coupling sangalakki & sipadan

hi there,

I need your help urgently 'cause I'm the type of undecided guy who never knows where he'll be diving 4 days before departure...

I'm supposed to leave for Borneo starting from feb 14th (I say "supposed" because I might also end up in the Phils or, and now for a completely different thing, Burma :roll:,... but let's stick to Borneo...).

First place I will be going should be Sipadan : Am I right when I think packages should be easily found and cheaper bought in kota kinabalu rather than booking on the net?

Now, Mabul seems too expensive and i'm traveling with my wife and daughter none of the two are diving...I've read from some of you recommendations for Borneo divers (cannot remember the name of the accom) and Sipadan dive centre, any others ?

Has anyone been lodging or have heard comments about Roach Reef?

I'm also lurking towards Derawan or Sangalakki, is mid or end of february diveable, or should I expect buckets of rain on my head ?

Does any of you know how i could go to Derawan from Tawau (Sipadan airport)?

I've read that Cybergoldlfish was almost resident in sangalakki, could you please write a line or too in reply to my questions.

terima kasih banyak!

Yes, getting the package in KK would be better, you will also be advised of space.

Ursula at Borneo Divers can help you, but you can contact her on the net via their website prior to your arrival.

It's rainy season now too, odd bouts of rough sea too, but diveable.

Sangalaki: You must arrange this too in KK by contacting them; Ursula will give you the office numbers. They need to know because of getting a ferry arranged for transfer from Tarakan or Derawan or Berau.

Complicated:

When you leave Sipadan you'll travel back to Tawau. Here you have a choice of fast Ferry to Tarakan or a flight maybe, but you will have to stay over as the ferry is 0700 ish. Personally, I would fly from Tarakan - Berau where Sangalaki staff will meet and pick you up for the 2hr boat ride to the Island.

Summary: Tawau - Tarakan: Flight or Ferry

Tarakan - Sangalaki Ferry if there is one, or flight from Tarakan to Berau

Then Ferry to Sangalaki.

Thanks very much Cybergoldfish, I'll get in touch with them asap, it indeed seems complicated to get to Berau from Tawau... i kind of suspected it was but i think I needed a first hand confirmation...

Any advise to back Sangalaki just in case I didn't feel much like relying on Indo's elastic airline schedules and wouldn't want to penalize my 10 yo daughter with long waiting transfers, nights in dubtious guesthouses (at least that's how I imagine Tarakan, hard to find anything more comfortable than a mandi...One way should be ok, but thinking return starts to be painful) : Lankayan? Miri? (Layang2 is far off my budget and I think closed at that time, I haven't got a clue for Lankayan neither Miri...)...

The other thing i'm really worrying about, you say ...

"It's rainy season now too, odd bouts of rough sea too, but diveable."

It's hard to figure what moonson is : for example peninsular malaysia dive centers close for monsoon season but reopen from mid feb, while at the extreme end some Phils dive centres are open 365/7. Do they, Sipadan, Sangalaki, generally speaking North Borneo, also happen to close diving at that time which is supposed to be tail of the monsoon ?

Sorry for so many questions at a time but I think it's the first time I'm feeling so undecided yet unprepared.

Getting back is relatively easy in comparison as there is either a flight to Balikpapan/KK or Balikpapan/Singapore from Berau. The flight from Balikpapan to Singapore is quite expensive, and KK may be more practical if you fly Air Mal. Air Mal is cheap and good.

You leave Sangalaki by ferry to Berau on the mid afternoon, stay in new hotel for night.

Next morning taken to airport for your flight to Balikpapan.

If you go backto KK it's worth thinking about flying to Labuan for a few days too.

Ursula will give you up to date info on the weather and any closures.

thanks again Cybergodlfish, i'll do what you say and contact Ursula the-girl-for-all-seasons.

And yes, you understood my concerns, i'm flying Air M'sia all the way; they sell on very agressive promotional rates from France and i agree they're an excellent company.