Sipadan

Trip Start Mar 04, 2008
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Trip End Jun 04, 2008


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Where I stayed
uncle chang
(Semporna hotels)

Flag of Malaysia  ,
Sunday, April 20, 2008

This one is going to be fairly short. I arrived at Semporna on Borneo and spend the night on a beautiful resort on stilts ,for only 60 ringgit for two people, right above the water, the place was very clean with ac TV and hot water.
The Dragon Inn is the place to be in Semporna, only thing was that a rat ate my backpack searching for some peanuts that I had, but if rodents don't bother you , location is great!!!!
Next day we went to Mabul a little Island half way between Semporna and Sipadan where Uncle Chang place is located. Also on stilts the rooms are really basic but fairly clean and no rats, the atmosphere is very, very casual ...
First day it was Chang's birthdate or something and we were treated to about 50 bottles of rum which made a lot easier to get to know the people. The second night no sure why there was free beer so still you keep meeting people. The  food was OK, the equipment older than Cousteau, divemasters some very good some lets say had too much sun, but hey it is an island.
The briefings nowhere close to what MIKE , TIM, JOHN, HARRY or any other captain do at Quiescence.You where lucky to know that you went underwater and since it is all wall diving just follow your divemaster, after all you are literally about 30 meters from the island which now only has an army base. Vis average 60 feet and 83 degrees temp.
Ah the diving????? Well ....... is better than what  you can imagine!!!!!! It feels like you are diving on a fish ID book.
At one point I was looking at 5 turtles on my field of view without moving my head, no joke, you have to push the turtles to push the sharks to be able to see Napoleon Wrasse or the other hundreds of species that do not allow you to see the reef.
Just for you to have an idea not only I had a broken toe and sore rib I also got a cold and a filing from one tooth fell off, and nothing bother  me , could be the diving or the rum, in any event I am due for my 50 k tune up....
By far it was the best place that I ever dove and Chang's was also a lot of fun but after a while you get tired so you move on.....
In this case is going to be Kota Kinanbalu !!!!
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Comments

miamifritz
miamifritz on Apr 27, 2008 at 05:26PM

Sounds like an aquarium!
Great report, except for the part about the breaking down of Hector infastructures. Let me know if we need to have the wheel chair assistance folks at the gate upon your eventual arrival. I have this visualization of a limping Hector barely making it around until a boat hits the dive site and boom he's in the water! I loved the Bar and music mix part, too bad CDs aren't on sale 'after the show'. That sounded like worth the experience.
No diving this weekend, Did go to RSMAS on Thursday to here Lad talk about the Lionfish invasion. Had no idea it was already so big, some reefs already in the Bahamas, 100s in just a few meters. Lad did great with talk and questions, really knows his stuff. Take care, stay healthly, keep updates coming when you can!

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