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Published: October 11th 2008
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Nudibranch
Mabul Island Just a quick blog from south Eastern Sabah in Borneo, Becky will add another blog today or tomorrow,
after leaving Sandakan and Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation centre, we heading down to the town of Semporna so i could do some diving, I had read alot about the diving here, especially at the acclaimed island of Sipadan, regarded by many as one of the best dives in the world, I had also read alot about the small harbour town of Semporna, much of it none too complimentary, and 5 Km's out of town with palm trees on either side of the road i was thinking maybe people had been slightly harsh, upon arriving I take it all back..... Semporna is a hole and probably ranked alongside the Cambodian border with Thailand in terms of prettyness.....
The towns residents themselves however, like elsewhere in Sabah are extremely friendly, and curious hellos and greetings follow you around the streets of these small towns and villages, after wandering around the stilted fish market, which became known to us both as "walking the plank", due to the number of missing slats meant taking your eye of your feet would mean a fall to the rocks and
garbage below,
on the subject of garbage and sadly like elsewhere in the beauty of South East Asia, People haven't cottened on to the fact that tossing all your rubbish on the floor daily will eventuate in a big pile of the stuff, and nowhere is this example more startling than Semporna,
It's a strange set up in Semporna, there is only two or three places to stay, the only one near the bus station is Lees Resthouse, where we stayed and then the only options are at the far edge of town at Scuba Junkies Guesthouse who give discount if you dive with them, I decided to dive with them only because i went to the only other option twice (Sipadan Divers) and was told twice to wait, so I waited and waited and then got a bit fed up and went to scuba junkies!!!
the prices were quite reasonable i suppose by world standards, but more than Perhenthian Islands last year, 300RM ($90) for 3 dives at Mabul was the fee, I obviously hadn't researched Sipadan enough as was told that you have to apply "months in advance", as there is 120 permits issued daily and
thats that.
Of my 3 dives at Mabul, the first at eel garden was excellent, A couple of Turtles, including one that was relaxing on a rock and when we left peeped behind the rock to see where we were heading!! a spotted stingray, Barracuda, and Nudibranches were the highlights,
my second was underneath the oil rig that dependant on who you spoke to was brought from Indonesia or Brunei or the Phillipines to be converted for a liveaboard dive rig, The reason? whoever owns it wanted to build a resort on Mabul Island was refused so decided to bring the rig so everyone on the island had a good view of it, He must have been pretty determined to annoy the authorities!
This along with my third dive at artificial reef, i was told were world class dive sites and would be amazed, its not that the fish weren't abundant or impressive, (although not as abundant as Eel Gardens). The problem for me was that both sites looked as though everyone from the rigs had just chucked all there rubbish overboard that wasn't needed and then the fish arrived for shelter, so in effect your looking
Coral
Low Tide - Mabul at beautiful fish hiding in a few tyres or in a big metal rack.. yet again after coming up disappointed everyone on the boat was raving about what they had just seen so maybe it was only me that didn't see the beauty in scuba diving around a rubbish tip......
I was on the waiting list for Sipadan the next day, but never really pushed it as the divemasters at Scuba Junkies didn't sound too hopeful or enthusiastic, and Sipadan Divers, well I'd probably still be waiting now for an answer, also the one time i spoke to a lady in there and enquired about Sipadan she said yes as long as you book three days diving with them, one would be Sipadan, I said great, Ill come back later with the money, to be replied with "go and get the money now because someone will take your place....." in the end, Like at the Whitsundays in Australia last year, we decided it just wasn't worth the hassle, so on principle we let it be......
Also my first effort at taking pictures underwater, and despite a chronic lack of information anywhere on what to do and how
Coral
Low Tide - Mabul best to use it, Searching Internet and Bookshops extensively turned up little, these are my first efforts, Its certainly an art and is a lot more difficult than it looks, messing around with colours on a laptop helps a little, but in the end i was either incorrect with the flash or too far away, I didn't take pictures at the first dive site, deciding to take the Underwater housing empty to ensure no leakage and no sodden camera, so no pictures of beautiful pristine coral, turtles or stingrays unfortunately this time,
although I never dived Sipadan,for me it wasn't a scratch on the Perhenthian Islands of Peninsular Malaysia last year.
cheers for reading!!!
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