For now, the only way to reach the atoll is via resupply plane from Kota Kinabalu. The Federal Territory of Labuan is nothing short of a playground for wreck enthusiasts, while Sarawak and Brunei are just now becoming better appreciated for their healthy dive sites. At least 30 wrecks litter the bay; some of them begin at only 14 metersuncommonly shallow for fun wreck diving. Hello! Get ready to explore all that Borneo has to offer and book your trip today! Searching the Best Snorkeling Spot in Borneo? Go to Lankayan Island 9 Top Destinations in Malaysian Borneo Vacation like a pro Your Trip to Borneo: The Complete Guide SEE FULL GUIDE Sarawak vs. Sabah Guide to Kuching Visiting Kalimantan Guide to the Derawan Islands Brunei Travel Guide Top Things to Do in Malaysian Borneo Museums to Visit Best Beaches Where to Go Scuba Diving Best Hiking in Borneo National Parks It's one of the few places to visit in Southeast Asia during the summer. Many Black & White Tip Reef Sharks, Grey Sharks, massive Green & Hawksbill Turtles as well as large shoals of Jack & Barracuda. Scuba diving in Borneo | ZuBlu Our team will meet you at the airport and fast-track you through. is a luxury water village built on stilts over the sandbanks of the Ligitan reefs and located only a short ride by boat from Mabul islands From this comfortable, sunny water village there is no land in sight, you can walk or sunbath alone on a mile-long sandbank at the resort. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Travelers from the US will need to transfer either in London, the Middle East, or Asia. The American Wreck begins at 30 meters; divers can see blast damage from the mine that sank the warship in 1945. World-class muck diving and close proximity to Sipadan have made Mabul one of the most popular dive destinations in Asia. The diving season is year-round, however, the calmest conditions can be found between April and November, which coincides with the dry season. Hawksbill & Green Turtles live on the ledges at this site and the current is usually quite calm. 2/ which dive centre will give the best possible attention to my kids (aged 13 & 18done about 20 dives each) Diagonal Route on Table Mountain a 2023 guide, West Coast Trail Reservation All About Booking the Trail. What other activities or responsibilities do you have as a diving instructor? Good luck and safe travels! Layang-Layang is actually a disputed territory; a small Malaysian naval base -- off-limits to tourists -- ensures that the waters remain safe and unpolluted. Layang Layang, out in the South China Sea north of Borneo, can only be dived from March through to August each year, with April and May bringing the chance of Hammerhead Sharks. The period from March to October is the best time to visit Borneo since the island is the warmest, most humid, and driest. East Kalimantan on the Indonesian side is home to many lesser-visited island options such as Maratua and Kakaban. The main island of Labuan and six smaller islands attract some domestic tourism but not much from the international diving communitythat means you wont need to compete for space when penetrating the four world-class wreck dives there! The countrys intriguing wrecks and frontier reefs hide a wealth of marine species ripe for discovery, with warm tropical waters and shallow reefs supporting a vibrant inshore ecosystem. The clear water and exciting diving are worth the effort! The majority of diving is land-based from exclusive island resorts. The large island Sulawesi is home to some of the best diving Indonesia has to offer; great muck diving at Lembeh strait, a fantastic hidden island experience at the Togian islands and a variety of critters at the famous Wakatobi and less well known Bira in the South. Indonesia Inspiration Scuba-diving. Borneo Diving, Sabah, Malaysia Photo by author Borneo is not a country, but an island split between 3 countries: Indonesia, Malaysia and the small sultanate of Brunei. Ultimate Guide to Diving Sipadan Island, Borneo Malaysia - STINGY NOMADS The best time to visit Borneo for budget travellers is in March. The majority of scuba diving in Borneo is from resort, but there are some liveaboards too. Stayed at Scuba Junkie which was good. I'm hoping to dive Sipadan in July this year. Mabul and Kapalai snorkel tour from Semporna, Most experienced divers place Sipadan high on their bucket list. For a nice island holiday with beautiful beaches, nice snorkeling and decent diving, the Perhentian islands in Malaysia is fantastic. Pinterest Again, flying is highly recommended. View . The primary airport in the south of the island is Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN) near Balikpapan. Wettest: Nov-Feb. Best travel: Mar-Oct. Be prepared for rain anytime. Replace or update your card, buy a Special Edition or Project AWARE version of your PADI certification card, or go digital with the purchase of a PADI eCard. Diving in Borneo is fantastic all year round, although conditions do vary throughout the season. From April to October waters are normally calm and glassy, comfortably warm, and with visibility up to 100ft (30m). Unwind on the powdery beaches and take a dip in the refreshing water. There is little chance of rain, fewer crowds and it's the start of whale shark season. right place at the right time to see the very best that the Although you cant dive there, snorkeling through the clouds of harmless jellyfish in Kakabans brackish lake is an unforgettable experience. Want to see Hammerhead Sharks? You wont be disappointed with the shark action found here, schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, grey reef, leopard sharks, threshers and silvertips can all be found in there waters. There is unlimited shore diving from the jetty and the local house reef offers some fantastic muc diving. Recommend 5 days if u want to dive Sipadan twice. Located on the western edge of the Coral Triangle, the exotic island of Borneo is divided between the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak to the north, the Kalimantan provinces of Indonesia in the south, and the Sultanate of Brunei on the north coast. Other dive sites in Borneo This is how we keep the lights on (i.e. The 29m liveaboard, M/V Celebes Explorer, is the only vessel who schedules year round diving cruises and liveaboard diving to the best sites around Sipadan. This rule recently changed, since September 2022 an advanced dive qualification is a requirement to dive at Sipadan. The main gateway into Malaysian Borneo for most visitors is through Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) in the far north of the island. Often transfers can be included too. Scuba Diving in Malaysia (Top 12 Best Dive Sites) - DivingCorner Borneo Divers is a medium budget resort with 30 tropical-themed chalets each with clean, big rooms. that annual leave is precious so we can ensure that you are in the Air travel is often the only practical way to access the most remote locations, in particular nature reserves. All resorts have different Sipadan Diving Packages, these packages are made up of accommodation, Sipadan dives and non-Sipadan dives. If you have some freediving skills and you can snorkel deeper down the wall you will see huge jacks, sharks and game fish. Want to know more about diving with Whale Sharks in the Philippines ? April to December is the best time to dive and spy whale sharks, with visibility at its clearest in July and August. Dont think this is the only time you can scuba dive these diving locations however. Here are some of the best spots to check out. Youll get to see many of the usual reef suspects, but occasionally something bigger swims out of the deep blue. Learn more. 0 We understand However, the orangutan, often known as the old man of the forest, is the main attraction for most tourists. Working here, getting paidto see some of the worlds most alien creatures every day and dive these amazing places was an unreal experience! I worked as an instructor here for 3 months a couple of years ago. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The resort has two distinct sections, the Water Bungalows which are beautiful and expensive or the Chalets which are nice and reasonable. From the main beach to the top of the reef wall it is only about 20 metres. Walls that drop to over 2,000 meters deep make Layang-Layang a pelagic paradise! Give the perfect gift for your favorite ocean lover and explorer. Marine Life & Environment-Top Dive Spots-Diving Conditions, How to Get There-How to Dive Borneo-Best Time to Dive. Also on the northern coast is Brunei, while the remainder of the island, known as Kalimantan, is part of Indonesia. There is resident Giant Barracuda and some white tips that can sometimes be found close to the entrance. More precipitation and rougher seas are possible throughout December and January. The amount and diversity of marine life here, . Sipadan is perhaps the most famous place to dive in Borneo. 3/ is 3 nights enough to cover all dive sites (would like to do 3 dives a day). (SMART) is also a nice resort. Maratua Island - Borneo's secret dive destination | ZuBlu Not far away, remnants of the same Dutch submarine can be seen on the bottomit was destroyed by a Japanese submarine on Christmas Day, one day after sinking the IJN Sagiri! Overall, if you want the best experience of the place, March through October is the best time to visit Borneo. However, the Japanese managed to salvage it and renamed it Imbari Maru, before it hit a mine and sank for the second time just off the coast of Labuan. However, it isnt as easy of a climb as it seems. getting to Borneo's best scuba diving sites. Muslianshah Masrie / EyeEm / Getty Images. You have a good chance of seeing . Little Brunei is gaining a solid reputation for excellent wreck-diving, while there is also good diving accessible from Miri in Sarawak. The famous Derawan Islands sit just off the coast of East Kalimantan, however, diving there is covered in our separate Derawan destination guide. In the Age of Remote Work, Employers Are Quiet-Quitting on Employees Check out diving in Romblon. From scores of WWII wrecks to massive walls and thriving atoll reefs, Borneo definitely offers some of the best scuba diving in the world. This guide highlights great diving on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. The private beach in front of the resort is a great place for swimming, snorkeling or for sunbathing, with the added luxury of a swimming pool area and a jacuzzi.To dive Sipadan with Borneo Divers you have to stay with them for 3 nights. Hi! 2. Only 70 miles (112km) from Kota Kinabalu, close to the border with Brunei, the island of, Although officially part of the Derawan Archipelago, the island of, A relatively new addition on the global dive scene, Bruneis first dive operator opened only 10 years ago, and diving here is still new, exciting, and extremely uncrowded. The Best Beaches in Sabah at the Tip of Borneo 3. Hi, thanks for the great article. 1. Hi, guys! Enjoy 20% OFF select PADI eLearning programs, FREE ReActivate online refresher, subscription to Scuba Diving magazine + so much more when you join PADI Club. Two other civilian wrecks make Labuan the wreck diving center of Malaysia. Stunning Beaches and Views at Bohey Dulang 7. A huge variety of coral, many turtles abound and a multitude of lionfish & smaller reef dwelling fish live on this wall. One Week in Borneo: The Ultimate Itinerary, The Top 8 Things to Do in Malaysian Borneo, The 10 Best Places to Scuba Dive in Borneo, The 9 Best Spots for Scuba Diving in Thailand, Travel Guide to Malaysian Borneo's Labuan Island, Where to Go Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in Turks and Caicos, The 9 Best Scuba Diving Sites in the Seychelles. A 20-minute boat ride from the resort, inside. Other facilities at the resort include a swimming pool, a jacuzzi whirlpool spa, massage services and ocean kayaking equipment for rent. And can you cover your basic expenses with it? Jun 28, 2023. Tiny Lankayan Island with its white sandy beaches is located 90 minutes by boat northwest of Sandakan in East Sabah. 1/ which is your preference in the luxury resort segment. I arrived at Mabul island to dive Sipadan. @sharad duggal, I dived in that area around 5 years back. How many hours per day do you work? One of the most diverse and protected dive sites in the world with more than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species identified. Updated Sipadan Dive Regulations 2023 Sabah Parks tightened dive regulations at Sipadan island in September 2022 Minimum Advanced Open Water certification required to dive Sipadan, one permit will only allow two dives, instead of three, per day. I did not dive at Sipadan much, the dive masters acted as dive leaders at Sipadan every day, I did most of the qualifying dives with Students around Mabul, but it was great. The best time to visit Borneo is between March and October, when the island is hot, humid, and at its driest. If your trip to Borneo only includes Malaysias southern state of Sarawak, youll still get to enjoy plenty of good diving. Due to the limited amount of permits available most dive centers require you to stay with them for a couple of days and dive different sites to get one of their Sipadan permits. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The spas, resort, and powdery sand provide relaxation above the water between dives. Diving August 26, 2021 Sipadan Island is at the top of many divers bucket lists. Comparing Snorkeling Experiences in Sipadan and Lankayan Island Many people say that Sipadan has the best diving and snorkeling in Borneo, but we disagree. Please Sign-in or Register to save My Ideas for later, Our social channels Although this brings cooler water and air temperatures, amazing marine encounters and great diving are still the norm. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This isnt such a bad prospectthe diving on both islands is excellent, and theyre within striking distance of Sipadan for when youre able to score one of the coveted permits. This is unlikely to occur in the wild because of the rapid pace at which their habitat is being destroyed. Get in touch with our specialists for even more in-depth travel advice. Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. Most of the resorts were located on Sipadan Island until 2004. Famous for being home to a huge number of Hawksbill & Green Turtles. Sipadan-Mabul Resort (Sabah) Sdn. Scuba diving in Miri is just beginning to gain attention, but a handful of diving operations can take you to Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park, only around 20 minutes offshore. And, thanks to its remote location at the edge of the Derawan Archipelago, off . The countrys main airport, Brunei International Airport (BWN), receives direct flights from Kuala Lumpur and other Asian hubs, as well as from London Heathrow (LHR). Mabul and Kapalai is great if you enjoy macro diving, there is fish and turtles, but the small critters is the star here. The number of travelers drawn to this forest paradise changes dramatically throughout the year. For dive training I think Koh Tao Island in Thailand is one of the best spots to go in South East Asia. The diving around Mabul and Kapalai islands are excellent, very different from Sipadan, but also world class diving. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. June through September is the prime season for seeing wild orangutans and turtles on Lankayan Island. Diving Miri | PADI document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Outside of these months, the islands are closed to tourists and divers. , many say in the world. Even better, getting to the bay where all the action is takes around 30 minutes after flying into the capital, Bandar Seri Bagawan. After spending the day wandering, a trip to Hawaii Beach, which is just 15 minutes away, is precisely what you need. Maratau also hosts an extensive cave network, many of which are still yet to be explored. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Numerous varieties of elaborate nudibranchs, coral shrimps, decorator, porcelain, and spider crabs, as well as the rarer orangutan crab creep across the reef, while gobies, mandarin fish, ornate ghost pipefish, and jawfish can be spotted by the most patient divers. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Question, I have an advanced open water dive certification with many dives under my belt and I'm thinking about becoming an instructor. Since Pulau Sipadan is a protected area all Sipadan resorts are located on nearby islands of Mabul, Kapalai and Mataking. Other destinations in Sabah, ranging from the easily accessible Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park to remote places such as Layang-Layang, offer various underwater adventures. For the richest marine diversity in the world, check out our guide toRaja Ampat scuba diving. If you do all your training through a school you will work there as a DM as well. Giant frogfish and giant clams sit motionless amongst the coral heads, while pygmy seahorses blend seamlessly with their chosen sea fan. More adventurous visitors can trek to the summit of Malaysias highest mountain, Mount Kinabalu, and to experience the best of indigenous Bornean culture, a visit to the longhouses of Sarawak is a must. However, for those looking to dive Sipadan, there are regular flights to Tawau from Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur. Mabul & Kapalai are far more than just places to stay however, they are wonderful dive destinations in their own right, especially for smaller marine life. This lovely island has a wide variety of ecosystems, from lush rainforests to rocky mountains, just waiting to be explored. The best time for orangutan sightings, diving, and beach holidays. With a tropical rainforest climate, the best time to dive in Miri is during the dry season which usually is from March-September. With a PADI Travel account, you can favourite dive operators to come back to later on any device or computer. Here, we give you the lowdown on some of the islands best diving sites and opportunities. From Tawau travel overland to Semporna, there are several options; public bus is the cheapest or you can go by taxi (about $40) or minibus for $25 Transport from Tawau to Semporna town. TripAdvisor 65% excellent from 620 reviews. Indonesia - Diving in Northern Sulawesi in July brings all manner of marvellous macro critters in the Lembeh Strait - from flamboyant cuttlefish to nudibranch, mimic octopus and frogfish.the list goes on Top dive sites in Borneo | PADI Enquire Contact them and tell them about your plans, maybe you can organize an internship through one of the dive centers.
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