Borneo - good for inexperienced diver? August any good?

[dave archer]

Hi,

Looking to take my girlfriend diving for a week in August. She's PADI OW (so restricted to 18m max) with about 15 dives.

Wondering about Borneo - any good for 18m dives? Much life? And is August a good time to go there?

Cheers,
Dave.

[Bob Cooper]

Dave

Borneo is one of the biggest islands in the world, so you need to be a little more specific than that... ;-)

I went to Sipadan and Kapalai (Borneo Malaysia) when I was a relatively inexperienced diver and it was excellent. Sipadan was especially memorable. It is a very long journey but well worth the trip.

Bob

[Pen Simon]

We worked in Sarawak for the tourist board and alongside a tour operator based in Miri (North Sarawak) - they have a dive centre there too - although it is small - contact James at Seridan Mulu - james@seridanmulu.com and their dive company Tropical dives for more information

Website:- Welcome to Seridan Mulu Tour & Services

For pelagics etc, Sipadan is the best bet, but Seridan Mulu can give you help there....

Mention us if you contact them...

[dave archer]

Thanks guys

Have been doing a bit more research...

Thinking of a week in Kapalai, diving its shallow sites, g/f maybe doing AOW, and some boat dives to Sipadan. Sounds better than Mabul, but Mataking also sounds good. Comments?

Then a week doing land stuff. There seem to be two main Orang-utang seeing spots:
- Tanjung Putting National Park, Kalimantan, down south, far from Kapalai, but sounds less touristy
- Sepilok in Sabah, nearer to Kapalai, but more touristy

Anyone been to either? Comments?

Thanks,
Dave.

[Bob Cooper]

Been to Sepilok, it's not really that touristy. We stayed at the sanctuary in one of the chalets there, very nice. It will be hot in August and the humidity in the jungle just has to experienced to be believed!

[David]

beed to sipadan.
Diving in Malaysia: diving at Sipadan Island in the Sabah Sea
not ideal for a novice but the best diving I have ever done.

been to Kaplai
Diving in Malaysia: Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort
its built on a sand bar not sure if you can get to 18meters with out a spade
all I can say is go there first to get up to speed a then on to sipadan.
it will ruin your diving enjoyment for ever just wanting to go back.

sea horses leaf fish turtles just get in your way, frog fish oh and elvis the giant moray, mantas.
the game of how close you can get to sleeping sharks.
the memorise flood back just typing this post.

we helped let go baby turtels

:-( did not see the hammerheads though.

infact just go leave the GF take me instead :-)

or the GF could take me :-)
David

[Batfish]

Hi dave,

You are right - Kapalai is better for novice divers, with shallow reefs around the resort. There are dives at Sipadan every day for those that want them. Kapalai resort is very popular, and August is peak season. I should note that we are in daily contact with them. Some space is available here and there, I just made a reservation for early August. It's a unique place, being over the reef and not on an island. Look out for the hot walkways, you'll need to keep your booties on!

Mataking is probably the nicest resort in the area, but is further from Sipadan, and they do not guarantee daily trips, and charge extra for Sipadan trips, the price being PER BOAT, so you pay less if more people want to dive Sipadan.

There are so many land based things to do in Borneo. Sepilok is actually run by the same people as Kapalai. If you love nature, it is unmissable. Plenty of ideas here (note, we don't book these adventure trips, just for information):

Borneo Adventure Tours - Sabah Malaysia Tourism - Kota Kinabalu

[gibbon]

Originally Posted by dave archer

Hi,

Looking to take my girlfriend diving for a week in August. She's PADI OW (so restricted to 18m max) with about 15 dives.

Wondering about Borneo - any good for 18m dives? Much life? And is August a good time to go there?

Cheers,
Dave.

Only some of the best diving on the planet - I hope you are going to marry her!

Originally Posted by dave archer

Thanks guys

Have been doing a bit more research...

Thinking of a week in Kapalai, diving its shallow sites, g/f maybe doing AOW, and some boat dives to Sipadan. Sounds better than Mabul, but Mataking also sounds good. Comments?

Then a week doing land stuff. There seem to be two main Orang-utang seeing spots:
- Tanjung Putting National Park, Kalimantan, down south, far from Kapalai, but sounds less touristy
- Sepilok in Sabah, nearer to Kapalai, but more touristy

Anyone been to either? Comments?

Thanks,
Dave.

Kapalai is awesome for macro / muck diving - I disagree about the less experienced comments - Kapalai is more subtle than Sipadan you need to be more experienced to appreciate Kapalai than Sipadan. Mabul is not as "nice" as PSR (Kapalai).

Sepilok is great, don't miss it :-)

Originally Posted by David

its built on a sand bar not sure if you can get to 18meters with out a spade

Sure you can - the house reef goes down to about 24m (by the wrecks) and it is easy to get very distracted by all the incredible creatures you find, we racked up some deco before we realised taking photos on a night dive.

There are plenty of PADI instructors at Kapalai, and the AOW course would obviously be a good idea.

Most of the life at Sipadan is in the top 18m anyway, apart from Turtle Cavern which is worth a look but perhaps not with a newly qualified diver.

Take care with the Air at Kapalai, they over work two small compressors, and there is a high chance of getting an oily fill if they are busy - it is not at all subtle and certainly worth checking before you get on a boat!

[David]

Originally Posted by jonny

Only some of the best diving on the planet - I hope you are going to marry her!


There are plenty of PADI instructors at Kapalai, and the AOW course would obviously be a good idea.

Most of the life at Sipadan is in the top 18m anyway, apart from Turtle Cavern which is worth a look but perhaps not with a newly qualified diver.

Turtle Cavern

now there is a memory did you see the Marlin. I counted the verterbey trying to work how big the fish was all I can say is it was masive.


David