Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Explore The Oceans With Sipadan Diving Centre


Do you want to know more about Sipadan Diving Centre? Those who love to explore the world and the different things it has to offer know that there is a vast world beyond what we see. Sometimes it exists in the form of the caves that take us through their spiraling ways and make us discover the depths beneath the surface. For those of us who love exploring the oceans, scuba diving is a medium through which we can get close to the marine life and learn more about it by becoming a part of it for some time.

And sometimes we explore the beauty of nature in the hidden serenity of the oceans. Scuba diving our way through the nooks and corners of the seas makes us discover the treasures they hide and the splendid sights they behold. With all these features and a lot more to offer, the diving center at the Sipadan Islands in Malaysia is one such place where not only the entire experience of scuba diving but your love for exploring the deep blue seas also gets redefined.

The most unique aspect of this diving center in Malaysia is the presence of hammerheads in its water almost 50 meters deep and this is one of the things why tourists and scuba divers from all over the world flock what is one of the most amazing Sipadan resorts. The hammerheads are more often found on one corner of the Sipadan Islands but can easily be found if you go deep diving early morning.

Although famous for its macro life, the islands also have to offer a lot of micro life too such as frog fish, ghost pipe fish, leaf fish and tiny octopus. Among the macro life that one gets to witness here are a large number of turtles and white tip sharks that make your scuba diving experience here all the more unforgettable.

Even with the remote location of the Sipadan Islands, the list of marine attractions here is quite impressive and fascinating as it gives every scuba diver a chance to come across bigger sized fish like a whole circulating large school of barracuda, containing so many fish in it that even the sunlight gets blocked out. Also boasting of a numerous reef sharks, huge schools of trevally swimming by and a large number of passing bumphead parrotfish, this island is the center for big fish exploration.

The Sipadan Diving Centre provides all the tourists, whether divers or not, accommodations and tour packages at amazingly reasonable rates, which include food, the Sipadan permit, three dives under the supervision of diving instructors, three tanks alongside weights and weight belts and boat travel to Semporna and back. The lovers of scuba diving can visit the center at any time of the year but the best time to be here is from April to December since the months before that could experience rough weather conditions and bad visibility. So, why wait? Hurry up, pack your scuba diving gear and dive into the warm, blue oceans of the Sipadan Islands, Malaysia.

Read more about Sipadan Diving Centre on this website.

Discover the Underwater World through the Lens of a Dive Mask


Discover the Underwater World through the Lens of a Dive Mask


Many diving institutions exist. To name a few - PADI, SSI, TDI, NAUI. Whichever qualification you decide to gain, they are all just brands to help you take your very first step to explore the wonderful marine life. All diving institutions basically teach the same methods in scuba diving. One of the basic qualifications available is the Open Water Course. This qualification gives you your license to dive anywhere in the world, whether it be in the shallow waters at 5 meters such as where divers do macro diving off the island of Mabul, a popular dive spot near world famous Sipadan Island, or at depths of 18 meters. Either way, a buddy system is a must, whereby divers are required to dive in pairs. This is one of the safety measures; an international standard, which can save lives.

In general, the Open Water Course involves three steps. It starts off with learning the theory of scuba diving, followed by training in shallow waters (which may be in a swimming pool or a shallow section off a beach). The final and most exciting step for learners is when they head out to the open water where everything is unexpected. There, new divers will get to explore the underwater world of colorful aquatic life, deep sea pinnacles and even sunken ship-wrecks. Having this qualification gives people the opportunity to explore a world which is not normal human territory.

One of the most popular diving certifications is with PADI. Alongside other dive institutions, dive lessons are provided in a way. Learning how to dive is not just about gaining a certification; in the process, one has a lot of fun. For some, learning how to dive is the first step to a new career. There have been many who have, due to sheer passion, gone on to much higher levels of qualifications. With deeper and stronger knowledge and experience, one is able to work underwater in a professional manner – becoming an instructor themselves, or becoming involved in commercial diving.

So whether it is out of personal interest in the wonders of breathing underwater, or as a move towards a new career path, is it important to follow proper procedures. There are casualties, most of which boil down to human error.

This is a normal path to gaining an Open Water Course.

Day 1. Theoretical Knowledge

Knowledge development refers to learning about the basic principles and procedures in scuba diving. This is crucial; this understanding of aspects such as the effects of pressure on ones’ body prepares a new diver to manage behaviour underwater.

Day 2. Confined Water Dives

At this stage, learners get their first experience with using SCUBA equipment. Basic skills, such as the setting up of gear and removing water from the mask underwater, gives one the confidence needed to manoeuvre oneself underwater.

Day 3. Open Water Dives

Last, but definitely not least, are the dives in open sea. With all the theory learned and practice dives, one is now ready to fully experience what it is like to be a scuba diver.

Read more about Discover Open Water Course on this website.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Sipadan Diving - Semporna


Diving in Sipadan is, for many, a once in a lifetime experience. Avid divers and snorkelers from all over the world are willing to spend precious time and money to immerse themselves in the waters off Sipadan Island, and other popular dive sites in the area, such as Mabul and Kapalai.


The marine life never ceases to amaze, even for those who have visited Sipadan time and time again. This tiny island is Malaysia’s only oceanic island, rising 700 metres from the ocean floor. The diversity of marine life is apparent ~ the many dive sites spread around the island serve as home, and transit points for migratory species, for a wide variety of marine life, including fish, turtles and sharks. It is no wonder that it continues to attract a growing number of divers.

Semporna town is the gateway to Sipadan Island. There has been a growing interest in the dive sites in this region, including in the now-protected Tun Sakaran Marine Park which consists of eight islands and is the largest marine park in Sabah. All these dive sites have made Semporna more popular.

A growing number of accommodation outlets have been developed in Semporna, ranging from the Semporna Seafest Hotel which is a typical business hotel housing conference facilities, to backpackers catering to the more adventurous, such as Borneo Global Sipadan Backpackers & Dive Centre. The increase in number of food and entertainment outlets in the small town of Semporna is future evidence of efforts to cater to both local and foreign tourists. There are even a few karaoke joints for those who are in the habit of singing as an outlet to their suppressed emotions!

Instead of serving only as a transit point (in the early day, it was very rare for visitors to spend any time in Semporna, heading instead straight to the jetty to catch boats to one of the islands where they would spend their entire stay), many are now choosing instead to stay in the town itself, making daily trips to dive sites. Not only does this give tourists greater options to decide on which dive sites they would like to dive at (there are 39 islands in total in the region), once back in ‘town’, one also gets to experience the happenings of a small town in Sabah.

Learning how to dive may be on your list of things to do. Sipadan Diving Centre conducts a range of PADI-certified dive courses, including Open Water, Rescue Dive, and Dive Master courses. Top-class gear and equipment can either be bought or rented on site. Manned by professional staff, Sipadan Diving Centre is ideally located so that nothing (food, entertainment and accommodation) is beyond walking distance. Once a certification is under your belt, Sipadan Diving Centre can then be consulted to organize dive trips to one, two or more dive sites in the area, including Sipadan. Often rated as one of the top 5 dive sites in the world, Sipadan is not to be missed.

For those who have an afternoon to spare, there is also a half day river cruise. A half day tour takes visitors into the mangroves in search of Proboscis monkeys, a species which is endemic to the island of Borneo. On the way back, as dusk falls, one may even be lucky enough to see the Giant Fruit Bats in its hundreds, as they set out in search of food. The evening ends with a delicious BBQ seafood dinner at the jetty.

Address:

Ground, 1st & 2nd Floor,
Bangunan Seafest, Jalan Causeway,
91308 Semporna, Sabah. Malaysia


Tel: +6089 785 088 Fax: +6089 784 588

Email:
borneogb@gmail.com / info@bgbackpackers.com

Read more about Don't Miss Sipadan Diving visit our website.