HI Just looking for some opinions.
We will be returning to Aus through Bangkok and/or KL and just wondered what you thought about diving in thailand compared to Sabah. We probably have 2-3 weeks but wondered if we should do both in one trip or wait until another time as we travel this route every couple of years. We will have kids with us and while they are good travellers i want some R and R time and also some things for them to do as well ( so we wont be diving all the time) I love the idea of going to sabah but think maybe Thailand maybe more cost effective. So therefore seeking your thoughts on dive sites Eg Sipeden (sorry spelling) compared to somewhere in Thailand. Would it be worth the extra cost?
Thanks for any advice
champas
1
onthespot
Hey Champas,
When will you be travelling? This makes a big difference to where you can dive and the conditions.
Are the kids old enough to join you on a liveaboard or stay in a resort while you are diving?
2
quero
In terms of simple cost and staying at a place where you can find other activities to do with your kids when you are not diving, you will probably find Thailand (either the Andaman side or the Gulf side) less expensive than the resorts in the Sipadan area, and there will be more for your family to do, as well.
At Sipadan, it's best to stay at the islands themselves (Mabul or Kapalai) rather than at the grotty town of Semporna. The resorts on those islands are exclusively dive resorts, so there's not much else to do. Semporna is not a place I'd recommend for a family stay at all.
In Thailand, no matter which side you go to (and this will depend on the season), you can do other kinds of water sports, including kayaking and spending days at beaches, as well as enjoy some nature activities.
I love Sipadan, but I wouldn't go there with non-divers at all.
3
champas
Thanks so much. That helps with a lot of questions. We will be travelling mid to late july and the kids ages are 14 12 8 7 . they are fairly energetic but are responsible and independant. i wouldnt leave them overnight though. Live aboard sounds possible as they all are competent swimmers.
Thanks heaps
4
glamourpuss
Sipadan is absolutely amazing. It's the best diving I've ever done, so for us it was worth the extra cost. However, as quero mentioned there's not much else to do on Mabul.
I think it really depends on whether you want to stay put in one pace for the whole 2-3 weeks, or if you're open to moving around a bit.
If you want to stay put, somewhere like Phi Phi, on the east Coast of Thailand would probably be a good option (depending on your time of year).
If you're open to moving around about during your 3 weeks, there's definitely stuff to do for non-divers. You could spend 4 or 5 days on Mabul and then explore the rest of Sabah. The orangutan sanctuary at rasa ria in Kota Kinabalu or the one at Sepilok would be great for kids. And there are lots of jungle tours and chances to see wildlife in the Sandakan area.
Anyway... I think either place would be great, but probably comes down to your budget and style of traveling.
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