Pulau Sipadan diving

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Missed diving off Sipadan when I was in Borneo last spring. Should have made time for it as the weather, and hence diving conditions, were better then. I think the typhoon that slammed into China last week adversely affected the weather here. The seas were super choppy and I thought I might regurgitate my breakfast of banana roti and iced coffee. The captain wasn't even sure if we would make it on the boat from the mainland town of Semporna. Eventually got there after a gut wrenching 2 hours and a brief stop at Pulau Mabul for a pickup/drop off of divers. Can no longer stay on Sipadan but many people stay on Mabul as it is conveniently located between Semporna and Sipadan.

The diving was OK but I was expecting something really amazing since Sipadan is consistently rated in diving magazines as the number one worldwide destination. The sea life was fantastic but the visibility was about 10 meters with a wicked current. Swimming with it or against is doesn't matter because you are fighting it either going into it or trying to slow down so you can scope out what's around you. I dove at Pulau Tioman (also in Malaysia but off the penninsula near Singapore) in April and the conditions there were superb so my expectations were unrealistically high for Sipadan. Also dove at Bunaken, Indonesia which was also excellent but I'd rate Tioman as the best diving I've ever done for a combination of sea life, coral, and visibility. Ironically it was also the cheapest of the 3 locations but that only partially factors into my rating.

Yesterday one of the divemasters had a great underwater camera setup and he burned a movie clip onto CDs for the group. Only able to post still shots now but hopefully soon I'll be able to download the entire movie to the website.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their summer.

Take care.

Jon

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Photos

Sea turtle or kura-kura in Malay
Saw dozens of turtles up close. They weren't the least bit bothered by us.

Close up of sea turtle
Reef shark in the background.

You talkin' to me?
Even closer close up.

White tip reef sharks
Also got very close to many of these species of shark. Fortunately not a man eater.

Entering cave under Pulau Sipadan
Not much to see but still cool.

Small school of Sweet Lips
Large angel fish near by.

At the end of the 3rd dive
Really rough seas and strong current. 3 dives was more than enough.