MABUL, BORNEO

Year:2002

Borneo's connoisseur's choice for 'macro critters'

Season: Year-round diving (optimum: April-October)

Visibility: 15-30 metres

Water temperature: 27-30°C

Mabul island, and its neighbour Kapalai, are situated only a 15 minutes boat ride from the world famous Sipadan island and yet provide a completely contrasting type of diving and accommodation. This small island, complete with its village of local fishermen, will appeal especially to divers seeking the fantastic variety of smaller marine life that can be found in these waters. Unlike Sipadan, around Mabul and Kapalai there are no drop-offs, there are no swirling hurricanes of jacks or barracudas and it is unlikely that you will encounter the sharks and turtles that make Sipadan diving so exciting. There is still much evidence of past dynamite fishing and many reefs bear witness to this destructive method. So why do people visit Mabul when Sipadan may, at first, be a more obvious choice? Quite simply, around Mabul and Kapalai there is a truly remarkable variety of small and strange creatures to see. The unique habitat has provided a wonderful place for fish and invertebrates to live without the pressure from the predators that are commonly associated with pristine reefs. This, coupled with the shallow water, and a team of divemaster so dedicated to demonstrating their ability to find the unusual that they undertake a month's training and orientation to acquaint them with the life forms around the island before they start leading dives, has made Mabul and Kapalai islands the place for dedicated fishwatchers, those with a wider interest in marine biology and for the dedicated underwater photographer with the macro lens!

Dive sites on these two islands are usually at depths of between 3-20 metres, which permits unusually long dive times and a unique opportunity to study the ecology of the smaller inhabitants of the reef. The sheer variety of macro subjects is truly amazing, with both fish and invertebrate life in abundance. Many juveniles, often so very different in colour and also in shape from their adult parents, also occur in these shallow warm waters.

Paradise 1, which may be described as the 'House Sand Patch', is home to a school of squid, several species of rays and a variety of gobies, shrimps and very brightly-coloured fish. Blue-spotted Fantail Rays, Blue-spotted Mask-Rays and Leopard Whiprays make this sand flat their home. Paradise ll is home to the elusive and stunningly beautiful Mandarinfish. No longer than a few centimetres, this must be one of the most colourful yet difficult to photograph species as it nips and darts about under the staghorn coral.

At Kapalai (an island about 2 miles from Mabul) entire sections of reef have disappeared due to the effects of dynamite fishing in the past. However, out of the devastation arises some hope: a series of exceptional and unusual creatures have managed to adapt to this new environment and, without competition from larger predators, have colonized the area. Painted Frogfish occur in many different shades and colours, perfectly matching their background and offering a real challenge to those attempting to see them. Ornate Ghost Pipefish can be found here in their elegant wedding dress-like white form, amongst others. Smart black-and-white striped Humbug Dascyllus hover over areas of surviving staghorn coral.

Ribbon Valley, as its name would suggest, is populated by Ribbon Eels that appear to snarl mildly at one from their tiny lairs. Both the gorgeous blue adults, with their gaping yellow mouths and the more difficult-to-find juveniles in elegant black will pose happily while the underwater photographer lines up his shot.

Important: Divers staying on Mabul have only limited access to the dive sites at nearby Sipadan due to the sensible new regulations of the Sipadan Marine Park. For the full 'Sipadan Experience' we recommend combining a stay on Sipadan itself with a stay on Mabul. However, about one in three dives for those staying at Mabul are, weather permitting, made at Sipadan, so it does offer those unwilling to put up with the rather simple accommodations available on Sipadan itself a chance to see the wonders of Sipadan in considerable comfort.

WATER VILLAGE

The full title of the de-luxe dive centre on Mabul is 'Sipadan Water Village'. In order to make sure that clients do not book this accommodation thinking it is on Sipadan itself, we have, for simplicity's sake, used the name 'Water Village' in preference to Sipadan Water Village.

The lovely 'floating' cottages of Water Village are perched on stilts above the sea. Each individual cottage is built from local wood, with the floor of the cottage just one metre above the sea. As you walk out on to the verandah and hear the water lapping, you can watch the fish dart through a carpet of seaweed dotted with starfish in a peaceful underwater garden. Fish-watch from the balcony in the first light of the day, or the last red-orange light of sunset!

Each spacious fan-cooled cottage is fully equipped with en-suite shower room (with hot and cold water) and living area with tea/coffee making facilities, refrigerator and hairdryer. Cottages have a choice of two twin beds or one double bed. Outside each chalet is a private verandah, providing a wonderfully peaceful spot to relax and mull over Mabul's fascinating diving. Deluxe cottages have a bath tub and a minibar.

A separate restaurant and bar offers three buffet-style meals each day featuring mainly Asian-style food. Water, tea and coffee along with fruit juice are available during the day and wine and beer are available for purchase after the day's diving is complete. Bottled water is provided in all rooms. Hot snacks, such as freshly baked cakes or banana fritters, are served after dives.

Boats leave for offshore dive sites three times each day, with two dives in the morning and one dive scheduled for the afternoon. The dive sites at Mabul and Kapalai are all within a five or ten minutes boat ride, while those at Sipadan are about 15 minutes away. Shore diving is available on the house reef with permission from the duty divemaster. Night diving is available every evening except Sunday to those with a minimum of 30 logged dives including a night dive. The diving management is of an extremely high quality, with dive staff carrying tanks and BCDs to and from the boat. Simply take your mask, fins and snorkel. The rest will be waiting for you! On return from the dive, your gear will be safely stowed away leaving you to take a fresh water shower on the dive deck. A constant supply of fresh towels are available at the dive centre (apart from the room towels in your bungalow, which are replaced daily).

Mabul is reached by taking a short flight from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau on the east coast of Sabah and then a road transfer of about one and a half hours to the small port town of Semporna. From there it is about 45 minutes by boat to the island. Alternatively, it is a 15 minutes boat ride from Sipadan.

£769 (non-divers: £517) for 4 nights

£903 (non-divers: £587) for 5 nights

£1037 (non-divers: £657) for 6 nights

£1171 (non-divers: £727) for 7 nights

Includes:

·Scheduled flights Kota Kinabalu/Tawau/Kota Kinabalu and road/boat transfers between Tawau and Mabul.

· 4, 5, 6 or 7 nights full-board accommodation, including tea, coffee and cold drinks, on a twin/share basis at Water Village.

· 3, 4, 5 or 6 full days of diving (3 boat dives daily and house reef shore diving with permission from the duty divemaster including night dives), dive guide on boat dives, cylinders and weights. Those arriving on Mabul in the morning will also be able to have one or two dives on the day of arrival.

· Sipadan Marine Park diving permit.

Additional Nights: £134 (non-divers: £70).

Single Occupancy Supplement: A 50% supplement applies.

Deluxe Cottage Supplement: 25% on top of the applicable non-divers rate.

Deposit: £150

FLIGHTS

The airfares shown are the least expensive fare category available at the time of going to press. We will quote you the airfare applicable, based on current fare levels and booking class availability, at the time of booking. The usual airfare deposit is £100.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES

Depart on Monday or Friday morning from London (Heathrow) bound for Kota Kinabalu via Singapore, arriving the following morning. Continue via Tawau to Mabul the same day, arriving on the island in the late afternoon on Tuesday or Saturday. Return from Mabul to Kota Kinabalu via Tawau on Monday or Friday and overnight there at an hotel. Depart from Kota Kinabalu on Tuesday or Saturday morning, connecting with a late evening departure from Singapore that arrives at London (Heathrow) on Wednesday or Sunday morning.

Flights are also available from Manchester at no extra charge.

£616 for departures 1 January-21 March, 1 April-30 June, 1 September-9 December.

£803 for departures 22-31 March, 1 July-31 August, 10-31 December.

Includes:

· Scheduled flights London (Heathrow)/Singapore/Kota Kinabalu/Singapore/London (Heathrow) by Singapore Airlines.

MALAYSIA AIRLINES

Daily midday departures from London (Heathrow) to Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpur, arriving the following morning or midday. After an overnight at an hotel in Kota Kinabalu, continue via Tawau early next morning and arrive on Mabul before midday. Return from Mabul to Kota Kinabalu via Tawau on any day of the week. There are daily return flights in the evening from Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpur, arriving at London (Heathrow) the following morning.

Flight connections are also available from Manchester to Kuala Lumpur at no additional cost. Flights depart from Manchester on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Return flights leave Kuala Lumpur on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

£624 for departures 1 January-21 March, 1 April-30 June, 16 August-9 December, 25-31 December.

£686 for departures 22- 31 March.

£861 for departures 1 July-15 August, 10-24 December.

Includes:

· Scheduled flights London (Heathrow)/Kuala Lumpur/Kota Kinabalu/Kuala Lumpur/London (Heathrow) by Malaysia Airlines.

Business Class Upgrades: These are available on Malaysia Airlines between the UK and Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu at attractive rates. Please contact our office for details.

Overnights in Kota Kinabalu: £40 per night room-only at the luxurious Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort on a twin/share basis. A single occupancy supplement of £40 per night applies. Please note: Airport/hotel transfers cost £7 each way.

SINGAPORE STOP-OVERS

Why not take the opportunity to explore Singapore as part of your holiday? Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines fly between London and Singapore daily and stop-overs are available at no additional airfare. We can arrange your hotel accommodation: for details please see the Sipadan entry in this brochure.

COMBINING MABUL WITH SIPADAN

It is very easy to extend your holiday in Borneo and visit world famous Sipadan island, only a short boat ride from Mabul, with its incredible diving. To calculate the total cost simply add the cost of a stay on Mabul to the cost of a stay on Sipadan, deducting £100 from the total in order to allow for reduced airfare and transfer costs.

COMBINING MABUL

WITH LAYANG LAYANG

Why not extend your holiday in Borneo and combine a visit to Mabul with a stay on famous Layang Layang island with its superb 'open-ocean' diving'? To calculate the total cost simply add the cost of a stay on Mabul to the cost of a stay on Layang Layang, plus appropriate international flight costs and Kota Kinabalu hotel costs. Note: if visiting Layang Layang after Mabul, two hotel nights are required in Kota Kinabalu (one on first arrival, the other between Mabul and Layang Layang, as the flight to the latter leaves early in the morning) if flying with Malaysia Airlines. Two nights (one between Mabul and Layang Layang, the other at the end of the holiday) are also required if using Singapore Airlines.