Help with Malaysian Destinations ... Thoughts

Hi everyone

i'm looking for some help

getting a group outing together for early next year to malaysia

have a few destinations is mind and would like you thoughts on them please

1. visit to Sipadan stopping at kapali or mabul (your thoughts please)

2. Visit to lankayan island then a night and day at the Orang's in sabah.

Is Sipadan really worth the time and effort to get to it..????? or should i stay clear of this area...

kind regards

craig nelson

Sipadan, the island, is closed. You either go to Mabul or Kapalai. From there it's a 10-15 minute boat ride to Sipadan (or you just dive around Mabul/Kapalai). You cant go wrong here. Its very nice diving. You can combine this with a visit to the Man of Borneo also, I believe the resorts around Sipadan can arrange it for you.

I dont know lankayan well, so I cant comment on it, but I wouldnt be surprised if it's very comparable to Sipadan.

Cor

The Sepilok Orang Utan reserve is near Sandakan, which is also the gateway to Lankayan. There is the Probocis Monkey reserve too in the area. If you want to limit travel, I'd suggest you go to Lankayan. Lankayan is more macro, not as good as Mabul/Kapalai but decent. Obviously not so much pelagic like Sipadan but the big schools of cudas and jacks have become rarer, but the smaller schools are still around as are the bumphead parrot etc. The coral life is pretty abysmal there too. A combination of El Nino and too many resorts dumping too much crap.

I would also suggest climbing mount Kinabalu. Wonderful climb.

Hi Craig,

what Cor says about Sipadan is true. It's closed now but you can dive it from Mabul and if you're in Malaysia you really shouldn't miss it. As for the diving it's stunning. I went a couple of times before it closed and it's simply the best diving I ever did. Us divers tend to exaggerate at times but I swear to God over the course of around 50 dives I've done on Sipadan I have never once seen less than half a dozen turtles and half a dozen white-tips at minimum on every dive. Often there were so many as to lose count. During those 50 dives on Sipadan I've also seen lone and schooling hammerheads, leopard sharks, grey reef sharks, mantas, mobulas, various stingrays, masses of barracuda, masses of jacks, and all the usual reef fish and critters. The place is simply awesome. If you can you should also try and find one of the few dive guides who know the turtle cavern under the island and can take you in there (don't go in there on your own, you can easily get lost and die - you wouldn't be the first) because it's quite an experience.

As for another diving option in Malaysian Borneo you should also consider Layang Layang. It's all wall diving of the highest order. You can only reach the island by plane from Kota Kinabalu but it's worth it as it's remoteness means utterly pristine walls and topreef with big pelagics and 30-40m visibility. It's particularly well known for hammerheads. A typical profile means dropping straight down to 37-38m and swimming away from the wall into the blue to look for hammerheads. 5-8 mins bottom time then ascending back towards the wall to rejoin it around 15-20m and drifting along it. Fantastic place also because the resort holds about thirty people max and it's too far for any dayboats so you always have the dive sites to yourself.

Finally a word of warning about Sepilok. It's a rehabilitation centre and the Orang Utangs are indeed cool but you see them being fed for about an hour or so and then there is bugger all else (except for the war memorial) in the vicinity. Instead you could spend a few days in a jungle camp (I recommend 'Uncle Tan's' if you don't mind living with only the barest basics). That way you get to really walk through the Borneo rainforest and see real wild animals in their own environment.

Also, somebody else mentions climbing Mount Kinabalu. It's a great trek to the top but it's far more demanding than they lead you to believe because of the altitude and the early start (full day, then a few short hours sleep in a freezing cold hut, then a 2.30am start so you reach the summit for sunrise). I am of average fitness and I did make to the top for sunrise but by the time I got back to the bottom my legs were gone and I couldn't walk without a stick. To properly enjoy the Kinabalu climb you need slightly better than average fitness. It's worth it but it's hard work.

Hope this all helps and I hope you like Malaysia. It's a great country.

Cheers

Marco

Hi everyone

thanks for all the input you have given

I've now settled on

2 Nights in Sepilok - Reserve and Orang sanct.

8 Nights in Kapalai water village, diving Mabul , kapalai, Sipadan.

I love my Macro life, so it sounds the place for me and my camera , as long as there is a selection of Amphiprion species around this will complete my quest to Find nemo !!!

thanks again.

its been a hard decision to make trying to nail it down to a couple of flights, i really want to visit sipadan, and like the sound of Lankayan, but i cant get to sipadan from there.

and i dont want to keep jetting around sabah as i need to relax at some point.... B)

Sometimes it's easier to travel by road from Sandakan to Semporna, where the boats for Mabul/Kapalai pick up the guests. It's about 5 hrs but about the same if you take the flight from Sandakan to KK to Tawau and the 1 hr drive to semporna included. Plus it's more adventurous. Many Malaysians speak basic english so it's fun AND you don't have to deal with the overweight baggage issue.

You will like Kapalai for muck diving. The blue ring octopus are esp active there during certain times of the year.