Dive Review of Sipadan-Mabul Resort/SMART Water Bungalows in
Malaysia/Mabul-Sipadan

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Sipadan-Mabul Resort/SMART Water Bungalows, Sep, 2007, by Steven Levin, VA, United States ( Reviewer 5 reports). Report 3545.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This is my sixth visit to the Water Bungalows over the last three years. The quality of the bungalows, food, and operation of the resort remains very high. The resort. SMART has two operations on the island of Mabul. On the main island there are chalets, a restaurant, and dive center. Separate from the main island resort are the Water Bungalows. These are located at the end of a long jetty with a beautiful setting. Each bungalow is independent with a large deck, A/C, mini-fridge, desk, sofa, bed(s), and satellite television. There is a separate restaurant for the Water Bungalows that serves very good food. All meals are buffets. In the morning there are eggs cooked to ordered and freshly squeezed orange juice. Throughout the day there is fruit and cookies. Lunch and dinner features a range of dishes with three or four dishes such as lamb, beef, fish, prawns as well as salads, soup, and deserts. The usual diving program is two dives a day at Sipadan and a third dive at Mabul or Kapalai. Due to the restrictions at Sipadan on the number of divers dive boats leave for Sipadan at 5:30 AM, 9 AM, and 12:30 PM for their two dives. There is gear storage and pickup/dropoff for the divers at the Water Bungalows. Diving at Sipadan offers dramatic walls with large numbers of turtles - Green and Hawksbill. Sharks, mostly White Tips) are seen frequently as well as resident schools of Jacks and Bumphead Parrotfish. There are some sightings of Zebra and Hammerhead Sharks but these are usually deeper. The interval between dives at Sipadan is spent on the beach where sandwiches, hot drinks, and fruit are provided. The trip to Sipadan from Mabul takes about 25 minutes when the sea is flat but can be up to an hour if there are big swells. Diving at Mabul and Kapalai is about little creatures. There are mini-walls such as Lobster Wall and slopes at places such as Ray Point and the Eel Garden. Small creatures can include Frogfish, nudibranchs, flatworms, pipefish, oranguatan crabs, etc. The SMART House Reef is located at the end of the jetty at the Water Bungalows. Tanks are available and you can enter the water from steps down to the water. The House Reef is an extensive area with many large man-made structures. There is a resident school of Jacks, some large groupers, and other small creatures. When I was there three Frogfish were in residence. Getting to the resort involves flying to Tawau which can be done via Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur. After flying to Tawau there is a 1+ hour drive to Semporna (port) and a 40 minute boat ride to the resort. Summary. An excellent operation with diversified diving.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Throughout Asia-Pacific, Australia, Galapagos, Carribean, Indian Ocean
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	45-100 Ft/ 14-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	In general diving is done as a group but there is some flexibility Dives at Sipadan limited to 50 to 60 minutes. More time allowed at Mabul and Kapalai.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	On the boats there is a small bucket in which people put their masks and small cameras. Other than that boats at best have a mat on which cameras can be placed. At the overwater bungalows there are no camera facilities other than a rinse area. Charging and other camera activities are carried out in your bungalow.

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Dive Review of Sipadan-Mabul Resort/SMART Water Bungalows in Malaysia/Mabul-Sipadan

Sipadan-Mabul Resort/SMART Water Bungalows, Sep, 2007,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Sipadan-Mabul Resort/SMART Water Bungalows in
Malaysia/Mabul-Sipadan