Frequently Asked Questions

There is no minimum or maximum number of dives required. Most dives do not require advanced knowledge or advanced skills. The only exceptions are night and blackwater diving.

However, advanced certification is required to dive Sipadan Island. This requirement was imposed by the Sabah Parks Department to protect Sipadan and limit diving to more advanced divers, not because there is a specific technical proficiency required because of dive conditions. In fact, some dive resorts offer a package with basic open water, advanced open water, and Sipadan diving, so non-divers can become divers with certification to be able to dive Sipadan.

If you do not have advanced certification, talk to your dive shop about obtaining certification before your trip.

The Snorkeler price is for non-divers, including non-diving companions who won't go in the water, so a diver and a non-diver, or two non-divers, can travel together (and by "non-diver", we mean snorkelers and land-lovers).

For non-divers who enjoy snorkeling, you won't be disappointed. Sipadan, Mabul, and Kapalai are a snorkeler's dream. Wherever diving is available, snorkeling is available. The snorkeling on the expedition is as world class as the diving.

The activities on the islands are underwater intensive. Mabul is a small island without shopping, cafes or other tourist activities. If a non-diver is content with porch-centered activities (reading, napping, internet, etc.), then they will enjoy the peace and quiet of the island. But to be frank, the dive portion of the expedition was designed with underwater enthusiasts in mind.

Other than the strenuous that is to be expected from diving and snorkeling, including diving and snorkeling in currents, there is a section of land between the Kinabatangan River and the oxbow lake the camp is on that needs to be walked. The walk is about 600 meters and the ground is "soft".

The following dive equipment is included: BCD, regulator, wetsuit, weights and weight belt, mask, snorkel, and fins. Dive computers are not included. We recommend bringing your own to record and track your dives.

You may bring your own equipment. There is no price adjustment if you bring your own equipment. Equipment you need beyond your own equipment will be provided.

If you are snorkeling, a mask, snorkel, fins, weights, weight belt and rash guard are provided.

You can certainly bring your own equipment. There is no price adjustment if you bring your own equipment.

Before you decide to bring your own equipment, you may want to check the policies of the airline you use, if cost is a consideration. Some airlines have a baggage exception for dive equipment, some do not.

Also keep in mind that you will need to transport your equipment to your various destinations, including Semporna and the Kinabatangan River.

Night diving is the general term for any diving that occurs at night. Generally night diving involves a guide and divers who go on a standard dive at night with dive lights.

Blackwater diving is a form of night diving. Blackwater diving takes place under a series of underwater lights that attract sea life not normally seen during the day. The dive takes place in deep water and the lights attract life from the deep. Read this excellent article on blackwater diving.

Your accommodations on Mabul are at Turtle Garden Lodge. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then pictures and guest reviews say it all. Information about Turtle Garden Lodge can be found at www.turtlegardenlodge.com.

Over fifty 5-star guest reviews from actual guests who stayed at Turtle Garden Lodge can be found on Airbnb at airbnb.com/h/turtlegarden. Your expedition group, limited to six persons, will have the entire lodge to yourselves along with lodge staff to take special care of you.

After Mabul, you'll spend one night at a hotel in Semporna, a holiday from your vacation, with all meals at your choice of Semporna's best restaurants, including Thai, seafood, Chinese, Japanese and Western.

Accommodations on the Kinabatangan River are at a remote jungle camp, far from any resorts or human settlement. It is clean, well-maintained, and basic: an authentic open-air camp experience, with a communal sleeping area, shared bathrooms, and a shared dining area. There is a bit of "roughing it" to the camp, however, you will have the camp, a tour boat, guides, staff, and this section of river entirely to yourselves.

You will need to make your own travel arrangements to and from Kuala Lumpur prior to and after the expedition.

Transportation from Kuala Lumpur to Borneo is included in the expedition price. Because of the logistical challenges, we do not accommodate individual travel arrangements to get to Mabul. However, if you want to stay on Borneo after the jungle and arrange your own return travel, we can accommodate you.

There is not a price adjustment if you make your own way home after the jungle instead of returning to Kuala Lumpur.

You can request to make a reservation by clicking on the link below and completing the questionnaire.

A reservation requires a 50% deposit. The balance is due 60-days before departure or at the time of reservation, whichever is later.

Because of the limited number of spots on the trip, any monies paid are non-refundable if we are unable to fill the vacancy from a cancellation. If you do need to cancel, we will discuss your options to fill the vacancy.

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