We're in Semporna, this town is all about diving and that's what we're here for. The town does not make a good first impression, there is rubbish everywhere, rubble where they pulled down the old market and just left it in the road, and packs of wild dogs! It's a harbour town so no beaches, but some pretty jetties and stuff, and lots of dive shops. But after a while you realise that the place is actually ok, the people are friendly, and there is some good food around.
We read that you had to book ahead to get a permit for Sipadan (one of the top dive sights in the world) as they only issue 120 permits per day and that includes snorkellers but we managed to get some! Yay
We found a great place called Borneo Global Sipadan, managed by an English woman called Ivana and an Italian woman, Lola. They run the outfit from Borneo Global Backpackers. We got a good deal on a room there and booked up for 3 days diving, 3 dives each day. One of the days at Sipadan.
Fri 8
Got picked up at 8am and driven to the jetty, kitted out for wetsuits and diving gear, jumped aboard the speedboat and off we went to Pom Pom. I was feeling a bit nervous as it was our first dive since doing our Padi but Ivana and the local Dive Masters were fab, really reassuring and helpful. It took about an hour to reach the island, but you can see Dolphins, Turtles and Flying Fish on the way!
It was our first time doing back rolls off the side of the boat. Actually I prefer that to the giant stride jump.
In between dives we went ashore to the island for our tea break and lunch break. Everything is included in the price, all food and drinks. It was really good too.
Basir at the wheel. He always called Matt pops!
Sat 9
Today we dive Sipadan! I've hired an underwater camera for the day.
We did 3 dives, the 1st at Midreef, 2nd at Barracuda Point and the 3rd at Drop Off
Dive Master Jeffery briefing us. He was pretty awesome, really funny and had been diving Sipadan for 20 years. He doesn't look his age and he has 7 kids!
Huge schools of Jackfish with Matt in there for scale!
Schools of jack fish, barracuda, and too many turtles to count, plus sharks! Amazing! The currents can be pretty strong which is great, you are pushed along without having to kick, enjoying the view like you are on a big underwater travelator.
White Tip Reef Shark
We also saw Leopard Sharks but the camera had a funny five minutes and wouldn't work. Arrrgh.
There were so many green and hawksbill turtles you couldn't count them all, and some of the green turtles were absolutely huge.
Leaving Sipadan
Matt leaving happy after swimming with the sharks!.....Pippin!
Just as we were picking up afetr the last dive a deadly banded sea krait (sea snake) took a liking to our boat and slithered in to the outboard engine!
We had our dive breaks and lunch on Sipadan. It was a fantastic island. Exactly what you imagine when you think of an island paradise. Believe it or not, the reason it's so fantastic is down to the Pirates! There used to be 5 dive resorts on the island, slowly degrading it with sewage output and stuff, until some pirates turned up and kidnapped 20 of them and held them for a year for ransome. Now all buildings are gone, no one is allowed on the island after 3pm and the only inhabitants are a couple of policemen with assault rifles. It's got to be good for the island so well done pirates ( they only kidnap Chinese tourists nowadays because it's only the Chinese government that will pay the ransom).
We passed through Mabul Island on the way back to Semporna, the locals live in stilt houses
Local kids collecting shellfish
Next day we dived Mataking Island, with a small wreck, lots of lion fish, and some bump head wrasse which are massive, and one lone great barracuda which was easily 6ft long!
Lola (Instructor, she passed her Course whilst we were there) descending the rope to the wreck
Lion Fish
Patrick Star. I loved these Starfish, they look really puffy like Marshmallow
Huge Green Turle with 2 Remora attached
Nemo. These Cown fish are so cute. Their Anenome home was a beautiful bright blue.
Peek a boo
A Stone Fish, they are so well camouflaged, this one was about 3 foot long
Hermit Crab ( zoomed right in)
Matt with Aswan (he called us mum and dad!) he's only 20 and a Dive Master
Happy days
Really pleased with my photos over all, although wish I'd got those missed shots of the Leopard Sharks and the huge Barracuda!
We met some great people who dived with us, Florian and Celine from Switzerland, Piik from Thailand,
Dan from Canada and Matt and his lady from Belgium amongst others.
Sunset on last day in Semporna
We made it back in one piece (phew!). Matt didn't fancy the 9 hr bus ride back to KK so we booked an internal flight really cheaply from Tawau. It only took 45 minutes from runway to runway! Then we had a chill out day back at Borneo Backpackers to recover before our FLIGHT TO BALI!!!
