Mabul 2007

 

Mabul has a reputation as a ‘muck divers’ paradise’! Translated this normally means a low vis. environment enlivened by some of the world’s oddest creatures:- pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ring octopus and the like. This is quite true, however, around the south side of the island, right by the edge of the continental shelf, lie superb drop-offs down to 35 – 40 metres with excellent visibility. It’s far more like Sipadan but without the big pelagics.

 

There are three resorts on Mabul, two water villages like Kapalai and Borneo Divers onshore. The following description applies to Borneo Divers' Resort. The prices are broadly similar to Kapalai except that we do get a PSAC discount at Kapalai. Mabul don’t charge the Sipadan permit up front, however, they do provide all transfers in KK, so no anxious waiting for taxis at 5.30 am!

 

 

Mabul 2006

In summary:

Kapalai vs. Mabul

Similar Features (and fairly typical of the region).

 

Typical Malaysian dive resort food !

Good and friendly dive guides.

Friendly staff.

Clean and spacious accommodation.

Dodgy O-rings on many bottles.

Reasonable rental gear.

Two Sipadan and one other boat dive per day

Internet

 

 

 

One site in front of the resort, 'Old House Reef', is entirely artificial, being constructed from wooden frames, yet it attracts a huge number of juvenile barracuda and jacks. The numerous arrangements of structures can become confusing. 

A small fishing boat wreck amongst the structures is host to a whole assortment of macro life (see opposite).

 

Mabul Pros

 

  • Superb south island dive sites (20 + metres vis. 35 metre drop-off)

  • Fantastic artificial reef (Old House Reef)

  • Swimming pool and pool bar

  • Aircon

  • Child friendly (land-based)

  • Transfers in Kota Kinabalu

  • Free local boat dive at 5pm as 4th dive of the day

  • Night dives cost MYR 50 per head but will access south side of reef

  •  

Mabul Cons

 

  • No shore diving

  • Not ideal for training

  • Long walk over rickety jetty at low tide

  • Little privacy at sunset bar

  • Very limited snorkeling from resort

  • Boats getting rather tired

 

 

 

 

Ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) and a Giant Frogfish (Antennarius commersonii)

Shona MacDonald snapped the humpback shrimps (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis).

 

 

 

Kapalai Pros

 

  • Unlimited free shore-diving day or night

  • Excellent artificial reefs (small wrecks)

  • Unique setting / ambience

  • Good quality and fast boats

 

Kapalai Cons

 

  • Local diving (other than wrecks) is a bit dull

 

 

  

 

 

You’ll not be disappointed at either place; they offer Sipadan diving, spacious clean accommodation and great local diving albeit different in character.

 

 

 

 

Mabul 2006

 

 

Although not to everybody's taste, I found Mabul fascinating. One site in front of the resort, 'Old House Reef', is entirely artificial, being constructed from wooden frames, yet it attracts a huge number of juvenile barracuda and jacks. The numerous arrangements of structures can become confusing. Shona and I got separated right at the end of our dive and surfaced 50 metres apart in full view of the recently qualified trainees. Oops!

 

Incidentally, beware of sites called 'stingray city' or the like. It means that in 1997, somebody saw a stingray there - it was lost, and nobody's seen one since!

 

 

Mabul is famous for 'muck diving' or the 'Macro life'. Not to be sneered at, world class photographers visit Mabul each year and win prizes. (I'm not one of them! - Ed). A small fishing boat wreck amongst the structures is host to a whole assortment of macro life. Shona snapped the humpback shrimps (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis) making a tyre-tread inspection worthy of STL/3.

Ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) and a Giant Frogfish (Antennarius commersonii)