One week in Borneo/Thailand - advice please!

[becca_walker]

Hello,

i'm new to this forum - although i have gained some good advice in the past from posts on photography

Anyway,I may have approximately a week to spend in probably Thailand or Borneo (but am open to other ideas) as part of a round the world ticket. Wierdly, it seems cheaper to get a RTW ticket than a simple return from the UK to Australia at the moment...so i thought i might take advantage.

So i'm looking on advice for where to go diving wise - although i would like to spend some time chilling out on a beach too (i have a bad habit of packing too much in to any holiday, which leaves me more tired when i get back to work than when i left!.. so i'm trying to build in at least a little chill out time

).

Obviously high on my list is Sipadan, with a hope i can maybe see some orangutans too - so advice on the best company - i've already had a look through a few of the posts on here - i'm not 5*, but i would like a chill out beach and dont really want to bunk in an eight bed dorm. I'll be on my own, and haven't done the travelling thing on my own in a while, so it would be good to meet people, rather than being on a couples style retreat! Orangutan wise, i'd prefer not Sepilok - but happy to hear thoughts.. but not sure of my options given i'll only have a couple of days. Again, as i'm on my own, i think i'd prefer to take the lazy option and get something arranged (transport etc).

However, i'm not adverse to going somewhere else! I've never been that way in the World - and was orginally thinking Thailand. I'm looking to go in July - so any advice or help would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Becca

 

[Quero]

In July I'd go to Sipadan for diving. The best season for Thailand is in winter. That said, you won't find chill-out beaches in the Sipadan area, or in fact any beach culture at all, while Thailand is spectacular for that.

But thinking about your penchant for stuffing too much into a trip, don't try to both go to Sipadan for diving and the orang-utan sanctuary in just one week. It's too much to do in such a short time. In Thailand you could go to one of the islands and just do a limited amount of diving, or perhaps a half-week liveaboard in the Andaman Sea, and spend the rest of the time hanging out on the beach. There's some decent diving from the islands on Malaysia's east coast (Tioman, Redang, Perhentians), with nice beaches and good opportunities to meet other travelers, but they are not in the same category as Sipadan.

 

[Bubble Junky]

You could also check out Pulau Weh in Indonesia and take in the orangutans in northern Sumatra - the diving is great too...

For Sipadan, take a look at Scuba Junkie tho'...

 

[becca_walker]

Many thanks for the replies

I've been looking at Scuba Junkie and the Rig.. and am back to go look at reviews again! However, i'll definately check out Pulau Weh as well as the Andaman Sea...

Becca

 

[becca_walker]

I do have another question, i've been looking around here to see if it's come up before, but i've only seen the odd comment, does anyone know the number of permits the different resorts get? - and the number of people who can stay. For example, i've seen that SJ get 7 permits and they can take up to 80 people... i'm looking at billabong, SJ, the rig, and possibly BD (they look a price range above SJ and the rig.. but they do seem to have got consistant good reviews on here). Also, there are messages about certain resorts have many snorkelling chinese using the permits - is this some more than other resorts?

 

[Dive-Boarder]

Hi there..

I dived Sipadan with ScubaJunkie in 2011. Whilst there, there was some concern about some of the resorts not using all their permits (or something). Inside the entrance hut, they have a list breaking down the 120 permits into the various dive operations. The guide asked me to take a photo of this list for information purposes.. so I can give you the break down that year (or day?):

Borneo Divers 14
Pulau Sipadan Resiort 14
SUV Resort 14
Sipadan Mabul Resort 14
Seaventures 11
Celebes Explorer 13
The Reef Dive Resort 7
Borneo Jungle 7
Dive Semporna 7
Bharman 6
North Borneo Dive 7
North Reef Resort 6

The names of some of these resorts may have changed... the sign had been professionally printed / drawn.. so not easy to change if the name of the dive operation had altered... ScubaJunkie did have 7 permits though..

I would not personally like to stay on the oil rig.. although it may be OK for a few days.. otherwise it looks quite oppressive and claustrophobic.. anywhere else you can walk around the island and enjoy mixing with the locals.. quite an eye opener to us pampered Westerners. The main advantage to the rig is that you can dive the house reef below as often as you like. However, it seems that the currents are often very strong.. so that this is not always possible. At many times, ops on the shore will not go there.. they look to see how tight the lines are holding moored boats to the rig!!

ScubaJunkie is a nice outfit. When I first arrived there I thought that they were a little casual in many respects.. mainly young staff who appeared more interested in having a good time themselves than helping the guests. I think they mainly cater for backpackers who want to tick the 'dive Sipadan' box on their round the world trips... not too many dedicated divers maybe? However, after a few days I did warm to them, and they had some good guides. The food was good and plentiful and their rooms more than adequate. The dorm rooms are very cheap and the bar good (if pricey for anything but beer). We did three days, 12 dives on Sipadan.. and that was enough for me.. i'm more interested in macro these days. In saying that, barracuda point was an excellent dive!!! A fast drift down the gully.. hanging on to a rock in the current for 30 minutes with 15 giant yellow barracuda an arms length away, a shoal of 400 or 500 striped barracuda within 20 metres, and 20 or so sharks kmnocking about as well! On another dive we also followed a shoal of 80 humphead parrot fish for an hour (they were at 5m), finishing up with turtles and sharks... quite something.

I have also stayed at the back packer rooms in Semporna (Scubajunkie).. earlier this year.. and enjoyed diving the other islands.. a lot more economical!

Hope this helps