Resorts
BORNEO DIVERS’ MABUL DIVE RESORT
Resort view at Borneo Divers (Borneo Divers)
Borneo Divers’ Mabul Dive Resort occupies a beautiful stretch of white sandy beach with easy access to the water for effortless diving. Originally built to act as a second base for Borneo Divers’ famous Sipadan Resort during the period when resorts were allowed to operate on Sipadan itself, Mabul Dive Resort is an excellent base for those who wish to dive around Sipadan and as well as Mabul Island itself and neighbouring Kapalai.
The resort is set in a quiet and uncrowded location, so that when you have finished your diving you can relax in peace. As the dive sites are quite close (Sipadan is a 15 minutes boat ride) you will usually return to the resort between dives so you can spend most of your surface interval relaxing on your private veranda. You can also treat yourself to a massage with the resort masseur, who will visit you at your bungalow.
The wooden constructed, air-conditioned, semi-detached chalets are built in local style and rooms have either two twin beds or one double bed and an en-suite bathroom with modern showers and toilets (including plenty of hot water!). Each room also has a ceiling fan, hair dryer, table with table lamp and a comfortable sofa where divers can spend some time checking out their identification guides and the photographers can study their camera manuals! There is free wireless internet connection available, so you can email your photographs to friends in the UK!
The private beach in front of the resort is a great place for swimming, snorkeling or for sunbathing, though a stroll around the island through the cool and gently swaying palm trees is very tempting. The local people are very welcoming and there is always a healthy supply of children ready to pose for photographs. There is also the added luxury of a swimming pool area for taking a refreshing dip, pampering yourself in the jacuzzi or for lounging around with a good book. There is a pool bar serving a range of refreshing drinks.
The dining hall is central to the resort and also houses the ‘front desk’, shop and entertainment centre. Borneo Divers are almost as proud of their superb meals as they are of their diving management. The chef offers Malaysian, ‘Asian’, Japanese, Chinese and ‘Western’ dishes. Try one of the ‘steamboat’ dinners or barbecue specials. Breakfast is cooked to order each day. In the evenings you can enjoy a beer from the bar, listen to the live band, watch a video or enjoy watching the Japanese indulge in one of their favourite pastimes – Karaoke. Don’t worry if this is not for you: you can always escape to your private veranda for peace and quiet!
The dive station is central to the diving activities and just a few steps from the beach. The dive staff are there to carry your gear and set up the tanks for you on the boat. Gear rental is available and there are separate rinse tanks for cameras and videos. Nitrox is available.
All divers must complete a check out dive, which is usually a boat dive at Mabul. Boats leave for offshore dive sites three times each day, with two dives in the morning and one dive in the afternoon. The dive sites at Mabul and Kapalai are all within a five or ten minutes boat ride, while those at Sipadan are about 15 minutes away(diving at Sipadan is subject to permits being available and prevailing weather conditions on any given day). Unlimited shore diving is available at the jetty house reef. Extra boat dives can be arranged locally at an additional fee, as can night dives. The diving management is of an extremely high quality, with dive staff carrying tanks and BCDs to and from the boat. Simply take your mask, fins and snorkel. The rest will be waiting for you! On return from the dive, your gear will be safely stowed away leaving you free to take a shower, eat a snack and relax.
Stays can be of any length. Prices given below relate to stays of seven nights.
Price from about $1655 for 7 nights. Includes: road/boat transfers between Tawau and Mabul; 7 nights full board accommodation (breakfast, lunch and dinner), including tea, coffee and some soft drinks, on a twin/share basis in a Standard Room at Borneo Divers’ Mabul Dive Resort; 6 days of diving (3 boat dives daily and unlimited shore diving on jetty house reef, dive guide on boat dives).
In addition, a Sipadan Marine Park diving permit (currently MYR40, about $12, per day dived at Sipadan) is payable locally. Permits are currently issued the previous day and are subject to a quota, so may not be available every day.
Reduction for non-divers.
Single Occupancy Supplement: From about $812 for 7 nights.