This dive safari provides the perfect opportunity to comprehensively experience the best of Malaysian Borneo's marine environment and close encounters with the island's most famous wildlife.  Combining diving at Layang Layang atoll, with Lankayan Island and of course Sipadan gives you the best possible chances of sighting everything that Borneo has to offer from pelagics such as sea turtles, sharks and barracuda, to tiny marine life such as frogfish, crocodile fish and nudibranchs.

Since Sipadan has received increasing environmental protection, it is no-longer possible to stay on the island, so travel to sites there is via speedboat from your accommodation at one of our selected waterside lodges on the islands of Mabul or Kapalai. You can also opt to visit by dive liveaboard.

In addition to Sipadan, you will stay at one of our recommended dive lodges on the Layang Layang atoll, located off Borneo's northern coast and also Lankayan Island, which is located in the Sulu Sea, off the north eastern tip of Borneo.

Although these sapphire waters reveal a wealth of natural treasures to satisfy the most avid of divers, Borneo has as much to offer above the waves as below them. No trip to Borneo would be complete without having the opportunity to come face to face with the beautiful and charismatic Bornean orangutan and on the Borneo Underwater Safari trip, you have the chance to do just this. By visiting the world-famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, you are able to see orphaned orangutans, victims of deforestation and the illegal pet trade, being cared for by a team of dedicated and trained staff, who are working their hardest to safely release these peaceful apes back into the wild.

Pulau Lankayan
Travelling by speedboat from the north-eastern town of Sandakan, the tropical oasis of Lankayan offers a wealth of diving opportunities, all situated around this marine haven.  As well as a rich diversity of marine life residing on its reefs, Lankayan is renowned for its rich dichotomy of both large, enigmatic pelagic species and wonderful and interesting macro life; from occasional hammerhead sharks and ghostly manta rays to dazzling nudibranchs and quirky little frogfish hunting for their supper with their own little fishing 'rods'. Finish off your time in Lankayan with a dive on one of the wrecks made by the scuppering of illegal fishing boats, where the reefs have reclaimed what was taken, making these boats homes for secretive moray eels and shoals of barracuda. 

The Layang Layang Atoll
Layang Layang is an atoll of 13 linked coral reefs and part of the 600 or so islands, cays and reefs in the South China Sea known as the Spratly Islands. Located just 300km from Borneo's northern coast, Layang Layang offers extraordinary visibility and a rich diversity of marine life. The diving is characterised by steep walls that descend as deep as 2000 metres and encounters with pelagic species such as dogtooth tuna, barracuda, humphead wrasse and bigeye trevally are common. Grey reef, white tip and black tip reef sharks abound in the waters here and leopard sharks are to be found slumbering on the sand beneath the corals. Turtles and triggerfish are common and with dolphins frequenting the waters above the reefs, diving on this atoll provides an outstanding opportunity to view some of the most spectacular diving in this part of the world. Schools of hammerhead sharks are a highlight which are usually best seen between March - May.

Pulau Sipadan 
Pulau Sipadan is Malaysia's only volcanic island and was made famous by French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau in his documentary Ghosts of the Sea Turtle.  Sea turtles are in great numbers here and divers often meet more than a dozen of these oceanic nomads on a single dive, watching them as they calmly feed and come to age old breeding spots. The turtles here are so relaxed around divers that they hardly even notice your presence. The reefs around Sipadan are in good health, meaning that the waters are rich in hundreds if not thousands of reef species, from long, delicate gorgonians and immense staghorn corals, to camouflaged leaf scorpion fish and dazzling fire gobies, with trevally, jack and barracuda moving around in immeasurable shoals. Sipadan offers some of the best 'wall' diving in the world, with the species rich reefs dropping off thousands of feet in places, just a few metres from the shore.

Pulau Mabul
Mabul is located some 25 minutes north of Sipadan.  In contrast to the steep drop offs, coral reefs and pelagic species of Sipadan, Mabul is renowned internationally for a very different reason.  A 'muck diving' paradise, Mabul is great for macro life, with every hole in the coral rubble and sand inhabited by crocodile fish, scorpion fish, pipefish, frogfish, nudibranchs and octopuses.  Photographers looking for macro-life will be spoilt for choice here, as they watch many rare and fascinating species found in Mabul's sandy marine environment. 

Pulau Kapalai
Kapalai is Sipadan's other near neighbour, located around 20 minutes from Sipadan. It is another macro diving destination with all the species found at Mabul including blue-ringed octopuses, dragonets, mating mandarin fish, jawfish and cuttlefish.  Other sites around Kapalai are likely to reveal humphead wrasse, blue spotted ribbontail rays and bumphead parrotfish.

Malaysian Borneo's islands are jewels in South-East Asia's rich tapestry of marine habitat - and long may they remain that way. The diversity of life within them is of global importance, but like many reefs around the world, they are beautiful but fragile environments that are under pressure. We therefore urge all divers to dive responsibly and safely, avoiding any contact with the reef. 

Price 18 days £3185 per person sharing (valid to 31st March 2013) In April, add £79 pp sharing Optional adjustments This trip is tailor made so it can be adjusted in any way to fit in with your timings and preferences. Some options within the itinerary shown include: Day 2: white water rafting on the Padas River instead of a visit to Gaya Island. Sipadan: as summarised above, you can either be based on Kapalai, Mabul or a dive liveaboard. Our prices include Transfers. All flights within Borneo. Marine park & national park conservation fees & permits. (except Sipadan Island*) 3 boat dives daily except on arrival/departure day with unlimited shore dives. All resort accommodation based on twin share. Additional 1 - 2 dives available per day on dive liveaboard. Use of tanks, weights and weight belt. Unguided night dives for qualified divers with buddy only. Guided trips as per itinerary with English-speaking, naturalist guides. 3 meals per day plus served in buffet style. Meals at all other times as indicated (B,L,D). Tea, coffee and water available throughout the day (self service). Afternoon tea and snacks. Our prices exclude Visas. International flights. Equipment rental. *Sipadan entry fees currently $13 per day Services not listed. Alcoholic beverages. Travel holiday insurance. Camera permit fees within national parks. Tips. Photographs kindly provided by Ralph Pannell, Charlotte Caffrey, Alan Oh, SMART, Albert Teo, Nick Bramley, Lawrence Lee & PSR

 

Access to Sipadan is restricted to 120 people per day. This trip assumes that we use and we will never know until on the day itself whether we can get you to the island, or if your snorkelling or diving will be on Kapalai / Mabul island. To increase your chances of visiting Sipadan itself, we can offer the option to be on a liveaboard motor yacht. This option adds £49 (diver) or £89 (non-diver) to the trip price, but we are currently able to take every one to Sipadan at least once who takes this option. The liveaboard also visits other islands in the area so you may also have the chance to visit Kapalai, Mabul and Si-Amal islands.

Day 1
Arrive in Kota Kinabalu. Private transfer from airport to the Jesselton Hotel - a tastefully preserved boutique hotel.

Day 2
(B,L)
A day to see something of Kota Kinabalu, or if you wish we can take you on a guided exploration of Gaya and Manukan Islands in the Tunku Abdul Marine Park, or a day's white water rafting on the Padas River (for these trips add £49). Overnight at the Jesselton.

Day 3
(B,L,D)
Early morning flight to Layang Layang and begin diving activities.

Days 4 - 7
(B,L,D)
Daily diving on and around the sites of the Layang Layang atoll.

Day 8
(B,D)
Depart Layang Layang on early morning flight to Kota Kinabalu where you will spend the night.

Day 9
(B,L,D)
You will be collected from your hotel and driven to the airport.
Fly Kota Kinabalu to Tawau.

Upon arrival in Tawau you will be driven to Semporna and then by speedboat either to Mataking, Kapalai, Mabul or your dive liveaboard. You will haver a check out dive today and may be able to join an additional group dive. Unlimited shore dives if you have a buddy.

Days 10-11
(B,L,D)
Diving in the Sipadan area.

Day 12
(B,L,D)
You will be taken back to Semporna where you will be met and driven privately overland to a rainforest lodge inside the Kabili Sepilok Reserve in northern Sabah. It is cheaper and quicker to fly to Sandakan via Tawau than it is to take you overland, but this would introduce the need to decompress and reduce your dive time around Sipadan.
Overnight at rainforest lodge.

Day 13
(B,L,D)
You will be coming back to this rainforest lodge later, so you will be able to leave some luggage here if you wish.
You will leave the lodge early to be taken by motor canoe about 90 mins to the island of Lankayan.
You will be able to start diving soon after you arrive.

Days 14 & 15
(B,L,D)
Diving around the sites of Lankayan.

Day 16
(B,L,D)
Depart Lankayan and travel back to Sandakan by speedboat.
You will return to the same rainforest lodge. You will not be flying until the afternoon tomorrow, so you will be able to make best use of dive time on Lankayan Island.

In the evening you will be taken on a night walk through the rainforest, looking out for nocturnal wildlife, insects and frogs.

Day 17
(B,L,D)
After breakfast you will be collected by your guide and taken on a gentle trek into primary rainforest where you will see some of Borneo's enormous Dipterocarp trees. The area you will be in is unusually rich in wildlife since it is the first area into which rehabilitated orangutans and other mammals are reintroduced to the wild. You will also be taken to a Rainforest Discovery Centre and learn about medicinal uses of plants.

You will also visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Sanctuary today before being flown back to Kota Kinabalu.

You will be met upon arrival and transferred to the Jesselton Hotel.

Day 18
(B)
Private transfer to airport for flight home and depart Kota Kinabalu.

Photographs kindly provided by Ralph Pannell, Charlotte Caffrey, Alan Oh, SMART, Albert Teo, Nick Bramley, Lawrence Lee & PSR