Dive experience: All divers must have at least an Advanced Open Water certification and can dive with good self-control of buoyancy. Visitors must bring their passport and diving license with them, or a printed copy of it, for presentation at the Sipadan Island marine park office. The Sipadan authorities do not accept digital copies of diving licenses and divers that are unable to verify their qualification status will not be permitted to dive.
Note: all trips are confirmed departures with a minimum of 2 guests (with each guest booking the Single Occupancy package).
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, marine park fees and permits, Semporna jetty fees, scuba diving equipment, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) (3-4 divers per DM), tanks, weights and weightbelts. Goods & Services Tax (GST 6%) is included in our prices (unlike some other agency websites that you might visit), all taxes.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Tawau airport or hotel to Semporna transfers (except for whole boat charters) . Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash only, MYR, USD, EUR).
Dive computer, torch and surface maker buoy (SMB): These are not available for rent. Guests should bring their own. If you dive without a computer your depth will be limited to that of the dive guide.
Optional extras: Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, extra dives at Sipadan/Mabul on Day 1 (US$ 339, minimum of 2 guests, paid in advance), dive insurance, SMB,. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.
How to get there: You will board the MV Celebes Explorer 9 in the afternoon every Tuesday (3 and 7 night cruises) and Friday (4 night cruises). You need to be in Semporna at the operator's office (opposite Starbucks) by around 15:00 hrs in readiness to depart around 15:30 hrs. You will be transferred by speedboat to the liveaboard to overnight onboard in Mabul, so you must make the 15:00 hrs check-in.
Note: land transfers are not provided. Guests are responsible for their own arrival at Semporna jetty. The road journey from Tawau Airport takes around 75 minutes. There are taxis and buses available at the airport (expect to pay approx. MYR 100-150).
Tawau arrival flights:
From Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia Airlines: MH2121 (07:40-08:30), MH2137 (12:30-13:20), Air Asia: AK 6272 (07:30-08:25), AK 6260 (09:10-10:05), Malindo Air: OD1700 (10:55-11:45)
From Kuala Lumpur: Air Asia: AK5746 (07:25-10:15) , Malaysia Airlines: MH 2660 (07:30 - 10:20).
From Sandakan: Malaysia Airlines MH 3093 (09:20-10:00)
Tawau departure flights:
To Kota Kinabalu: Malindo Air: OD 1701 (12:25-13:25), OD 1703 (18:30-19:30), Air Asia: AK6261 (10:30-11:25), AK 6263 (15:05-16:00), Malaysia Airlines: MH2122 (09:15-10:05), MH2134 (18:15-19:05)
To Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia Airlines: MH 2661 (10:45-13:25), MH2665 14:15-17:00), Air Asia: AK5747 (10:40-13:35), AK5749 (15:40-18:30)
At the end of the cruise, the liveaboard will be back in Semporna in the evening of 2nd last day of the trip to overnight there. On the disembarkation day, you can check out anytime before 8:30 hrs. 8:30 hrs is the latest check out time. If the liveaboard is staying in Mabul, you will be transferred by speedboat at 06:00 hrs back to Semporna, arrive 06:45 hrs. Alternatively, you will awaken on board in Semporna and disembark after breakfast at around 08:30 hrs.
The last dive of the trip will be before 14:00 hrs on the penultimate day. This operator has a stricter than usual policy on no flying after diving and they recommend flights after 14:00 hrs to ensure a full 24 hrs from the end of the last dive. The operator may refuse diving that is within 24 hrs of your scheduled flight time.
Add-on: If you arrive by 7:45 am on the start date, you can opt for an extra day of diving at Sipadan: You will make 2 dives at Sipadan and 1 dive at Mabul, then be transferred direct to the boat afterwards to join the cruise.
Non-diver rate: There is no non-diver discount.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of approximately 45% of the published price depending on length of cruise.
Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 9 guests and 1 extra person may join the cruise free of charge (10+ guests).
Whole boat charter rate (per night): Discount varies slightly depending on length of cruise. Please ask us for details. Full charters also include a pick up at Tawau Airport and return transfers to the port in Semporna on scheduled embarkation and disembarkation days.
Add-on package: If this is your only planned visit to Borneo Malaysia then we strongly recommend that you consider a 2 night add-on stay at the Sepilok Nature Resort, Sandakan in Sabah, to allow you to witness the not-to-be-missed jungle adventures with Orangutans.
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