View Full Version : Turtle Cavern, Sipadian, Indonesia
blackice
August 1st, 2003, 12:45 AM
Has anyone been to Sipadian and visited the Turtle Cavern? Did they allow you to dive it with out Cavern/Cave training?
If not what sort of traiining do you have that allows you to dive it. Also where can I get that sort of training in Asia (Singapore prefered)?
I have seen photos of this cavern and it looks great but I want to enssure that I'm ready to dive in it. I don't know anyone that has been to it before so I'm not sure of the requirements needed, I assume cavern would be required but I have no idea where to get that sort of training and if you also need Deco training and Advanced Nitrox?
Thanks for any pointers,
Albion
August 1st, 2003, 03:21 AM
not sure you can dive it anymore qualification or not. there is a big sign outside saying no entry. we were warned off on our check out dive there
blackice
August 1st, 2003, 03:58 AM
Were the signs at the enterance to the caven or to the caves at the back?
I saw this photo and it looks great - http://www.borneodivers.info/Sipadan_Diving/SipadanDivingCavernFrame.html
sasdasdaf
August 1st, 2003, 08:53 AM
I don't know the answer to your question, but I thought I might point out that Sipadan is part of Malaysia, not Indonesia.
Rickg
August 1st, 2003, 12:07 PM
Albion once bubbled...
not sure you can dive it anymore qualification or not. there is a big sign outside saying no entry. we were warned off on our check out dive there
When we stayed at Borneo Diver's Sipadan Resort the cavern was off-limits to all their guests unless escorted by a Borneo Divers guide. It was easiest enough to arrange - all you had to do was ask and they would substitue the cavern dive for one of the 3 daily boat dives. I would imagine the operators on Sipadan have a similar system.
Rickg
blackice
August 1st, 2003, 10:58 PM
sasdasdaf once bubbled...
I don't know the answer to your question, but I thought I might point out that Sipadan is part of Malaysia, not Indonesia.
Silly me, must have Indonesia on the mind having just returned for Manado, thanks for setting me right.
blackice
August 1st, 2003, 11:02 PM
rickg once bubbled...
When we stayed at Borneo Diver's Sipadan Resort the cavern was off-limits to all their guests unless escorted by a Borneo Divers guide. It was easiest enough to arrange - all you had to do was ask and they would substitue the cavern dive for one of the 3 daily boat dives. I would imagine the operators on Sipadan have a similar system.
Rickg
Rick, were you there recently? I'm planning for September and staying at the water village and will find out if I can do a dive there or if not walk over to Borneo and buy a dive with them.
Did they require you to be cavern or cave certified?
Rickg
August 3rd, 2003, 01:44 PM
blackice once bubbled...
Rick, were you there recently? I'm planning for September and staying at the water village and will find out if I can do a dive there or if not walk over to Borneo and buy a dive with them.
Did they require you to be cavern or cave certified?
Blackice,
We were last there in October 2001. The did not require cavern or cave certification at that time, only that you go on a "guided" tour of the cavern. I would imagine that the "Water Village" and all of the resorts would have a similar system set up
Hope you have a good trip. We've been there 3 times ('94, '00 and '01) and had a great time each trip.
Rickg
blackice
August 28th, 2003, 10:50 PM
Thanks,
not long to go, only a few weeks left, then I'll be under the water again. :-)
blackice
October 14th, 2003, 11:02 PM
Well that trip was cancelled thanks to my boss, but am planned to go in January. My friends went and yes they dived the turtle caven.
they dived twice each day at Sipadan and once some where else.
they said it was a good trip, look forward to my chance to go there.
Magus
October 18th, 2003, 07:01 AM
I have been there in July 2002 but stayed on Mabul (not Sipadan) which is 15-20 min by speed boat. I dived in Turtle Cavern together with the guide (I don't have cave certification). The dive was really great. The cavern is quite big and without certification and without dual cylinders you may visit it but deep penetration (ie the Turtle tomb itself) will not be allowed. If anyone interested I can scan the map of cavern and send it by e mail.
blackice
November 26th, 2003, 12:59 AM
Magus once bubbled...
I have been there in July 2002 but stayed on Mabul (not Sipadan) which is 15-20 min by speed boat. I dived in Turtle Cavern together with the guide (I don't have cave certification). The dive was really great. The cavern is quite big and without certification and without dual cylinders you may visit it but deep penetration (ie the Turtle tomb itself) will not be allowed. If anyone interested I can scan the map of cavern and send it by e mail. Sounds cool, our trip is now in January and am looking forward to it. Should be good. Will not be diving next month so I guess it's going to be almost 2 months out of water before then. But I'm sure it will be a great way to start the year.
Albion
November 26th, 2003, 04:59 AM
Viz wasnt what i had hoped for, pretty average had better at aur. The diving was still good lots of turtles not so many sharks as hoped for, and only ONE Baracuda.
I dont know if that is common for the season or not
animian2002
November 29th, 2003, 10:13 AM
Heard that the best time to visit sipadan is Mar-Apr, and that is why I'm planning a trip there during that time, hopefully nothing serious pops up to spolit my dream dive vacation :D
jiveturkey
November 30th, 2003, 08:02 AM
I was there a week ago and dived the Turtle Cavern. We went in with a dm from Borneo Divers. I don't have a cavern cert. There are 2 chambers: the cavern which is about 70m deep (into the rock that is, the entrance is at 18m) and the turtle tomb.
Our plan was to go through the cavern and then into the tomb. There were 5 of us including the dm. The cavern is big and quite high. Although it later becomes classed as a cave because of the shape of the rocks and the fact that you go up to about 5m at the back of the cavern. You can't see the entrance so therefore it's now a cave.
This is where the small tube that leads to the turtle tomb starts. It's about 1.5m high and about 2m wide. I got about halfway in and decided that the tube was too claustrophobic for me. Time to get out.
I don't know how cave divers do it. I just felt that it was beyond what I should be doing with my level of training and comfort. My buddy stayed with me in the cavern while the others went in. They loved it and thought the tube was no big deal. You'll probably love it too.
Inside the cavern is a turtle skeleton and a marlin skeleton. I don't know how the marlin died. Inside the tomb, there is a dolphin skeleton along with many intact turtle skeletons.
Sipadan was the best diving I've ever seen. I was completely blown away. It's also worth teh trip over to Mabul especially if you're a photographer.
jiveturkey
November 30th, 2003, 08:10 AM
Turtle skeleton from the cavern.
blackice
December 3rd, 2003, 03:04 AM
Very clear photo.. you sure this is underwater?
blackice
December 3rd, 2003, 03:07 AM
jiveturkey once bubbled...
I was there a week ago and dived the Turtle Cavern. We went in with a dm from Borneo Divers. I don't have a cavern cert.
I look forward to my trip there, but I was concerned that you and your buddies went that far into the caven to the point that it became a cave, when you don't have the required training.
Always dive safe.
