Day 1 at Sipidan Island

We started the day at 7.am, had breakfast and headed for dive shop to gear up. Took group photos for Malaysia diving Committee. Got our gears on the boat and headed for Sipidan Island. Ride was about 25minutes. After registering our arrival at military post, we headed off for the first dive for the day.

1st dive at Barracuda point. Water was unbelievably clear. Visibility must be around 60m. Schools of Jack fish, batfish, barracudas, turtle and white tip reef sharks. Drop off wall dive. Very rich in coral life and huge reef fishes. It’s just beautiful, no wonder other divers keep raving about how fantastic the dives at Sipidan was. Now the long and tedious logistic to get her is worth it. This is the best dives I have ever had. Wish I had more air to be with the marine life. God really look into details.

2nd dive at South point. Again schools of Jacks and bump head and loads of fishes that I do not know their names.

3rd dive at Turtle cave. There are so many turtles around its amazing. Some sleeping some posing for photo and some swimming up for the next breathe. Some cute while others ugly.

4th dive back to barracuda point. This time without my camera. Battery flat. Anyway, dive was just as nice, this time more time to look around and admire God’s creation and his attention to details. No species is alike.

Average depth is about 25m and 50minute for all the four dives.

Very satisfying dive. One of the best. Definitely will recommend it to all divers.


Dennis

Sipidan dive trip at Mabul Resort

It has been a long day of travel, KL to Tawau, followed by car transfer to Semporna.
Spend overnight at the only Seafest Hotel. It’s basic but pleasant.

Early morning boat transfer at 6.45am. Ride was excellent on a 200 horse outboard engine was about 25 minutes. So looking forward to my chaparral that is coming in October.

On the journey here, I allowed my mind to go through various thoughts and flashbacks. Flashbacks on the decisions that I have made that have changed my life. One think that I have thought through is that I need to consciously reframe my mind to manage my intentions in life. I need to make a decision to move my desire from the landscape of my mind into the realm of reality. Think most of us have learnt that unless you make the decision that things will be different, they most decidedly won’t be.

One of the intentions is to learn to appreciate my family that God has given me. I will consciously make an effort to list a few blessings each day in my life. This time away from them has allowed me to appreciate Shirley and Shannon even more. I missed them dearly.


The approach to Mabul Resort was nice and scenic. We pass the kapalai resort and the water village on the way. The wait has finally arrived. The long talked about Sipadan is finally in sight.

The boat arrived and beached for us to disembark. Went straight in for breakfast and brief.

1st dive was a check out dive at Ray point. Visibility was incredible. Something in the range of 50-60m. Did not bring my camera as its was a checkout dive. However we spotted turtle, blue spotted ray, croc fish, box fish and loads of reef habitats. This dive is very nice. Slight current drift as we glaze through the slopping reef. Some divers saw eagle ray.

2nd dive was at the house reef of the water village. As we descent down to 18m, schools of trevally started swimming pass us. The sight was beautiful. In the midst of it, emerge the bumphead fish. Not exactly as big as the ones in Manado, but big enough to awe any diver on the second dive. Visibility was about 15-20m. white sandy bottom reflects light to improve the visibility. Weather today was drizzling since morning.

Skipping the 3rd dive. Since its going to be house reef site.


Dennis Low

Day 4

Hi, am back.

1st Dive at Barracuda point, which was a combination of slopping reef and wall. Depth is about 30 meters. Saw many giant bump head parrot fish, barracudas and even a 2m sea snake. The coral life is rich and well populated with puffer fish, damsels, angels fishes, jacks, and lobsters.

2nd dive at Odessea point 1.this is another muck dive site, which is populated with lionfish, pipe fishes, clown lobsters. Bottom is very fine sand, which if divers not careful, could stir up sand and reduce the visibility.


This trip on the whole is awesome and fun. Great dive sites that never fail to surprise even the most seasoned divers. It just enchanting, a definite must dive place.

Back at the resort at about 14.30hrs, had a quick lunch and shower before we head out to the spa for some good old two hours traditional shiatsu massage in the town. Guess what, it felt great, every joints and contractile organ in body conditioned and toned.

We had seafood dinner at the local restaurant, somewhere in Manado city. Transfers between the resort and Manado city is about 25 minutes by car.

Back to the resort for the grand finale! The usual divers last night brags of what they saw and how awe they are by the variety of creatures of different sizes and shapes.

We are leaving tomorrow afternoon for flight back to Singapore.

Next dive trip in Sipidan, 2 days later…..

Day 4 morning

'Slept like a pig', it must had been the 4 dives and remaining nitrogen in the body that caused it. In the morning, I woke up very fresh and energized. The mornings in Cocotinos resort has a certain tranquility that is enchanting and blissful. It’s certainly a place to be if you need to chill off from the rush, honking city in Singapore.

The last few days had been very refreshing, freeing mind from the daily work. It also allows me to think about the journey of life and aligning myself towards my goals.

Divers on this trip are seasoned. Most of them have at least 100 dives under the belt.
All from different walks of life from accounting to bankers and shippers all through to tire salesman. All are very pleasant and guess all are doing what I did, getting away to unwind from work.

One thing that stand out are the way their names are spelt, Joeie, Antoinette, Tok Li… etc. There is a bond among them. I think this is one of their many dive trips together. I, though a newbie, did not have any difficulty blending in as they are warm and approachable.

We spent most of the evenings after dinner looking at the photos taken during the dives. I must say, some of the shots are spectacular.

Ok 6.59am, need to freshen up for breakfast and get ready for the next two dives.

See yah soon after the dives.

Day 3

Manage to do 4 dives today. Lekuan I, Aba point, Tiwoho and the resort house reef.

Once again it’s full of surprises. Manage to get a shot at the creature which is only 2cm and as thin as a piece of string, this diminutive syngnathidae swims like a sea dragon but holds into small hydroid or algae with a prehensile tail. Loads of unusual nudibranches dancing to the flow of the current.

Saw "hairy" crab, squid, lionfish, turtle and some species which I have no idea that they are called. Will leave it to you to decide what they are.

Day 2

Woke up at 5.30am this morning, awaken by the muslim morning prayers. Set off early to Banka island which is about 2 hours boat ride from the resort. Had breakfast at 6.00am and set off at 7.am felt that it's abit too early, but having been to the dive sites today, its well worth the cause. Look at the squid, some kind of "orang utan crab", nudibranch, morray eel and the pygmy seahorse.

On the way back, the boat ride was graced by the beautiful sunset. It certainly brings back loads of memories from the days at sea.

What can I say, "a picture is worth a thousand words".

Day 1

In the midst of a beautiful dream, I heard the distance cock crows and bird chirpings waking me up into the awesome sunrise. “Is this nature’s way of ushering in a new day?” I thought. “I got to bring my family here then”

Gosh! It’s only 6am in the morning. Drag my self out of bed, strolled down by the pool next to the beach front and onto the breakfast lounge area to enjoy my coffee and the panoramic breathtaking sunrise against the calm sea with the backdrop of Bunakan Tua.

“This can only get better!” First dive at 8.30am after breakfast and a good dump before the dive.


1st dive Fukui

Big disappointment, nice site but the currents today were too strong. Could not snap any good pictures. Basically a sloping reef with depth up to 25 meters. Visibility was very good though at around 20m.
Spotted sharks, barracuda and the infamous giant clams.


2nd Dive Lekuan II

Wall dive with clear visibility of around 25m, once again the currents were too strong for any good shot. Its also cold with temperature down to 23 degrees. Struggling to get out of the cold currents into warmer waters. First drop down to 25m and started hovering along the walls gradually drifting up.

Spotted turtle midst the rich corals and reef fishes.


3rd dive Gabet

Best dive of the day. Visibility was up to 20m. Basically swam around the radius of about 20m. Loads of macro stuff. Manage to snap some great shots.

On the way back to the resort, tide was low. We had to walk back like 50m from the dive boat. Shallow water up to knee high.

Swam the pool and ate titbits while awaiting for the beautiful sunset to usher in the evening.

Dennis Low

Arrival at Manado

The long awaited Manado trip had finally arrived. The flight was greeted with beautiful stewardesses and smiles throughout the flight, which was very pleasant. Transfer from airport to the Cocotinos resort was about 30 minutes.

Cocotinos resort is deeply embedded in the midst of a small laid-back kampong. Villagers eagerly greeted us with wide smiles on the way in. We weren’t too impressed with the resort entrance, but as we passed the front gates, it’s like walking through a time transformation tunnel. It is beautiful and rustic. My mind and body was immediately soaked in a very pleasant blend of Javanese décor and a nice beach front, view reflecting a certain elated harmony with nature.

I was just thinking “these five days is going to be just excellent” and it actually turned out to be exactly what I had imagined during the 3-months wait.

“Thanks to my family for a short break to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit”. I thought. “It doesn’t hurt anything to give me a temporary reprieve from slogging through the bottomless abyss of making calls in a volatile market to meet my trader’s constant demands.”

The reason for blogging is not about me. I share theses blogs to simply to illustrate the evolution of my experience in embracing the joy of scuba diving and the treats can come along. One has to stop to smell the roses and have time to reflect on the journey of life. Giving thanks to GOD for his creation, live life with more positive results, making conscious choices about how we think and what to focus on.... in order to take action in your life.

Currently chilling out by the pool, sipping cocktails with a scenic sunset sea-view, allowing my mind, body and spirit to unwind.

Manado Dive Trip

Hurray !!!! 2 more days to departure to Manado. Iam staying at the Cocotinos resort and guess what, there is free internet access at the bar/restuarant area.... makes my day for updating my blogs during the evenings chilling out watching the sunset. Definitely going to be worth the while.

Will be updating the daily dives, and am also trying out my new inon macro lens using my canon G7.

Exciting itinerary as follows

22-08-2008 (Friday)
07.25am Meet at Airport for group checkin
09.25am Singapore to Manado via Silkair, MI 274
01.05pm Arrive and transfer to Resort
02.15pm Lunch at resort cafe .... rest ... spa (at own cost)
07.00pm Dinner at resort cafe

23-08-2008 (Saturday)
07.45am Breakfast at resort cafe
08.30am Depart for dives
07.00pm Dinner at resort cafe

24-08-2008 (Sunday)
07.45am Breakfast at resort cafe
08.30am Depart for dives
07.00pm Dinner at resort cafe

25-08-2008 (Monday)
07.45am Breakfast at resort cafe
08.30am Depart for dives
07.00pm Dinner at resort cafe

26-08-2008 (Tuesday)
07.45am Breakfast at resort cafe
08.30am Depart for dives (to end last dive by 1.45pm)
07.00pm Dinner at resort cafe / optional dinner at own cost in a local Ikan Bakar Restaurant, must try this, very good and yummy)

27-08-2008 (Wednesday)
08.00am Breakfast at resort cafe
09.00am Last minute packing
11.00am Depart resort to airport
01.45pm Manado to Singapre via silkair, MI 273
05.10pm Arrive and home sweet home

Divesafe.....

Dennis