heard of it many months ago. Hence, we have been planning to dive at the site since last year with our diving team.

“Yet we had to postpone our intention many times due to our tight schedule and the weather.

“Me and the other divers including Miri based Co.Co.Dive general manager, Ross Kelly, and the diving centre’s Labuan-based manager Roy Jak Ngau finally reached Vernon Bank on April 26 and again on May 1.”

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: New dive site discovered at Vernon Banks in Labuan

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Spirit Quest with Giraffe: Diving Sipadan

Sipadan is truly an underwater wonder world with plentiful fish, turtles, sharks, striking coral and impressive macros.

This natural wonder is worth visiting and preserving too which is why the Government only allocate a certain amount of tourist/visitor permits per day.

Not all dive resorts on Mabul and Kapali guarantee your Sipadan permit hence why we chose to stay with Borneo Divers who guarantee a permit with any 4 night minimum stay.

What to expect when diving Sipadan with Borneo Divers:

Depart BDM Jetty at either 5:30 for the early morning risers or 8:30 am which is dependent on your guide.

The journey takes approximately 20 minutes before you reach the white strip of sandy beach surrounded by breathtakingly clear, turquoise waters.

Upon arrival to Sipadan each visitor must register their name and Country of Origin for their permit.

Following this it’s time to return to the boat to Gear up and get into it.

We dove at the following dive sites; Barracuda Point, Turtle Patch, White Tip Avenue to Coral Garden, Big Reef and Hanging Garden over two very fortunate blissful days.

After each dive you return to the white sandy shores for refreshments, lunch and some down time before the next aquatic adventure.

See below for a brief outline of what we saw at each dive site and what you could expect to see on your visit.

Barracuda Point

Once you experience this for yourself you will soon realise why this has been voted the best dive spot in the world for 2016.

This place is the epitome of aquarium diving with visibility up 20 metres plus minimum allowing you to see the perfection that Mother Nature has created from both near and far.

This is a reef dive which descends to a sandy bottom.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Spirit Quest with Giraffe: Diving Sipadan

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The Hike Life: Scuba Diving in Sipadan, Malaysian Borneo

Getting to Sabah from Langkawi is a process, but one that ran very smoothly. Malaysia is probably one of, if not the most competent countries I’ve been to in terms of transport. Let’s face it, spending a full day travelling is its own unique misery but when it goes smoothly and you’re on your way to paradise, it’s a lot easier.

My itinerary was Melbourne > KL > Langkawi > KL > Tawau > Mabul > Tawau > KL > Melbourne and I didn’t have a single delay, not a single “surprise” fare, and everyone turned up when they said they would. No bookings were lost, nobody tried to charge me for “extras” like storing my bag (unlike in India where literally everyone tried to charge you extra for everything).

As an aside, I did not get harassed as a women alone once the whole time I was in Malaysia. In Langkawi, everyone who worked on the beach was friendly and respectful. I didn’t get followed, groped, or gawked at once. I never once felt unsafe, which is more than I can say for walking to my car after dinner in Brunswick on a Friday night. The local men will talk to you and flirt, but it’s usually so you’ll hire a jetski or visit their friend’s restaurant, none of them made any moves on me and it was really nice to get to know some of them – so often when travelling alone you have your guard up the whole time. KL airport is a bit hectic, and I’d recommend covering up there, but otherwise it was smooth sailing.

To dive Sipadan you need to stay on one of the nearby islands – we chose Mabul, and stayed with Borneo Divers. They had solid reviews and are a well established and respected resort and training centre. There are cheaper options, but for my first time diving I didn’t want to compromise on safety. The resort itself is clean and comfortable. The rooms are air conditioned and the food was fantastic, but make sure you get to the buffet early because once that food is gone, it aint coming back. Once that dinner gong rings it’s like watching seagulls after your chips.

The whole island runs on generators, which you can hear running at night, and the power and wifi can be patchy. This didn’t bother me but I can imagine it would some. The showers are salt water and the open style that you see all over Asia so the whole bathroom gets a soaking. In short, don’t expect Noosa style luxury and you’ll be grand. The bar opens at 5 and the staff started to anticipate our arrival, which was both comforting and embarrassing.

My training started as soon as I got there (around lunchtime) and by the end of the first day we were in the pool to practice.

Breathing underwater is something else. It’s unnatural, and scary, and it tests your self control. My natural reaction was to bolt for the surface, but slowly it became easier, and by day two we were training off the jetty in real life conditions. It helped that the water was incredibly warm and clear. On the third day, we were out on the boat for our first boat dive and to have our skills tested. I saw my first turtle, which got me all emotional, and at one stage we were attacked by a very angry, large, and territorial fish who decided to chase and bite my dive master Steven, who fended it off admirably.

The next day was more muck diving around Mabul, more assessments, and then an early night before Sipadan the next day!

Before I go on, I should point out that Sipadan isn’t really a beginner dive spot. There are some pretty strong currents and very deep drop offs. Visibility can be bad after rain. I talked it through with my Dive Master and he gave me his blessing to go with an experienced group, but there were other beginners there who got told they weren’t allowed, and that they were only allowed to snorkel.

And to be honest, when we got dropped in for the first dive at South Point, I was pretty terrified. The current was strong, and there were sharks everywhere. It took all my newly learnt skill to breath properly, adjust my buoyancy, and just settle into the rhythm. Our dive masters were very calm and patient, and it helped I had Rebecca by my side as she was experienced and kept eye contact with me when I was feeling nervous. She also took these photos of me, which I am very grateful for.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: The Hike Life: Scuba Diving in Sipadan, Malaysian Borneo

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Go4TravelBlog: 5 Mind-blowing Activities to Take Part in on Sipadan Island

As the only oceanic island in Malaysia, Sipadan measures a mere half-kilometer in length and just 200 meters in width. But whatever it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in beauty and diversity.

Most famous for being one of the world’s premiere dive sites, Sipadan Island activities also offer plenty of other fun to the intrepid traveler, which explains the island’s growing popularity among people of all ages and levels of experience.

Things were not always like this. The island was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone that took several thousands of years to develop. By 1933, Sipadan had garnered enough of a reputation to be declared a bird sanctuary by the British due its status as an important stopover for various species like the greater sand plover and the wood sandpiper.

But it was its portrayal in the Jacques Cousteau film “The ghost of the sea turtle” that brought international fame to this small island. Despite recent disputes between Indonesia and Malaysia over possession of the island, Sipadan has continued to thrive as a tourist destination.

Among the many Sipadan Island activities travelers can engage in while on the Island, the following five should figure high up on anybody’s list:

1. Scuba diving

As the activity that put Sipadan Island on the map, scuba diving here can indeed be an absolutely unforgettable experience. The waters around the island are filled with all sorts of exotic creatures, including the likes of leopard sharks, hammerheads and sea turtles.

It’s best to avoid traveling during monsoon season, as the rain greatly affects underwater visibility, which is otherwise pristine enough that several amazing videos have already been shot in the waters around Sipadan. Also, be aware that only 120 divers are allowed per day in an effort to keep the area as unadulterated as possible, so booking your Sipadan Island activities ahead of time is mandatory.

2. Snorkeling

Snorkeling often comes bundled together with scuba diving as two of the most common activities in Sipadan, but it actually offers a very different experience. Snorkeling can be done in the absence of any qualifications, and involves staying at the surface of the ocean.

Nonetheless, the waters of Sipadan are clear enough to allow excellent views of the corals and reef fishes below, and may even allow occasional turtle and shark sightings as well.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Go4TravelBlog: 5 Mind-blowing Activities to Take Part in on Sipadan Island

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ThePlanetD: Sabah Diving Guide - Beyond Sipadan

If I sum up Sabah diving in one word, it is diversity. Whether you are into muck diving or colorful coral, this region of Malaysian Borneo will leave you speechless.

The uniqueness of Sabah dive sites lie in that you can see both sea fans, large pelagics and say, pygmy seahorses and frogfish, in a single dive. It’s truly one of the most complete diving holidays in the world.

Yet, most travelers have only heard about Sipadan Island and its resident barracuda tornado. While that is reason enough to visit, the state of Sabah has many other gems. In fact, some of my favorites lie outside Sipadan! Read up for a brief guide.

Si Amil Island, Sipadan Barrier Reef

Diving Season: Mar. to Oct. for best visibility

What if I told you there’s an unspoiled island, filled with a resident school of Devil Rays that far of numbers any rays seen at Sipadan Island itself? Not only that, but that it’s also sprinkled with abandoned World War II buildings and a hilly rainforest to marvel at during your surface intervals?

Welcome to Si Amil!

Only an hour away by speedboat from Semporna, Si Amil’s nine dive sites have everything from big pelagics and fantastic variety of sea fans and hard coral to colorful macro and World War II wrecks.

Night dives are quite special here as well, with sightings of bamboo sharks and rainbow runners being a common occurrence. Better yet? With all eyes on Sipadan, Si Amil remains one of the last frontiers of Sabah diving.

Insider tip: make sure you ask for a Si Amil Island boat trip at the time of booking, as many dive resorts only plan trips there upon request. I can confirm this from my experience at Borneo Divers Mabul Resort. Speaking of which, if you still want to dive Sipadan, Borneo Divers is one of the few resorts that offer you not two, but four boat dives on a single Sipadan trip for no extra charge.

Seaventures House Reef

Diving Season: Apr. to Dec.; best in Jul. and Aug.

During my stay at the Seaventures Dive Resort, I was marveled at the incredible marine life and artificial reefs right underneath it. Large schools of yellowtail trevally, tiny cuttlefish, cute juvenile yellow box fish, and giant groupers are some of the daytime residents of this converted oil rig.

You can even see schools of glassfish feeding by the surface from the highest platform of the rig!

At night, a whole new world is unveiled: from elusive red orange/blue spotted flamboyant cuttlefish and schooling pipefish to Chevron barracudas and fat moray eels grace you with their presence. It was fascinating to see such a volume of macro and schooling fish in a single dive.

As I enjoyed unlimited house reef dives during my stay, I can assure you Seaventures is one of the best dive sites in Sabah. Don’t miss it!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: ThePlanetD: Sabah Diving Guide - Beyond Sipadan

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Miri set to become an international dive destination

MIRI: Miri is set to become an international dive destination within the next five years because of its rich marine biodiversity.

According to world dive industry icon Clement Lee Ngak Yeo from Sabah, among the attractions are the untapped wonders in the 28 diving sites.

The sites are home for over 3,000 species of fish and breeding grounds for 600 of 800 species of coral reefs in the world, making Miri waters the richest in coral reef species and marine life.

The sites cover 100,000km of coral reefs which is about 34 per cent of the total worldwide. But the question is how will these coral reefs and other marine life able to withstand threats and challenges from both human being and natural phenomenon like bleaching.

thesundaypost had the opportunity last Saturday to attend a talk on Reef Check Miri project by its coordinator Joyce Sivalingam, from the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Miri Chapter, and another MNS member Iqbal Abdollah who shared some insights into the recent coral reef check project in Brunei.

Coincidently on Thursday (Aug 25) there was Shell Sustainable Development (SD) Grants Showcase Event 2016 in Miri, where MNS Miri and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) were the beneficiaries of the fund. RM60,000 was allocated this year for Coral Reef propagation, a continuation of the coral reef conservation programme in Miri, which Shell had provided grants in 2009 and 2015.

Managing director of Sarawak Shell Berhad Simon Durkin in his speech, said the reef conservation programme was part of Shell’s efforts to conserve Miri’s pristine underwater world for all to enjoy. The fund was part of the RM125 million pledged for the next 10 years.

Reef Check Miri

Joyce, during her talk entitled ‘The Beauty Beneath – Coral Reefs’ said since 2004, Reef check efforts in Miri were predominantly conducted by Shell employees. With the grant, MNS Miri was able to expand the pool of eco-divers, to empower recreational divers to play an active role in monitoring and conserving the reefs in Miri.

The eco-divers, comprise individuals from Petronas, Shell, Curtin University Sarawak and local agencies including MNS Miri.

The project covers six selected dive sites within the Miri-Sibuti Marine Protected Area namely Siwa 4A, Siwa Penyu, Anemone Centre, Anemone North, Sunday Reef and Eve’s Garden.

“Miri is one of the few locations where Reef Check efforts are driven and sustained for 12 years now by the local community independently. This was possible with the continuous support of volunteer divers, dive marshals of Piasau Divers, support from relevant authorities and funding from the Shell SD grant,” she said.

According to Joyce, the 2015 Annual Survey Report by Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) reported that from the survey data submitted for these sites, 50% were in fair condition, 33% in good condition and the remaining 17% were in poor condition.

“The reefs surveyed were found to have 45.7% live coral cover below the average of 58.2% for the Sunda Shelf Region. Two fish indicator species (Bumphead parrotfish and Humphead Wrasse) were absent from the survey while snappers were the highest species recorded.

The abundance of invertebrates however was observed to be low. The survey report highlights that as fish populations recorded on these surveys seems to be consistently low, over fishing may be a problem impacting coral reefs in Miri,” she added.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Miri set to become an international dive destination

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Diving and seeing whale shark in Miri waters a great joy

MIRI: Diving and seeing whale shark (Rhincodon typusthree) three days in a row (April 24, 25 and 26) in Miri’s waters is no joke for world dive industry icon Clement Lee Ngak Yeo from Sabah.

The joy he said was beyond description as it was the first such encounter in his 33 years as a diver and he predicted that Miri in the next five years would definitely become an international dive destination to be reckoned with.

The Borneo Post had an opportunity to interview Lee – Tourism Malaysia Adviser for Diving, before he left for Sabah, recently.

Amazing encounter with whale shark

The recent dive in Miri was the sixth for Lee, who was joined by Chris Hii from Kuala Lumpur, Ross Kelly (local dive instructor) and newly certified diver from Michigan, Carol Crisologo Richardson.

“Seeing whale shark for three consecutive days was really a great joy not only for me but also my buddies. I could hear Carol screaming with joy from a distance.

“It was my first such encounter since I started diving in 1983. I have seen it off Sipadan Island and elsewhere but never three days in a row like here in Miri.

“It is one of the most friendly fish I have ever seen and is very gentle, and swim really fast. However, one can get hurt if one is accidently scratched by them, the skin very rough, don’t touch, don’t swim behind the tail.”

Lee said the largest whale shark they saw was between 20 and 25 feet and the smaller one 15 to 20 feet.

Whale Shark Facts

Whale sharks are the largest living fish on the planet belonging to the group called Chondryichtyes, which includes sharks, rays, and skates.

Whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet or more and weigh 20 tonnes or more and can live up to over 70 years. They however give birth to relatively few offspring during their lifetime.

They are found in over 100 countries and among the hot spots for viewing these sharks are Mabul and Sipadan Island in Sabah, Mexico, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia and India

According to Lee, the large number of whale shark off Miri waters was probably due to the abundant food and being filter feeders (straining their prey from the water column) they come here mostly during krill (bubuk) season. Thus the best time to dive is from March to June.

Miri underwater gem

Besides whale sharks, Miri too has many plus factors that could make it a world class diving site.

Among them is the healthy sea as indicated by the presence of abundant species of nudi branch (micro stuff).

“Within five days we recorded more than 100 species of this nudi branch. I have been diving for 33 years and very few places have this number of species.

“Only when the sea condition underwater is healthy then one can see much nudi branch.”

Lee said he started only recently diving frequently in Miri because of the rich and untapped wonders in the 28 diving sites stretching from Sibuti (Kuala Niah) and all the way to Lutong.

Among the nearest to the Miri coast are Eve’s Garden, Azam’s Reef, Seafan Garden, Anemone Garden, Tusan, Atagomaru Wreck, New Reef V and Siwa Oil Rigs.

Other popular spots are Tukau Oil Rig, Barracuda Point, Sri Gadong Wreck and Beting Niah.

Home to over 3,000 species of fish, these diving sites cover 100,000km of coral reefs, about 34 per cent of the total worldwide.

Moreover, they are also breeding grounds for 600 of 800 species of coral reefs in the world, making Miri waters the richest in coral reef species as well as marine life.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Diving and seeing whale shark in Miri waters a great joy

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Lauren Baillie: Let’s go, Borneo! Mabul and Sipadan

Door to paradise’s door took me 36 hours. Flying Auckland to Gold Coast then on to KL, to rush across the airport, parched grab a Starbucks and head to check in.

Despite not being allowed fluids through an airport the security guard looked at my cup and told me “water, OK!” I optimistically replied “coffee?” with a raised eyebrow, and he waved me through. Now I was back in Asia. 

My next flight from peninsula Malaysia, to Tawau, Sabah, I calculated myself to be the only tourist on the flight. I tried to bury my head further into my book whilst those around me coughed and spluttered into their bags, there is some things you will never get used to!

It was 10am in the morning by the time I arrived to Tawau and was greeted by a taxi driver holding my name. Feeling glamorous I hopped into his car where he assured me Semporna was a 20 minute drive, 20 minutes later he said, “just 20 minutes!” After an hour and twenty on dusty roads, passing plantations of coconuts, we arrived in the dirty port town of Semporna.

The boat to the island left in a few hours so I sought lunch. My few words of bahasa teamed with some pointing got me some vegetables and rice, a drink and a roti, lunch for all of about £1! The girl who served me giggled, again and again assessing my height as nearly double hers and embarrassed as she tested a few English words.

The dusty, dirty gateway camouflaged well the delights which were to be found one hour out to sea on a tiny sand bar island named Mabul. 

The long jetty led to a white sand beach, the wooden resort lined with palm trees. We were welcomed, shown to our rooms and then were served afternoon tea before making a beeline for the ocean. In the humidity, after a long journey the water was delightful, but at 31 degrees, more like a bath than a cool off.

The snorkelling was a glimpse of what was to come. Only metres from the shore the colourful coral was teeming with sea life.

From now on our every worry was taken care of. The dive schedules were written up for the following day, between every dive a buffet or snack and everyone was radiating positivity and paradise so the open plan dining hall became a place welcome to join anyone and discuss your latest underwater adventure.

It was also shark week so each night we were invited to watch a presentation about something topical, marine debris, sharks, rays and the importance of our oceans. 

For my second day of diving, my name was listed next to Sipadan, the world class site which had brought me to Borneo, the top spot of my diving bucket list since I first blew underwater bubbles. I stirred excitedly every hour before the 5:45 alarm where I took a few bites of breakfast and headed to the jetty. 

The ocean floor between Semporna and Mabul lies at some 60 metres below sea level, however between Mabul and Sipadan, it drops off into a channel of 2000 metres encouraging sharks, rays and unexpected delights to pass through. The current around the island also encourages these pelagic creatures, so there is plenty of reasons to be excited.

Sipadan used to be home to many dive schools, however in 1999 this was the reason for an international debate over who owned Sipadan; Malaysia, Indonesia or the Philippines. Shortly after it was deemed to be Malay in 2002, the schools were kicked off and it became a military base as well a sanctuary or both land and sea.

It’s white sands are thus patrolled by military, a short stretch of sand open to bikini clad divers between dives. 

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Lauren Baillie: Let’s go, Borneo! Mabul and Sipadan

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latinAbroad - My Seaventures: Livin’ on a Rig in Borneo

Already enchanted by the Malaysian Borneo, I was swept away from Mabul Island to the quirky Seaventures Dive Rig.

There, I was given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore Sipadan and other stunning sites in the area for a second time–in the same week. I couldn’t believe it!

My biggest surprise, though? The dive rig itself became a top highlight of my entire week in Borneo. Even more so than some of the dive sites!

Imagine living on a converted oil rig: a floating platform over the ocean where 20% of the world’s coral reefs thrive.

Gasp.

The story of Seaventures is even more fascinating than that, though. For starters, the dive rig was actually built in PANAMA, Central America.

For a few tours, it was used to accommodate workers as an oil and gas rig – being towed from assignment to assignment.

But its career ended in 1985, when it was sent to a shipyard in Singapore – and nearly forgotten.

And theeeeeeeeen…the former Chief Minister of Sabah stumbled upon it and had the brilliant idea to converting it into a dive resort.

What he didn’t know at the time is that the structure would actually morph into one of the finest artificial reefs in the region.

Ecotourism at its finest!

I was converted: staying on a dive rig was even cooler than staying on an overwater bungalow.

Yes, really.

I felt as if I were aboard a cruise ship, actually — but no sea sickness. Ever.

And, contrary to initial belief, I had a greater sense of freedom and space.

From such heights, I could fully appreciate how gorgeous the Malaysian Borneo is.

Everywhere I went, expansive ocean vistas followed me.

I could see villagers going about their business. Kids splashing by fishing boats, too.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: latinAbroad - My Seaventures: Livin’ on a Rig in Borneo

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latinAbroad - Overwater Tiki Huts, Bizarre Creatures: My Borneo Malaysia Getaway

It’s not every day check-in happens inside an overwater tiki hut ‘office,’ overlooking green turquoise seas.

Diving in Borneo Malaysia has been a dream of mine ever since I first heard about the region’s crown jewel, Sipadan Island.

Yet, this unexpected welcome to Sabah was more than icing on the cake: it was a firecracker that further aroused the butterflies already filling my tummy.

Post check-in, the Borneo Divers Resort staff whisked me away in a fun boat ride to what would be my home in Mabul Island for the next four days.

My Borneo Malaysia Getaway: Mabul, Kapalai, and Sipadan

I was so busy dreaming about Sipadan, I didn’t even realize the underwater gems that awaited at Mabul and Kapalai.

A rich mix of coral, reef fish, and even macro life was like a belated birthday gift to me.

After falling in love with muck diving in Lembeh Strait, this was bound to be yet another unforgettable diving getaway.

The GOLDEN Triangle

Also known as the “Amazon of the Seas,” the Coral Triangle is home to 20% of the world’s reef species.

In other words, it is the global epicenter of marine biodiversity.

Within such triangle is a smaller one, known as The Golden Triangle. It comprises three islands: Mabul, Kapalai, and Sipadan.

Arrival to my resort alone was memorable enough. Huge corals outcropped the crystal clear waters, while thousands of glassfish surrounded the long jetty.

Before I splashed into the water though, I explored the grounds and captured a gorgeous sunset.

Loungers sprinkled throughout an expansive deck. Wooden bungalows with French doors and windows.

Dreamy beds and hardwood floors. Towering ceilings in the dining hall.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics & Vid) at: latinAbroad - Overwater Tiki Huts, Bizarre Creatures: My Borneo Malaysia Getaway

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Sipadan Island

We left the Borneo jungle to go scuba diving off some islands off the coast of Malaysia.

We decided to book a scuba tour to go to Sipadan island which is considered one of the top diving destinations in the world.

It was discovered by Jaques Cousteau and ever since people cross the globe to get a chance to see one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world.

In order to go out there you need a special permit that only a few dive companies can get so we had to commit ourselves to a four day dive package with 13 dives.

We debated whether it was worth it and decided that we will only be here once and life is too short to miss out on an opportunity like this so we went for it.

It was definitely worth it. Every day we went out for at least three dives.

On our first day and dive we saw a gigantic six meter whale shark and many turtles and colorful soft corals.

On that same day we saw a gigantic two meter garoupa and some very rare creatures that our dive mastered was bragging about.

We also saw a sea horse, huge moray eel, and lots of really cool fish. The visibility is incredible.

We stayed at a dive resort on a island called Mabul.

The resort is nice but right next lives a small community of fisherman that are displaced "sea gypsies" who do not have an official nationality.

They most likely came from the Phillipines and settled on this island a long time ago.

They live in slum like conditions with houses built out of scaps of wood and anything they can find.

They fished  and gathered food from the sea. They have no sanitation and they tossed most of their garbage in the sea where they gathered their  food.

The children can not go to school because they are not registered citizens.

We would see them ever day catching fish or collecting sea urchants.

It is like night and day seeing the beautiful resort right next to this impoversed village.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Sipadan Island

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Diving Mabul, Kapalai, and Sipidan Island – Malaysia, Borneo

The diving around Mabul and the neighboring islands is fantastic. Fairly healthy coral reefs, not a lot of divers, and big fish.

I chose Seahorse Sipidan Scuba to provide my accommodations and diving with. Again they are fantastic.

But since this is about the diving I will mention Ben. He was the dive-master and was great.

Safety was paramount and his ability to spot macro nudibranches and other creatures was great.

Ben was always polite and friendly, never cut the dives short (like some dive operators), and chose good sites based on the conditions.

I would not hesitate to dive with him again.

Each day there was three dives. Two in the morning and one after lunch.

On day one we went to Kapalai House Reef which was a sloping reef with a sandy bottom.

Dive one I saw pipefish, frogfish, mantis shrimp, glass shrimp, a bunch of groupers, the list goes on. I was impressed already.

Kapalai is an artificial reef. All kinds of structures were built and sunk. These structures are in all kinds of shapes, including houses.

The ocean has taken hold of them and coral is growing all over them.

Dive two was eel garden. Like its name, there were a lot of eels, including some small stingrays which I had never seen before.

The last dive of the day was Paradise 1. I highly recommend that if you are diving Mabul you go there.

It is an artificial reef as well but had a ton of big fish.

The highlight was the Broadclub Cuttlefish. I have never had the pleasure looking at a wild cuttlefish before and they are magnificent.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Diving Mabul, Kapalai, and Sipidan Island – Malaysia, Borneo

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A wonderful world beneath the waves off Miri coastline

WHEN one talks about scuba diving in Malaysia, one immediately thinks of Sipidan, Sabah.

A watery surreal scene will appear in front of one’s eyes. Fish swimming in shoals in deep blue water, with a shark probably swimming in a safe distance. And below, there are apparitions of sapphires, diamonds, rubies, and other jewels which are, in fact, live soft corals or normal corals, some of which are just a few years old while others may be hundreds of years old.

But truth be told, a new destination for scuba diving is the coral seas less than 50km from Miri. And, indeed, one can see all these imagined scenes just a few kilometers outside Miri.

Joe Klukas from the UK, a diving instructor now residing in Miri, said: “The coral reefs, in amazing shallow waters, just a few kilometers outside Miri, are pristine, unpolluted and surrounded by clear, almost transparent sea. This area is unexplored, unexploited and still untouched. It’s a dream come true for me when I came here a few months ago. I am glad I am now in Miri, enjoying diving.”

Joe hails from Dorset, England, where as a child, he was already exposed to beautiful seas and the natural environment of the wooded UK.

He has always been enthusiastic about nature and going for excursions and snorkeling.

The diving spots in Miri are excellent because they are near a city and people do not have to travel far to enjoy the sea, the sunset, good food and good social life.

Roy Jok Ngau, a newly-certified diving instructor from Marudi, is full of enthusiasm for his new career.

He is passionate about diving. At just 22, he has a huge dream, and, indeed, is now living that dream — an underwater dream that is.

He has many encouraging things to say about diving just off the Miri coastline.

“You could never imagine the beauty of our water world. You can explore, exploit and touch the coral reefs, swim with the fishes like barracuda and baby sharks. I have seen some sharks in the distance. And every dive I have taken is a thrilling experience. Young people should really consider taking up diving as a professional career. And one care travel to see the world.”

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: A wonderful world beneath the waves off Miri coastline

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Complete Guide to Diving Sipadan Island

There’s only a few places on earth were you can see huge schools of whirling barracudas that engulf you, large sea turtles of different species, lurking sharks, and jammed-packed reef of angelfish, triggerfish, morays and gobies all in just one dive.

At Sipadan you will see this with every dive, many divers bring home stories of large turtles, bigger then a Volkswagen Beetle, or even stories of large groups of hammer head sharks coming up from the deep blue depths. There’s no wonder why Sipadan is recognized as the best diving in Malaysia and amongst the best in the world.

Sipadan Island is a marine paradise for divers tucked in the Celebes Sea, 35km south of Semporna off the coast of Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia and is internationally recognized amongst divers.  Unlike the other islands off Sabah’s coast, Sipadan is an oceanic island and was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct undersea volcano, which rises 600m from the seabed. The island itself is covered in dense tropical rainforest and rimmed with stunning white sand beaches.

The location of Sipadan makes it the center of the richest marine habitat in the world, the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin. More than 3000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this ecosystem. Sipadan is well known for its unusually large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles and it is not unusual for a diver to see more than 20 turtles on each dive.

It also boasts a residential school of barracuda and big-eye trevally, which often gather in the thousands forming tornado-like formations, this being one of the highlights of every diver’s Sipadan trip. As if that is not enough, divers have the possibility of seeing pelagic species such as mantas, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale shark; making each dive at Sipadan a thrilling event.

It is not only the big fish that amaze divers at Sipadan but the macro life is equally a highlight. Garden eels, leaf scorpion fish, mantis shrimps, fire gobies, and various pipefish are guaranteed at various dive sites. This diversity and abundance of marine life gives Sipadan its reputation of being one of the top five dive locations in the world.

The diving wonders of Sipadan are easily accessed from Mabul and Kapalai Islands. You are no longer able to stay directly on Sipadan Island, so if you wish to dive there you must stay on either Kapalai or Mabul and visiting Sipadan Island requires a permit. Since 2004 thee has been a daily limit on permits in an attempt to preserve and protect the island’s fragile ecosystem.

Permits are limited to 120 permits per day in total, meaning you should make arrangements far in advance if you wish to dive at Sipadan during your visit. The application for permits is done on your behalf by the dive shop you choose to dive with. The diving is quite good at the surrounding islands with more dive sites then you will be able to dive on a stay.

A recommended length of stay is 4-14 days and you may apply for multiple Sipadan permits, there is just no guarantee that you will get one. However, the minimum stay requirement for a chance to dive Sipadan is 4 days. Permits issued are only for Sipadan Island and you do not need a permit to dive around the other islands in the area.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Complete Guide to Diving Sipadan Island

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Scuba Diving Mabul and Bohey Dulang Island

Me and a group of friends went for a scuba diving trip in Mabul Island plus Bohey Dulang Island. We took an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau at 7am. We reached Tawau airport at 9:50am. A van was waiting to drive us to Semporna town and it took us about an hour drive.

This is not my first time to visit Mabul Island. It is more like a must to do trip to distress myself whenever I have time off from work. Arung Hayat Home-stay is a comfort zone and my happy place. I have been going back diving with the team for the past 4 years now.

Once we arrived at Semporna, we went to have our lunch at Ocean Live Seafood Restaurant at Semporna town. The restaurant is located beside Sipadan Inn hotel and the waterfront is just outside the premises. I believe this restaurant is truly one restaurant that stands out from the rest.

The seafood is fresh, delicious, restaurant is clean, ambiance is beautiful, very welcoming and the price is cheap ! That's what everyone is looking for right? Kenneth the owner of the restaurant is a very friendly guy, always smiling and he make sure that the food and service is up to the standard.

The only thing is sometimes the restaurant is SO PACK and we need to wait.. but it won't take a very long time though. We are on a holiday right !!.. no rushing ..rest and relax..enjoy the moment..live life to the fullest...ooook next ..

After lunch we did some grocery shopping and we went straight to the jetty at Pakalalang Village located 20 mins drive from Semporna town. We took a 30 minutes boat ride to the island. Normal practices, usually all guest will be picked up from Semporna Jetty and the boat ride is about 1 hour journey to Mabul Island.

Our home-stay Arung Hayat has a boat pick up from the village, making the journey faster.

We did one dive on our arrival day. The weather was hot but the water temperature was about 27 to 28 degrees which is colder than normal 30 to 33 degrees. Everyday is scuba diving activity and during the night , we have BBQ dinner, fresh grilled fish.

After dinner the dive crew entertained the guest by playing the guitar and sing for us while we lay down on the wooden bridge watching hundreds of stars in the sky. The next day, some of us woke up as early as 4am to see the sunrise. The sunrise and sunset view is breathtaking.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Scuba Diving Mabul and Bohey Dulang Island

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Diving Into the Mystic Off Sipadan Island

IT'S LIKE BEING IN the eye of a tornado. Once I breach the twirling funnel of silver jackfish, hundreds whirl around me, darkening the reef below and leaving a blurring circle of opalescent ocean 5 meters above my head.

At Barracuda Point, off Sipadan Island, south of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo, it should be the eponymous, sharp-toothed fish encircling me.

But, as yet, I see no sign of barracuda. Nor, while floating in the fathomless Celebes Sea on my earlier dive at South Point, did I see the hammerhead sharks I'd hoped to.

Yet, in more than 600 dives around the world, I've experienced few locations with such bountiful marine life and Technicolor-bright reefs as Sipadan.

The island is regularly listed among the world's top dive destinations and has long drawn scuba experts, including the likes of Jacques Cousteau. "I have seen other places like Sipadan, 45 years ago," reported the much-quoted documentary maker in 1989, "but now no more. Now we have found an untouched piece of art."

Located five degrees north of the equator and 34 kilometers south of Sabah, Sipadan feels remote, and its topography, rising 600 meters from the seabed, has helped preserve its underwater ecosystem. The prescience of earlier generations has also been crucial—the island was first declared a nature reserve in 1917.

In 2002, after decades disputing its ownership with Indonesia, Malaysia acquired sovereignty over Sipadan, and ordered resort operators to leave the island.

Five years ago, "Sipadan Island Park" was declared. Now divers stay on neighboring islands, like Mabul, and require permits to visit.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Diving Into the Mystic Off Sipadan Island

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