Just came back from Sipadan Island, it was awesome! I guess most of you already knew that Sipadan Island is indisputably one of the best dive spots in the world.

In case you don’t know, it is located off the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia’s eastern most state, and lies on the north-eastern corner of Borneo, the world’s third largest island.

Sipadan Island was at the top of Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine Gold List for ‘The Top Dive Destination in the World’. In fact the island shared its top spot with two other destinations known for the amazing diversity of their marine life – the Galapagos Islands and Truk in Micronesia.

Hey… Galapagos Island… it is listed in my 50 places I wanna visit in life list!

We booked our dive package via Global Scuba where my boyfriend did his open water course in 1997. 11 years later, my boyfriend is back to take the package from Global Scuba to hope for discount. Unfortunately no discount, only 20% discount for any item purchased. Anyway, their services are reliable and they are trustworthy.

http://www.globalscuba.com.my/

Our Diving Holiday Package
Boat and Land Transfers Tawau Airport
Accomodation: Standard Water Cottage @ Sipadan Water Village Resort
5 Days 4 Nights
Food (Includes lunch on arrival and lunch before departure)
Arrival at Mabul Island: 1200hrs

Dives: Unlimited house reef dives (Paradise 1 & 2)
3 Boat Dives/day: Oct 23, 24, 25, 2008
Gears Include: Tanks, Weights, Belts
Total Costs: RM2470 per pax

Air tickets (Booked May 12, 2008)
Flight KUL-TWU: AK 5152 (0720-1005hrs, Oct 22, 2008)
Flight TWU-KUL: AK 5157 (2040-1125hrs, Oct 26, 2008)
Flight Ticket (Include all taxes): RM195 per pax

In year 2004, the Government of Malaysia ordered all on-site dive and resort operators of Sipadan to move their structures out of the island by 31 Dec 2008 and hence, divers are only allowed to be ferried in and out by dive and resort operators from the mainland and surrounding islands. This move is mainly to conserve a balanced eco-system for Sipadan and its surrounding.

Since Government said so, we stayed in Mabul Island instead and took the boat dives at Mabul, Kapalai and Sipadan dive sites.

The resort is cool, isn’t it? I love the place so much that it reminded me of Tahiti Island!! The boat brought us to the jeti and there isn’t any beach at all surrounded the resort. The entire resort is built over water on stilts. We were staying on the water!

Far away from the resort there are beaches where the local people stay. We didn’t get the chance to walk out from the resort to get to the beach as we were so tied up with the diving activities.

The very first thing to do was to have our first lunch in Mabul Island once we arrived. Look at the 2 big dining areas on the water.

Crowded eh?

We had our b’fast, lunch and dinner there for 5 days! We always sat at the outer side to enjoy stunning views over the sea while appreciating our food. I was completely captivated by its over-the-water layout and splendid water cottage accommodations with flowered sidewalks.

After lunch, it was a LONG walk from the dining area to our room. I am not exaggerating it, look at the pictures yourself. We had to walk from one end to the other end, then made a right turn, continue walking to the another end, and made the second right turn, then only we saw our room. It was about 10 mins walk everyday from the room to the lobby, dining room and dive center and we had to walk several times in day.

We walked…
And walked…
And walked…

And finally… we saw our room!! Room S124! Phew…

Once opened the door, saw myself in the mirror.
The room is very spacious. The desk was just right for my boyfriend to study his GMAT.

I think it’s a king size bed. The room is clean and bright.

With a spacious living room facing the sea.

Here is where I relaxed myself with a cup of coffee and a Dan Brown’s novel.

We rested for a bit and ready for an orientation dive at 2:30 p.m. in the first day in Mabul Island.