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planning your sipadan trip

We are very happy that you are considering Scuba Junkie for your next holiday, and we know how difficult it can be to plan a dive holiday. From logistics, transfers, what activities to do and what to pack, there is so much to take in to consideration. Below you will find some useful information that we have put together to help you during the planning stage of your holiday!
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Boat transfers between Semporna / Mabul 

We have two boat transfers per day between Semporna and Mabul.

From Semporna to Mabul:
8 am: No flights land early enough to match this boat transfer- so you will need to plan a night in Semporna prior to this transfer. This is also our day trip boat- so you can still join us for a full day of diving or snorkelling with this transfer!
2.30 pm: To catch this transfer boat, please ensure that your flight (if applicable) lands at Tawau airport no later than 12 noon. This is a dedicated transfer boat - no activities possible with this transfer, although you can still snorkel on our house reef on arrival!

From Mabul to Semporna:
10 am: This is a dedicated transfer boat - no activities possible the morning of this transfer. Please ensure your flight (if applicable) departs from Tawau airport no earlier than 2 pm.
4 pm: If you do not plan to dive, please ensure your departure flight is 8:30pm or later to match this transfer. This is also our day trip boat- so you can still do a full day of diving/snorkelling with this transfer. If you are diving on your last day, plan for the minimum 18 hours of no-fly time as recommended by PADI, the earliest you should plan to fly is 10 am the following day.

*Possible additional transfer fee of RM150 each way if no other people are on the boat. 

Please be aware that our transfer boats are also our dive/snorkel boats- these are approx. 35ft speed boats - there is a roof, but the sides are open. This can mean that if conditions are windy, wavy or rainy, there is a chance that you might get wet! Please do not keep any non-waterproof items such as phones, vapes, lighters in your pockets during the boat rides. We highly recommend using a dry bag for these types of items on the way to and from Mabul.

If you are planning on taking our 8 am transfer to Mabul, and take advantage of a diving or snorkelling trip the same day, please do ensure you depart from Semporna swim-ready. The journey to Mabul takes approximately 1 hour, upon arrival; our staff will take your luggage to the resort on your behalf while you visit the dive shop to try on your equipment. Once you have your gear, you will head straight back to the boat and start your activities immediately. Check in to your room will then be around lunchtime (1.30 pm). A welcome orientation will be offered after your dive day at around 5 pm.

If you plan to take our afternoon boat to Mabul - you will be welcomed by one of our staff members who will take you for a short walk up our jetty to the resort. Here you will enjoy a welcome drink while receiving an orientation of the resort, and an overview of your trip.

Mabul Island and our resort

Meals and Drinks
All meals are included at our Mabul Beach Resort. These are served buffet-style daily.

Breakfast is from 05:15 - 08:30 AM
Lunch from 12:30 - 2:00 PM
Dinner from 6:30 - 8 PM
Homemade snacks at 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM on the Jetty

Water, tea, and coffee are available in the restaurant all day, as well as on the jetty when the bar is open. We encourage all guests to have a reusable water bottle to refill at our various stations.

Food, allergies and dietary needs
All meals served at our resort are halal, and we cater to vegetarians and vegans too.
We always try to adapt and change our menu to keep it interesting and use as much local seasonal produce as possible. If you are unsure what the ingredients are in any of our dishes - please do ask our friendly kitchen team. For severe allergies, please let us know in advance at the time of booking. We will always try to accommodate guest requirements as best we can, however, as we are located on a small island with limited kitchen facilities, this occasionally can get tricky!

Please be aware that we do not serve any seafood in our restaurant on Mabul! There are unsustainable fishing practices in this area and therefore we cannot guarantee how the fish will be caught. Please do contact our environmental managers at scubajunkieseas@gmail.com for more information.

Safety
Our resort on Mabul has 24-hour security and surveillance throughout to ensure our guests are secure during their stay. The resort is also built right next to the ESSCOM base (security forces) and also next to the local police base, again ensuring our guests have the highest security possible while visiting the area.

There are no curfews on the island preventing you from walking around after dark, but there are curfews in place for water-based activities. As such we do not allow snorkelling after sunset (usually around 6 pm) and all night divers are required to be out of the water no later than 7:30 pm.

Wi-Fi and Phone signal
We do have Wi-Fi in the resort common areas, however the speed varies and can be affected by bad weather. There is phone-signal and 4G on the island - If you need reliable internet we recommend buying a SIM card with credit in Semporna before heading to Mabul, as this can be difficult to purchase on the island. Maxis & Celcom are the 2 biggest providers, and most reliable connections for the island.

Shopping
On the island, there are several small stalls and shops run by the locals in the village. These are cash-only stalls and they sell things such as snacks and cheap cigarettes. Please note there are no supermarkets on the island - if you are looking for something specific it is best to check for it in Semporna.

We have a small retail shop in the resort for souvenirs, toiletries, and dive accessories. We sell alcoholic and soft drinks as well as some snacks at our resort bar. Mabul Beach Resort is mostly cashless - if you have any activity related add-ons during your stay, they must be paid for by card. We only accept either Visa or Mastercard. You will need cash (RM only) for the following things:-

Beach Towel deposit - RM20
Dorm locker key - RM50
Certain items from the resort shop such as basic toiletries
Turtle adoptions or SEAS t-shirts
Any items from the community market


Check-in

8:00 am boat: Check into your room at lunchtime, approximately 1-1:30 pm. You can also choose to check in after the third snorkel/dive.
2:30 pm boat: Check into your room upon arrival.

All luggage will be brought up to our resort upon arrival in Mabul.

Check out
If going to Sipadan on your check-out day: Please settle your bills the day before and check out of your room before you head to Sipadan, please place your luggage in the check-out area at reception and leave your room key at the key-drop.

If diving/snorkelling on your check-out day: Please settle your bills by lunchtime, and please check out of your room prior to going diving/ snorkelling. Please place your luggage in the check-out area at the reception.

If taking the 10 am boat: Please check out of your room and settle your outstanding bills by 9.30 AM. Please place your luggage in the check-out area at the reception.

All luggage placed in our designated check-out luggage area will be brought to the jetty by our staff. Please ensure your luggage is on the boat before departure.

Planning your activities with us

Refresher Dives
If your last logged dive was longer than 6 months ago, we recommend joining our refresher sessions, which will be combined with your first dive of the day. The refresher will be conducted on our purpose-built platform in the ocean and will not have any additional charge! To read more about what's involved in the refresher, click here.

Courses
Students for all PADI courses or programs are required to sign the PADI Medical Statement. If you have any YES answers, then this form needs to be signed by your doctor or physician to approve you for scuba diving. If all answers on the form are NO then you do not need to do anything before you arrive.

Please check if you are “fit to dive” before you book the course as there are no doctors or clinics on Mabul Island.

Mabul trips
1st dive/snorkel departs: 8.00-9.00AM
1st Surface interval 10- 11AM
2nd dive/snorkel departs: 11.30-12Noon
Lunch Break 12.30-1PM
3rd dive/ snorkel departs: 2.15-2.30PM

Si Amil trips
Depart Mabul: 7:15am
1st dive: 8:15- 9:15am
1st Surface interval: 9:15- 10:45AM
2nd dive: 10:45am- 11:45am
Lunch Break 12noon-1PM
3rd dive: 1.15-2.15PM
Return to Mabul around 3:30pm

Kapalai Island trips
From Semporna, we will first head to Mabul to collect some more guests and equipment before heading on to Kapalai. The boat ride from Mabul to Kapalai takes around 15 minutes. The boat will then remain at Kapalai for the first and second dive/snorkel session, and the first surface interval. After the second session, we will return to Mabul to enjoy a delicious lunch at the resort! The third session will then be after your lunch break.

It is not possible to go on Kapalai in-between diving/snorkelling, as it is a private island resort - please keep in mind there are no toilets on our boats!

Day trips usually end by 3.45-4 PM. The boat that heads back to Semporna is the dive boat, so even if your day is running a little behind schedule we will not leave you behind!

Sipadan trips:
Depart Mabul between 6:00-7:00AM
Start 1st dive Sipadan between 7:30-8:30AM
Start 1st Surface interval between 8:30-9:30AM
Start 2nd dive Sipadan between 10:00-11:00AM
Start Lunch & 2nd Surface interval between 11.00-12:00PM
Depart Sipadan National Park after lunch
Start 3rd dive Mabul or Kapalai between 1:00-2:00PM
Return to Scuba Junkie Mabul jetty between 2:30-3:30pm

What to bring with you

Plastic pollution is not only a huge global issue; it is also a major issue locally. We are actively working against this through weekly beach and reef cleans, but prevention is better than cure. Please do not bring any single-use plastics or styrofoam onto any of our boats.

We appreciate all your efforts to support us in this. Not just at our locations, but wherever you choose to travel.

  • Reusable shopping bags. Single-use plastic is banned from our dive boats - if you wish to get snacks or go shopping in Semporna before you leave, please use a reusable shopping bag. You can borrow some from our offices in Semporna or Mabul if needed.
  • Reusable water bottle. Tap water in Mabul is not drinkable. We recommend bringing a reusable water bottle. Please do not buy single-use plastic water bottles - they account for up to 80% of the bulk we pick up on beach and reef cleans. Please bring your own reusable water bottle with you, which you can refill at our water stations, which are free to use. If you do not have a reusable water bottle, you can buy one in our retail shop both in Semporna or Mabul
  • Toiletries. We do not supply toiletries in our resort rooms - as these small, single-use products are incredibly wasteful. We do have plastic-free toiletries for sale in our resort if you wish to minimise your plastic waste.
  • Reef-safe sunscreen and sun protection. We are proud members of Green Fins, and our dive operations have strict guidelines to minimise damage to coral and marine ecosystems. To further minimise adverse impact to coral reefs, please use reef-safe sunscreen before diving. Sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate can harm corals - avoid purchasing these types of sunscreen. Even better, bring a long-sleeve rash vest, sunglasses and a hat with you - we are sunny almost all year round!
  • Reusable straws. We do not use plastic straws at our Mabul Beach Resort. If you wish to use a straw, consider bringing an alternative such as bamboo or stainless steel with you. We sell metal straws in our bar.
  • Dry bag/day bag. It's a good idea to prepare a small day bag with a towel, possible change of shirt, camera etc as well as a water bottle - the northern islands are around a 45 minute to 1-hour ride away from Semporna, and islands such as Kapalai and Sipadan are around a 20-minute speed boat ride away from Mabul. Our boats have a roof but are open on the sides. To avoid any damage to your electronic/valuable items - we do recommend using a dry bag. We sell very affordable Scuba Junkie dry bags both in Semporna and Mabul.
  • Certification Card. Remember to bring proof of diver certification. An online card, email confirmation, or physical card will all be accepted. If unsure about your certification, please let us know in advance and we can try to help by checking the database of PADI and SSI before arrival. If there is no proof of your certification, there is a risk you would not be able to join our certified divers' group- we will only be able to offer a try dive experience or snorkelling trip instead. This is also a mandatory requirement for all of our guests joining dive trips to Sipadan National Park.
  • Medication. Please be advised the closest doctor and hospital are on the mainland in Semporna. While we do have some basic first aid supplies kept at our resort - they are by no means extensive. Please ensure if you require specific medicine, or prescription, that you bring this with you. 
  • Cash. The ATMs in Semporna can be very busy or even out of cash at times. Money changing facilities are also limited in Semporna. There are no ATM machines or money exchange services on Mabul island. If you do prefer to pay with cash, it is advisable to withdraw or exchange money prior to arrival in Semporna. The only cards that we can accept for payment are Visa and Mastercard.
  • Insurance. We strongly recommend that each guest purchase accident, medical, baggage and trip cancellation insurance. Insurance will protect you from financial disappointment if you are prevented from making your scheduled trip due to illness or flight delays. As for diving insurance, we recommend DAN insurance for all our divers. Our team can assist you with Short Term DAN Insurance on arrival if needed! Please be sure to read the Scuba Junkie Terms and Conditions prior to making your trip payment.

Weather and waves

Weather is very difficult to predict in a tropical country and on an island in the middle of the ocean. Please note that the below is a suggested guideline on the expected visibility and waves each month in the area however weather can be unpredictable and this can change from year to year.

In general diving and snorkelling in the area is amazing all year round and the weather conditions are sunny with a slight chance of rain. When it does rain - it rarely lasts longer than a couple of hours.

Generally, the air temperature is 25-30℃ during the day and 20-25℃ at night.

In over a decade of operating, we have never had to cancel a day trip due to weather! Borneo is nick-named "the land beneath the wind" as we are fortunate enough to not experience monsoon seasons- though occasionally we do experience the tail end of storms from other locations.

Dive and snorkel sites

Dive site locations are assigned the day before based on weather, waves, requests, and where you have already been. If you have a particular dive site request- please let the dive team know!

Sipadan: Barracuda point, Coral garden, White-tip avenue, Mid reef, Turtle patch, South point, Staghorn crest, Lobster lair, Hanging garden, West ridge, Drop off, Turtle cave.

Si Amil: First Beach, Second Beach, Third Beach, Meditation Wall, Treasure Chest.

North Mabul: Lobster wall, D-Wall, Azman's oasis, Froggies, Awas, Seaventures, Panglima reef, Paradise, 2nd wall, 2nd slope.

South Mabul: Stingray city, Eel garden, Ribbon valley, Artificial reef, Nudi nook.

North Kapalai: Kapalai house reef, Cleaning station, Mid reef, Gurnard ground, Siu siu point.

South Kapalai: Black ray channel, Little Okinawa, Lost world, Kapalai rock, Coral garden, Stingray city.

Valuables

We do not advise you to take any valuables on the boats during your snorkelling/diving tours. Our boats are small speedboats, and there is a chance that items will get wet on board.

At our Mabul Beach Resort, there are lockers available in the dormitories, and there are safes available in the private rooms.

Rental equipment

Tanks: Our standard rental tanks are Air-filled, 12L Aluminium, with YOKE valves. We do also have DIN valved tanks available if required. Please advise at the time of booking. Alternatively, we do offer a limited number of DIN adaptors for rental if needed!

BCDs: We have a combination of our own branded Scuba Junkie BCDs manufactured in Italy as well as Mares Rover & Scubapro T-1 BCDs

Regulators: We have Scubapro brand regulators. All of our rental regulators are yoke valves. If you have a DIN regulator don't worry - we have DIN adaptors available to borrow during your stay.

Wetsuits: We have 3mm shorty wetsuits or full-length suits if you prefer a bit more cover. Water temperature rarely drops below 27C!

Masks: Our masks are standardized one size fits all! Please note that we do not have prescription masks available for rental or retail.

Fins: Our fins are closed-heel style (no need for booties!) available from size 34 to 47 (European).

We do also have a few children's masks and fins available, though our range is not extensive so please do check prior to arrival.

For our guests traveling with their own equipment, we have built personal lockers where you can keep all your dive gear together during your stay.

Dive computer rental

A dive computer is recommended by PADI, but not mandatory! All of our dives are guided by dive professionals, and all of our dive guides wear a dive computer to keep you safe, within your limits. If you would like to rent one of our dive computers, please let us know!

Dive computers are included for students in all our PADI courses (excluding professional courses).

If you would like to rent them for fun diving, the rental fees are as follows:

1 Day: RM50

2 Days: RM80

3 Days: RM100

Extra day: RM20 per day

Camera rental

We have Olympus TG6 cameras and housings available to rent both in Semporna and Mabul. We strongly recommend all guests to bring their own SD card or USB-stick to transfer the pictures across. SD cards are available to buy from our retail shop on Mabul.

Please note that camera rentals are not available during Discover Scuba Diving or Open Water Courses. We do not have GoPro's for rental or sale.

Price: RM150 per day

No decompression limits

We only offer no-decompression diving. To ensure our divers are safe at all times, we require all divers with their own computers to stay 5 minutes or more from the limit at all times. We do request all divers who are not diving with a computer to stay at the same depth or slightly shallower than their guide at all times. If for some reason you exceed your computer's limits - please inform your guide so that a prolonged safety stop can be arranged to clear your dive computer. Please note that you will not be allowed to dive for the remainder of the day. If your computer goes into error mode due to you not clearing your computer - you will be required to wait for a minimum of 24 hours before joining our dive trips again. There will be no refund applicable for these missed dives.

15 litre tanks

Our standard tanks are 12-litre aluminium tanks with yoke valves. If you require a 15-liter tank, this can be arranged for all dive locations. Please note we do not have 15-litre tanks available for nitrox fills.

Price: RM25 per tank

Nitrox tanks

Enriched Air Nitrox is available for dives around the Mabul and Kapalai area. We do not offer nitrox tanks for Sipadan dives due to the risk of down currents. To dive on Nitrox, you must show proof of a valid Nitrox certification, and all Nitrox divers must wear a dive computer for all dives. If you do not have your own- you can also rent one. Please note that due to the remote location and only one compressor for nitrox, there is a chance (very small)- that we will not be able to offer nitrox during your stay. We will endeavor to meet your requests whenever possible!

Price: RM25 per tank

Night dives

The night dives on Mabul are incredible, and highly recommended at least once during your stay! All night dives are guided by one of our dive professionals. These are conducted on our house reef sites at Mabul between 6-730pm nightly. We limit the total number of guests on a night dive so please do check at reception for availability! To join a night dive, you must be a minimum open water level certified and have done at least one day dive with us to ensure you are comfortable with our guides and equipment before embarking on a night dive!

Price: RM150 per dive (includes torch rental)

Scuba Junkie SEAS

Scuba Junkie SEAS is the dedicated conservation arm of Scuba Junkie. This was set up in 2009 with the aim of raising awareness for shark conservation in the area. Since then, our portfolio has diversified and we now have six major work areas:

  • Eco-friendly resort
  • Tackling marine debris
  • Shark conservation
  • Turtle conservation
  • Coral conservation
  • Outreach programs

SJ SEAS are based at the Mabul Beach Resort, where we have an office and classroom adjacent to the restaurant. All of our conservation activities are coordinated or run on Mabul - including our conservation internships, weekly beach and reef cleans, coral restoration projects, turtle hatchery, turtle and shark surveys, and major outreach programs with local schools and colleges.

Central to all of our work is encouraging the local community to take part in all aspects of our conservation programs, through both awareness-raising and practical activities. Taking care of an ecosystem means taking care of the people within it too, and taking into account their needs and livelihoods in a responsible manner! Due to the fact that many of the local community rely on the marine ecosystem for food and their livelihoods - many of our projects are geared towards facilitating sustainable livelihoods, for example, the Mabul Community Market.

We are proud to have an extensive portfolio of conservation programs already in place - a lot of hard work has gone into getting where we are today, and it will take more hard work to keep it going. We hope that through the collaborative work of passionate people we can make a difference to our beautiful oceans and the lives of those that rely on them.

If you'd like further information on any aspect of our work, please feel free to email us at scubajunkieseas@gmail.com or call into our office while you are here 😊

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