Summary:

A thoroughly enjoyable trip that raised all the divers' skills and confidence levels.

 

Pros:

Excellent chalet accommodation.

Great resort layout and ambience.

Nice welcome (if a bit cheesy).

Superb dive boat (speed-wise).

Superb dive guide, Mike.

Boat driver was very helpful with the snorkellers.

Friendly and fairly obliging staff.

Good and instant supply of hot water in the rooms.

Obvious police presence was both re-assuring and slightly

  disturbing, but regrettably necessary these days.

 

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Beautiful gardens and chalets

 

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Bumphead parrotfish are a feature of the dawn and dusk dives in front of the resort

Cons:

Entry from the boat wasn't too easy, or indeed safe for the inexperienced.

Housekeeping failed badly during the busy Hari Raya weekend.

Not all the aircons were reliable.

Our transfers were excellent, however, one small van cannot take

12 divers plus luggage; an extra vehicle was needed, and fortunately

  (it seemed) was available.

Mark had a bad experience of a two hour wait for transport (Semporna - Tawau).

Torch rental failed on two nights and thus six divers were disappointed.

Diving: Better than Kapalai, but not as good as Sipadan. The trip to Sipadan is possible, but it needs calm weather, an hour each way and considerable fortitude should the weather chop up in the afternoon (as it usually does).

Click on the picture below to compare Mataking and Sipadan.

 

 

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The acres of bombed reef are awful, however, it doesn't stop an inquisitive lionfish looking for prey, nor the rare pygmy seahorse using its amazing camouflage to avoid it. 

 

Despite the bombed reefs, there is plenty of good diving on the beighbouring islands, no more than 10 minutes away by boat. Pulau Bohayan is a case in point and most of the pictures on the right were taken there. (Centre clockwise - Black-tipped fusilier in nighttime colours; leaf fish, crocodile fish and a turtle. This near surface shot by Anna shows the gorgeous colours of the shell.  Right - the surprisingly common frogfish).

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AATurtle Divers 2.jpg (38895 bytes)  AJCrocodile fish 1.jpg (83401 bytes)

AJFrogfish 1.jpg (32738 bytes)

 

Conclusion:

We were unlucky that our trip coincided with Hari Raya, Deepavali, and the Eskimo new year. However, the resort could have anticipated this, laid enough tables and got extra housekeeping to help.

 

Having a big group was beneficial. It meant we had our own boat and dive guide throughout. Others (three teachers from KL), were shunted from group to group, with different guides and ended up repeating a lot of dive sites. The large group also meant that we could call the shots on the timing of transport. We even reserved a table for dinner.

 

I would go back, however, going as a group helps, and I'd bring my own torch. Great for families.