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Dive Review of Mataking Dive Resort/The Reef Dive Resort - Mataking Isl in
Malaysia/Mabul island

Mataking Dive Resort/The Reef Dive Resort - Mataking Isl: "Mataking Island Dive Resort", Oct, 2018,

by David W., Paris, FR (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 7 reports with 5 Helpful votes). Report 11032.

Photos Submitted with this Report


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Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling 5 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Stayed on Mataking Island for 5 days and 4 nights at the Reef Dive Resort. The resort runs the whole private island, and the comfortable, air-conditioned beachfront chalets with sea views are beautiful, just a few seconds walk to the water. The spacious dive centre is a mostly open-air operation, and the restaurant is open on three sides with a nice sea breeze. The food selection needs improving, but it was good quality and plentiful, the bar was well-stocked, and I thought the service was first-rate overall.

Had one boat trip to Sipadan which is a bit more than 1-hour away trip from the resort and did 2 dives there and it was everything I expected– A beautiful deep wall dive full of big fish like whirls of schooling Barracudas and Jack fish, Bumphead Parrotfish, Giant Trevally and loads of Grey and White Tip Reef Sharks, as well as an abundance of the famous Turtles that Sipadan is known for. Most of the sites had mild currents except for Barracuda Point which was the strongest.

On the other days, I dived around Mataking and surrounding Islands of the Tun Sakaran Marine Park, apart from also having a large gathering of Turtles, these dive spots were all completely different to Sipadan with sloping sandy floors and lots of coral reef outcrops ranging from destroyed to excellent condition. Mataking specialises in Macro Diving and I was blessed to spot some stunning critters like a Blue-ringed Octopus, Scorpionfish, Orangutan Crabs, Mantis Shrimps, Mandarin Fish, Crocodile Fish, Stone Fish, a Sea Moth, several frog Fish, loads of Anemone species and much more.
Websites Mataking Dive Resort   The Reef Dive Resort - Mataking Isl

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Philippines Thailand Indonesia Red Sea
Closest Airport Tawau airport Getting There Flight should arrive early afternoon for same day transfer.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, cloudy Seas calm
Water Temp 26-29°C / 79-84°F Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 25-50 Ft/ 8-15 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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