Mataking Island and Sipadan Dive Trip (28th November - 1st December 2009)

Mataking Island - Located latitude119 degrees and longitude 4 degrees and 35 minute. Is about 40minute boat ride from the main land of Semporna, province of Sabah Malaysia.

The Island is about 40 arces and lies on the edge of continental shelf surrounded by fringing reef of hard and soft coral, In this island there is only one resort "The Reef Dive" Resort of Mataking. (http://www.mataking.com/)

This is a trip that I anticipate for a long long time..... This trip suppose to happened some time around year 2008, however due to my wife pregnant we have to postpone the trip till she delivered and ready for dive.

To reach Mataking Island you can take airasia, MAS or any airline that reach Tawau airport, from the airport there will be land transfer arrange by the resort to take you from Tawau to Semporna which take about 1.5 hours, from Semporna is just another 40 minute boat ride to reach the island.

We are staying chalet room which are consider a better one, overall the staying is great, comfortable and a very friendly staff around. However the price is a bit on the high side considering the food, dive and accommodation.

As for diving...... Mataking is well know as a macro haven, you can find lots of nudibranch, shirmp, lobster, sea turtle and even pipe fish. But please do not expect something big like manta, whale shark, school of baracuda, jack and etc.

During the night there will be some cultural dance to keep you entertain and you will be amaze with the dancer, why? not because they are superb, just because you can see those dancer are the waiter, waitress  and even dive master.....lol....

The highlight of the trip is our 1 day trip to Sipadan island which took about 80minute with fast speed boat from the resort.

Diving in Sipadan is absolutely amazing, the amount of shark, turtle and other sea life you see is just amaze you. Till this trip I have clock around 40++ so far the best is Manta Ray in Thailand, but Sipadan just a different world after all.

Due to the formation of Sipadan most of the dive is a wall dive because Sipadan is basically bottomless (about 600meter deep). Sipadan is the place I will definitely going again because this trip I only able to make 3 dive in Sipadan, In fact I just make my booking  to stay in Kapalai Water Village from 4th August to 8th August 2011.

Back to Mataking....... Like what I said before price in Mataking is a bit on the high side, however Mataking is much more suitable for romantic couple or family that looking for exclusive holiday with some diving and family getting together. For hardcore dives I think with the amount of money paid I would suggest Sipadan, as for me this is much like a annual honeymoon trip so is still not too bad. In total we spend about RM 7k for 2 person all inclusive, in term of exclusiveness still no way near our honeymoon to Maldive but the amount of money paid is also different.

Here are some photo

Redang Island 28th April 2008

Redang Island is one of the largest island off the east coast of Malaysia. Together with nine other island they form the marine park. White sandy beach, crystal clear water and brilliant underwater world make Redang a major tourist attraction during the month of March till October, thousand of visitor from local and oversea flooded Redang during its peak season.

This is the 2nd time I travel to this island and the first time as a scuba diver, we travel in a group of 10 with 5 scuba divers, 1 about to turn himself to be diver and 4 other non-divers. To reach Redang you either take a bus from Kuala Lumpur main bus station or flight to Kuala Terengganu Airport and you need to take a boat from Merang Jetty which approximately 45 minute in order to reach the island.

This round we will stay in Redang Kalong Resort one of the five start dive center in Redang (Redang Kalong) some of  the nice scenery

In total we do 6 dive which cover dive site like South Tip Pulau Lima, Chek Isa, Terumbo Kili, Mat Cantik, Black Coral Garden and house reef of Kalong Resort (night Dive). You can get the info of all dive site in Redang from Redang Dive Site.

Travelling package in Redang usually consist of Full Board meal and usually Saturday night with BBQ dinner, diving in Redang is consider inexpensive and reasonable price. If you want to party at night you can either choose to stay in Long Beach which most of the resort located, or Redang Kalong which is 10minute walking distance away from long beach. There will be party and drinking all night in long beach.

Personally I prefer somewhere quite to get out of hectic city like in Kuala Lumpur. If you need any information regarding diving in Malaysia you can contact me via my email

Some underwater photo