Diving at Sipadan

Hi,

Heading to Malaysia around the 5th of November. Can anyone tell me what the diving is like at Sipadan around that time? Will the visibility be OK? I want to do an open water and I am hearing mixed reports about the monsoon.

Many thanks

Diving at Sipadan is done year round. The rainy season starts sometime in October/November, but diving at Sipadan should still be pretty good then as viz gets slightly affected only in January.

It seems a shame, though, to go to Sipadan and spend a lot of time in a classroom instead of diving. An Open Water course takes about 4 days, and you have just four open water dives in that time, whereas if you are already certified (or have done everything but the four open water dives) before you arrive at Sipadan, you will get a lot more "real" diving out of the experience, doing 3 dives a day, so 12 dives over your four full days there.

Ahh OK, thanks for the info. Where would you recommend in either Thailand or Malaysia to do open water in the November -> Feb time frame? Preferably at budget prices comparable to sipadan.

Many thanks

Between Malaysia and Thailand, I'd recommend Thailand as the dive resorts in the less expensive areas of Malaysia (Perhentians, Redang, Tioman) will all be shut down by November for the monsoon season. Conversely, the west coast of Thailand (Phuket, Phi Phi, Lanta, Khao Lak) will be coming into its dry season. Learning to dive in Thailand is quite a bargain compared to most of the world's top dive destinations.

Sorry gonna throw a spanner in the works - did our open water last year with North Borneo divers (Very good - highly rec) based at Semporna, one day in class room, confinded water dives at the most idelic deserted (saved for some moored sea gypsies) island then main dives at Sipadan, tagged on a couple of days after and did 3 dives a day - fantastic - viz great and not a drop of the r word in sight! x

Hi Meow

One thing you can do is fly into Kota Kinabalu and do your OW course in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park - a series of little islands just 10 mins off shore from the town. Nice easy conditions off islandssuch as Mamutik wth sandy seabed and you will be staying in a lively town where there is plenty to do outside of the course.

Then hop to Tawau after that to visit Sipadan. That way you can concentrate on the crazy fish, turtle and shark action without worrying about dive skills being assessed.