Whats the word on Scuba Junkies?

[Camiguin]

I have not stayed at Scuba Junkie's Mabul accommodation yet, but it looks quite basic. You can find some pictures of it on their website. As I am still new, I can't post any URL here yet, but you will find the pictures when you search google for:

"Scuba Junkie Backpackers, Semporna (SIPADAN) and MABUL"

Click on the first hit and the Mabul pictures are the ones of the house on stilts.

As I will be traveling to the area in some time, I contacted them via mail a couple of days ago and did get a response. The following part is the one concerning their Mabul accommodation:

"We also have accommodation in our Mabul Beach Resort at Mabul Island-RM80 per person per night includes all meals. (all rooms are ensuite, with King size and single bed and with private balcony with sea view!!) The resort also has a private restaurant and upstairs a very cool bar to drink cocktails and watch the sun set over the Celebes sea!!"

I can't give any personal feedback yet, but this at least should give you a first indication.

 

[Gingerfish]

cabbie

they are still there
i just went there on march
at that time the acomm on mabul is still work in progress
but it looks fine to me
people is great there and i have had a good time with my friend for a 2 days discover diving trip
but i am new in diving so i cant give any comment on their gears
i can say they are good enough for me

 

[Inalara]

The images on their website was of the longhouse that they helped book people in, it wasn't actually their longhouse.

I've seen some pics of their mabul accommodation (A friend of mine is there) I will see if I can bully him into posting a few as it looks quite nice there.

 

[xariatay]

We are now at Scuba Junkie's Semporna "VIP" Suite. Room is comfortably sized - clean queen bed, faux leather sofa, wardrobe, dressing table, small tv, small toilet. Currently Semporna is facing water problem, most taps do not have running water, we have to shower at the dorm's toilet. We could hear rats (or something) running on the ceiling on the 1st night. Would highly recommend their new Mabul Beach Resort (MBR) - it is wonderful! Can enjoy the lovely ocean view from the front porch! The room & toilet are bigger (no hot shower tho). In each room, there is a queen size & a single bed, dressing table no wardrobe tho. Both serve ok breakfast but bad lunch (rice & noodle undercooked). At MBR, tea break is provided & water, tea, coffee, milo are there all the time. Dinner at MBR is quite nice, we went outside for dinner when at Semporna. Staying on Mabul will allow for 1 more hour of sleep. ;-) It takes 40+mins to reach Mabul fr Semporna & another 20mins to reach Sipadan.
Diving-wise - The boats go to Mabul fr Semporna every morning, to pick up the MBR divers, it is 10+am by the time we get to dive at Sipadan. 3 dives + Sipadan permit is now 450MYR (40 MYR for permit but they said the authorities imposed a minimum dive charge for Sipadan) & on the other islands 300 MYR (with gear). The Sipadan permits are applied with our names & passport nums. All divers/snorkellers have to sign in at the Sipadan guard house. The dive shop is quite choatic in the morning, with 3 boats going out. The DMs are competent & friendly (all of them are not locals). The groups are big tho. At Sipadan, the ratio is 1:8/9! Mabul & others 1:6. As there are so many divers (at least 10) on each boat, everyone would have to do the moving, setting up & washing of equipment ourselves (esp if own gear) & the boatmen have no assistant - as there are no mooring pts at most or all sites, they sometimes have to help the divers & the next sec go n turn the boat's steering! All the boatmen are very experienced & they drive the boat like f1 racers. ;-) The rental gear looks aged...
Scuba Junkie is good for the no frills divers.

 

[DevonDiver]

Would love to hear some reposrts also about the new Scuba Junkie accommodation on Mabul. I used to work for them

Scuba Junkie is the ultimate affordable way to dive Sipidan and Mabul.

 

[cgf]

There are few new accomodations in Semporna lately, one to be forgotten is the 'old one', the Dragon Inn, I slept there only one night, no anymore, despite the new accomodations I still would go to SeaFest Hotel even with new management they do not serve wine anymore at restaurant.

 

[xariatay]

Scuba Junkie's Mabul Beach Resort - in every room, there is 1 queen-size n 1 single-bed, a dresser with 2 chairs, ceiling fan, no air-con. Attached toilet & shower, no hot water. Size of room & toilet is generous. Nice big porch with 2 wooden beach chairs & a table.



Oh, heard the the classier neighbour also does not have air-con in their over the water bungalows... ;-)

 

[cgf]

I noted now
Scuba Junkie's Mabul Beach Resort! I tought Semporna, finally they opened then.

Uncle Chang would be happy!!

 

[MikeSullivan]

Any updates on Scuba Junkies? Do they still have sketchy equipment? I will have my own Mask/Snorkel/Fins but I am traveling for months and do not have room for anything else.

 

[t3nchi]

Overall, I enjoyed diving Mabul and Sipadan with them.

Equipment isn't top-tier (obviously).

I'd highly recommend an A/C room on Mabul because the A/C-less one was HOT as HELL (and we had a loud snorer, so I had sleepless nights).

I loved the food. But then again, I love any food. It was a mix of Western sometimes, Malaysian others.

But diving-wise, I had fun. Sipadan speaks for itself. DM that went with us are hit or miss, based on personality. I generally prefer an enthusiastic DM but island-fever can wear some DM down.