Sipadan information

[pin]

Hi

GF and me are thinking of heading to Sipadan this Easter for diving. I have been around the internet and done some research, but want to check some information here as well.

- The GF isn't the most confident diver (and swimmer). She is OW and has dove about 20-30 times. She isn't the strongest swimmer, but is slowly building both her diving and swimming confidence. I understand that diving around Sipadan/Mabul/Kapali, the currents may be quite strong. How true is this?

- As the GF is only OW, are there many deep dives in this area? I.e. will she be missing out on some of the better dives?

- GF also has motion sickness, so she isn't great on boats. She does try her best. As I understand diving in this region we would go out on a boat for pretty much most of the day and do dives from the boat, have lunch, etc on the boat. Or is there options where you dive and then the boat goes back to base and then you do another dive?

- What is the situation re accommodation? Is it the case that the cheaper accommodation is in Semporena (sp?), while there is more expensive accommodation in Mabul? Which one is better to stay in if cost wasn't a factor? I have also looked at the Kapali resort and the Sea-adventures oil rig option.

- How far out are the dive sites from Semporena / Mabul etc?

Sorry for all the questions, hopefully someone can help me and thanks!!

 

[InDaWata]

Hey Pin.

Im gonna try to rack my brain and answer some of you questions... dont take it as gospel truth though! Of course a lot of things change with conditions/seasons.


- Currents around Mabul and Kapalai are nil on most days. Ive seen it a little swift on some days though, but nothing that would scare most beginners I dont think.
Sipadan is different- depending on the sites, and tide of course.
Barracuda point can get strong. Regulator shaking strong. 50 bar in 20 minutes strong. But it can also be pretty docile. I would say that most of the time there is an average strength current on Sipadan.

- OW students go to the area all the time and have just as much fun. Sure, she wont be able to go to 30m at Sipadan, but there is plenty to be seen from 18m up- the reef in this area is amazing as well - which might be better for her actually! I can only think of one dive at Kapalai that she will miss out on because of the depth limits (and its not one of the "must sees").

- Sea sickness might be an issue- the sea can get quite rough in the summer months- July, Aug- but other times of the year its ok i think.
Im under the impression most dive op's will take you to an island, a resort, for the surface intervals. It was always the case with Scuba Junkies, and i saw everyone else doing the same, even at Sipadan (but only for lunch here due to logistics).

- You can find cheap backpacker-ish places in Semporna, but there is virtually NOTHING to do there. There are some good value hotels here too.
Mabul is absolutely beautiful, and you have an opportunity to check out the island and its inhabitants (which is really cool). Kapalai is ncie, but theres no where to go- jsut walk around the resort.
Theres a thread on here about Sea Ventures, which has its perks, and its problems. I would definitely recommend staying at Scuba Junkies resort- great value, even if the food isnt gourmet.
Other cheap options are Arung Hayat and Uncle Changs. I would hesitate to stay at either- although Arung Hayat has an amazing atmosphere- the rooms are BASIC.

- The dive sites are scattered. There are basically two regions. North and South.
If you stay in Semporna, you can dive in both. If you stay in Mabul/Kapalai, you can only dive around there (South). The boat rides from Semporna are about 1hour to 45minutes (conditions, boats permitting) to the South or North, add an additional hour for Sipadan. If you stay in Mabul, one hour to Sipadan- 30minutes to Kapalai, just a few minutes to the dive sites around Mabul.
I would recommend staying at Mabul, the house reef is great, there is more to do if you choose not to dive, and there are cheaper options. Kapalai just seems a little out of the way for anything other than diving on Kapalai- which is ok diving, but its better at Mabul.

Should you dive in the North? Yeah, I think so. Sibuan is a decent place to dive (its getting better than it was), and the island is pretty cool to see as well. Really beautiful. But if youre short for time, etc- i would say just check out the south.

 

[tstormdiver]

I went to Sipadan last April & must say it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. There were some currents the first few days, but not anything I would say were crazy. The boat captains were fantastic about watching our bubble & coming to pick us up when we would surface. For me, I went through my air kind of quickly the first day or so, but I was not used to diving in currents (most of my dives have been in a flooded rock quarry- not much current there). I was on a group trip through my LDS & we stayed at Borneo Divers on Mabul, since it was a group trip I am unsure of what the cost was. We would do 3 boat dives (around Mabul & Kapalai) & unlimited shore diving or 4 dives around Sipadan then come back for some more shore diving on the House Reef. That House Reef at Mabul was also beautiful. Very close to the resort was a nest of Mandairn fish, a Flamboyant Cuttlefish & under the the oil rig (a boat ride), was a pygmy seahorse for highlights. Personally we ran into probably the worst currents under the oil rig. At one point I had seen all I wanted to & was ready to ascend (I really didn't have a buddy- I was an "odd man out", just hung out with the group). I managed to get caught in a very strong current during my safety stop, that took me almost 1/2 way back to the resort. The boat captain saw my Marker buoy & came over to pick me up quickly.

Personally I thought the first 30ft of Sipadan where the most beautiful parts of the island. Even though I would start out deep, my favorite was the reef shelf that was about 6- 20ft deep on average. I could have hung out there all day long, if not for air. The Turtle Cavern (actually by standards a cave) was interesting, but I could not in good conciseness recommend going in to it to anyone not properly trained to do so. The dive masters take people in there all the time, however I refused to go in without at least a cavern reel. I ran out of line (150ft) probably 50ft away from where the turtle skeletons were. I never got to see them. Anyway, the Sipadan / Mabul areas were spetacular!

 

[InDaWata]

Personally we ran into probably the worst currents under the oil rig.

Yes, thats true the currents under Sea Ventures can be "strong" sometimes. Its really pointless to do that dive in a current because of the nature of the site.
DC's should really take people there only in slacktide or a mild current.

tstormdiver, were the safety stop lines set up under seaventures when you went?

 

[Cabbie]

I've been in some great currents on Sipadan - Barracuda Point and further round (Hanging Garden ?), but done as drift dives ! Also had some currents around Mabul and Kapalai but nothing too strenuous except the time the DM was heading into the current...so I refused to follow Some of the dives on Sipadan could be done at 5-10m. It's stunning in the shallows and you get to stay longer...

Trip to Sipadan from Mabul can be done in 20 minutes if the sea is flat and the boat doesn't break down 60 minutes otherwise. Take motion sickness tablets if you're at all susceptible !

The safety stop lines under the oil rig were up last time I was there.

 

[tstormdiver]

tstormdiver, were the safety stop lines set up under seaventures when you went?

There were a few, but I was no where near it. I tried to get to one of the larger stabilizing wires, but missed it by a foot or 2.

 

[pin]

Thanks guys

Still looking into Sipadan, but may have to look at other alternatives, not because of condition, but because of cost!

Oh well, another time.

 

[The Wolf]

Yes, thats true the currents under Sea Ventures can be "strong" sometimes. Its really pointless to do that dive in a current because of the nature of the site.
DC's should really take people there only in slacktide or a mild current.

tstormdiver, were the safety stop lines set up under seaventures when you went?

Yes, north side of the rig, only at the ramp side of the rig...currents tend to pick up in the afternoon...pretty calm in the mornings but not as strong as some parts of Sipadan which can be pretty challenging, especially for novice divers. Experinced divers will also have their hand's full if its one of those days...