The Sipadan Water Village Resort – The Most Beautiful Pearl of the Celebes Sea

Posted on August 31, 2012 by webmaster

Indeed, the Sipadan Water Village resort is regarded as the pearl of the Celebes Sea. Divers and underwater marine photographers from all over the world prefer this little heaven because here they can find one of the richest marine life ecosystems from the entire Globe. The village is built entirely on stilts, and it is connected to the mainland through a long and wide wooden path. Tourists who are accommodated in the beautiful traditional chalets of the resort can access several famous diving spots within minutes.

The water chalets at the Sipadan Water Village resort are wonderfully designed to address the needs of a wide array of visitors. There are as many as 29 standard traditional chalets available, four grand deluxe chalets, four semi-detached chalets, two deluxe ones and six junior chalets. All of the chalets are extremely cozy and spacious, with their own private sundeck and comfortable chairs. The grand deluxe chalets feature two queen sized beds, an open-air spa pool and Jacuzzi, and a private balcony offering a breathtaking view of the sea.

Moreover, each of the suites at Sipadan Water Village Resort are furnished with private bathrooms, towels, toiletries and hairdryer, mini bars containing free beverages, and wonderful dressing tables and mirrors. Although you are in the middle of the sea, you will have access to all the comfort that you need. When you make your reservations, you just need to inform the staff members regarding what your needs are in terms of accommodation, and they will surely appoint the best type of dwelling that suits both your needs and available budget.

The Sipadan Water Village Resort offers several extra facilities such as restaurants an bars, and you can find here a mini mart as well. At the mini mart, you will find a huge selection of traditional souvenirs that you can take home. Overall, the prices for the extra services and the facilities on the island are extremely advantageous.

Travelers from everywhere can reach the island quite easily, as there are direct flight connections from many internationals airports such as Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Cebu, Seoul, Taipei, Manila, Brunei or Hong Kong.

Scuba diving in this area equals an amazing, dream-like adventure. Here is the place to meet barracudas swimming above the amazing corals, blue spotted stingrays, clown fish, and parrotfish, and you can even spot the almighty reef shark. There are four world-renowned diving spots in the area, nearby the Sipadan Island to be more specific, and if you love scuba diving, you should not miss these places: the Barracuda Point, White Tip Avenue, Coral Gardens and Turtle Tomb. However, those of you not initiated in scuba diving can try out the wonderful snorkeling adventures.

Of course, you should also check out some other famous diving spots on the islands of Mabul and Kapalai. In Kapalai especially, there is a renowned underwater paradise for photographers, called the Mandarin Valley.
The Sipadan Water village resort is definitely the spot to plan your next vacation, especially if you want the ultimate pampering and relaxation on one of the world’s most exotic islands!

The Sipadan Water Village Resort – The Ultimate Luxurious and Romantic Vacationing Spot

Posted on August 29, 2012 by webmaster

The Sipadan Water Village Resort is located on the wonderful island of Mabul, in Malaysia, and it is the place where most divers heading to Sipadan lodge. The island of Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, and it rises 2,000 feet above the sea level. Here one can find a fantastically rich marine life, with well over 3,000 species of corals and fish. The island is also regarded as one of the best diving destinations in the world.

The Water Village resort features amazing Bajau architecture, with luxury vacationing cabins that have traditional palm thatched roofs. The most interesting fact about this marine resort is that it is entirely built over the sea. The chalets are built on ironwood stilts, and the village is connected to the island of Mabul through an extremely long wooden pier. The Sipadan Water Village Resort is the perfect vacationing spot for newlyweds, families with young children, amateur and professional divers and groups of friends who just wish to spend a relaxing sojourn on an exotic little island.

It is extremely easy to get around on the island, as all the accommodation areas are connected by wooden paths. Here you will surely not need to rent a car or a scooter in order to discover the beauties of the island. You can choose to spend a wonderful morning by watching the colorful fish in their natural habitat right from the balcony of your chalet, while in the afternoon you can go on a diving session and immerse in the azure waters to admire all these marine beauties up close.

The Sipadan Water Village Resort offers you several accommodation options. There are the traditional chalets available, and there are the luxury accommodations with own Jacuzzi and spa facilities. Everybody can basically choose whatever fits their needs and available budget.

The Sipadan Water Village Resort is like a small luxury town where all the important facilities are accessible extremely easily. There is a huge open-air restaurant just a few steps away from the chalet you are renting, where they serve a wide array of Asian cuisine delicacies. In addition, there are many exotic and cozy bars where you can spend your evenings sipping on your favorite cocktail. Some basic beverages such as fresh aromatic tea, milk or coffee are available free of charge, and if you have any special requirement for a beverage or food, you just need to ask the bartender or the chef and they will do their best to prepare them for you.

At the resort, you will have the chance of disconnecting yourself from the real world a little bit and focusing only on relaxation and on having an excellent time with your dear one, with your family or your friends. Enjoy a wide palette of personalized services, and forget about the everyday schedules, tasks and stress. When you come to the Sipadan Water Village resort, you will truly be able to leave all your worries behind and, instead, recharge your batteries with the energy you need to start over when you return home.

The Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort – The Perfect Place for Spotting Exhilarating, Colorful Fish in their Own Habitat

Posted on August 27, 2012 by webmaster

The Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort is a wonderfully romantic, charming little water village arising directly from the Celebes Sea, Malaysia. The resort features 41 environmentally friendly wooden chalets, built on stilts over the water, and offers guided diving tours to a number of extraordinary spots, including the nearby Sipadan Island, both ranked among the top ten diving places in the world.

The Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort – Great Comfort and Excitement in One

If you wish to unwind in a uniquely relaxing environment and spice up your holiday with unforgettable diving or snorkeling tours, the Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort is the best place to go to. You can chose between twin share or triple share cottages, all with bathrooms and beautiful private balconies with undisturbed view over the ocean. The chalets are also equipped with mini bars, ceiling fans and a coffee-maker, to help you start your mornings fresh. The holiday packages come complete with full board meals served in a large open-air restaurant.

The dive centre of the resort provides diving, kayaking and snorkeling gear upon request, and all the dives are assisted by professional dive masters. The resort offers refreshments between the dives organized 4 times a day, with the diving boats returning to the resort between the dives.

Experiencing the Exquisite Beauties of the South Seas

The Sipadan Island, just a few minutes boat ride away from the Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort, boasts 12 dive sites, and it is one of the main reasons that attract divers to this resort. Diving here is allowed only after obtaining a dive permit – 120 permits are issued daily, on a first-come-first-served basis. The diving spots are all named after the key attractions they feature.

The Sipadan Island features the largest turtle population of the Celebes Sea – you can practically swim together with green turtles. There is even a site called the Turtle Cavern where the divers can see the skeletons of those poor animals which lost their way in the cave.

The Barracuda Point offers the exhilarating site of barracuda shoals and the dive usually ends up in the shallow waters of the Coral Garden, where the diver is charmed by the exotic colors of the reef.

South of the Barracuda Point, the White Tip Avenue is another spot with a revealing name – in the depth of the water, divers will be greeted by white tip sharks, accompanied by beautiful manta rays and, of course, turtles.

The other key attraction is the Kapalai Island itself, an area with shallow water recommended for the lovers of underwater photography and macro-dives. The wildlife here is very different from the one around Sipadan: while Sipadan is famous for frequent sightings of larger creatures, Kapalai is well-known as a muck diving site, where divers can meet the tiny, flamboyant dwellers of the South Seas, like frogfish, cuttlefish or mandarin fish.

If you are a diving enthusiast, you are fascinated with wall dives and muck dives, the Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort is for sure the place for you to visit.

The Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort – A Genuine Pearl of the South Seas

Posted on August 25, 2012 by webmaster

Nature was generous to Malaysia, so this wonderful, safe and highly developed Southeast Asian country is also home to one of the world’s finest dive sites – the Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort.

The exquisite design of the resort enthralls the visitor right on arrival. The 41 rooms of the resort are organized into little wooden cottages built on ironwood stilts over the water. Each luxury cottage is fitted with an en-suite bathroom and basic toiletry items, a private balcony, ceiling fans, a mini bar and a seating area to make the rooms even more comfortable. Sipadan-Kapalai also offers a game room area for the tired diver and provides internet access and satellite phones as well.

The guest is served full board meals consisting of fresh fruit and seafood, refreshments, tea and snacks in the lounge restaurant that features a full, panoramic view over the sea.

The dive center of the Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort organizes guided tours to a number of nearby dive sites, offering something for every taste and every experience level. They also provide kayaking and snorkeling equipment and the dives are always led by professional dive masters.

Diving nearby the Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort – an Unforgettable Experience

The climate of the region is equatorial, with temperatures varying between 28-34 degrees Celsius during the day and 22 degrees Celsius at night. The diving season is year-round, with no monsoon period, only short, heavy rains and some stormy weather from January to March. The humidity is between 85-95%, but it is made comfortable by the permanent sea breeze.

The Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort diving operators will take divers to various diving spots nearby, depending on the kind of dives they fancy. Mabul is known as one of the best muck diving sites in Malaysia (divers scour the sandy seabed for the amazing beings that live there), while the Kapalai Island is best for macro diving and underwater photography – the diver can easily take pictures of the tiny, colorful beings that populate the shallow waters.

Sipadan is most famous for being the place where you can swim together with the larger creatures of the sea. The twelve dive sites around the island include the Mandarin Valley, where divers can meet the timid mandarin fish and the South Point, where you can encounter the very rare Napoleon wrasse, the yellow-faced anglefish or varieties of eels and rays. Turtles, banner fish, snappers swim around the diver, and sightings of white tip and black tip sharks astonish the visitor, thus offering the most amazing experience, with memories that will last for a lifetime. It is important to note that diving in Sipadan requires a permit – 120 permits are issued daily. Snorkeling is not allowed on Sipadan, as all permits are reserved for divers.

To sum up, the Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort offers its best to every visitor: snorkelers or diving enthusiasts can indulge in the immense richness of the wildlife, while the guests who just want to sunbathe and unwind can watch the comforting, relaxing seascape.

Semporna – A Gateway to Great Beauty

Posted on August 23, 2012 by webmaster

A city close to the ocean, in a tropical paradise where man has not yet had the chance of ruining everything, can be found in Malaysia, in the state of Sabah – its name is Semporna. If you aren’t passionate about the geography of this part of the world, there are small chances that you ever heard about it. These chances, however, might start to go higher if you happen to be on the hunt for a good place to spend a vacation. This is because the city’s main purpose is tourism and many happy tourists have spread the word about it. If the name is still unfamiliar, read on.

Compared to other seaside cities, Semporna is relatively young, being established by the British at the end of the 19th century as a place to rest for their weary sailors. From there, it has steadily grown into a settlement that numbers close to 150,000 residents. The locals thrive on activities related to the sea, such as pearl culturing. In recent years, the number of tourists has drastically increased, thus greatly aiding the local population, as well as making the town and its surroundings quite famous.

Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the town has become a popular attraction for divers. Because the natives do not use products that harm the underwater environment, at least not in noticeable quantities, diving has thrived, thus gaining the town a solid reputation for extraordinary dive spots.

Semporna has many such places near its shores, but the most famous ones are near the island of Sipadan, just 36 km (22 miles) Southeast. A range of other noteworthy islands, including Mabul and the semi-island Kapalai, are within an hour’s travel of the town. If you are not quite apt for diving, you can take special PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) courses to improve your skills. Also, you don’t need to bring your diving equipment with you, as there are a lot of rental shops around that offer their services cheaply.

Of course, scuba diving is just one of the many things you can do. With the ocean and gorgeous beaches nearby, plus a relatively large town thrown in for good measure, you should not have any problems to enjoy yourself to the fullest.

Furthermore, if your visit takes place in April, you will be able to witness the famed Regatta Lepa boat race and the festival accompanying it. The race is held every year. Also, be sure to check out the Tun Sakaran Marine Park. Its 100.8 square kilometers (almost 40 square miles) will keep you busy for quite some time.

Semporna is also a place with excellent seafood alongside other traditional dishes. Likewise, Chinese cuisine is something that is highly appreciated, especially when it is mixed with some of the local ingredients and recipes. Another highlight is the overall price range of everything found in the city, which is more than decent.

To sum up, booking a reservation on a flight for Malaysia is well worth the investment. Even more so if your destination is Semporna or the beautiful islands that can be reached from the city.

The Sipadan Resort – A Short Guide towards Having the Diving Experience of your Life

Posted on August 21, 2012 by webmaster

Located in Malaysia, a country that in itself is defined by exoticism and beauty, the Sipadan Resort is the pinnacle of that exoticism and beauty. Not inhabited by people, but with 3000 species of fauna roaming around its waters, the resort is the ideal place to dive and study animals that most of us have not even heard of, let alone seen. Since Jacques Cousteau decided to declare this the ultimate diving spot, millions of tourists see this place as the ultimate holiday destination – and the island did not disappoint.

General Information on the island

One thing you must know about the Sipadan Resort is the fact that no one is allowed to stay there at night. That means that you will have to locate and book lodgings somewhere in the vicinity – the closest island being at a distance of about an hour by boat. You will also have to rent a boat to take you there and, preferably, a diving operator to help you find the best spots and also to ensure that you will not have to work too much to get one of the 120 permits that are available each day. Make sure that you also arrange that the necessary meals of the day are available – the island has no place to buy food from – by getting your food to go from nearby places.

Where can you stay?

Semporna is the closest inhabited location and the place where most Sipadan Resort tourists decide to lodge. The small town is recommended for people who are mostly focused on having a quiet relaxing holiday – it does not contain many tourist attractions or places to go out.

If you would prefer a place that is more active in the evening and you would like to do more than just diving or walking on the beach, Kota Kinabalu might be a better place to stay. Do, note, however, that Kota Kinabalu is much further away than Semporna, so if your focus is on diving in Sipadan, staying in Kota Kinabalu will mean much more time (and money) spent for driving back and forth.

Another option would be Mabul Island, a notorious diving destination in itself, which also offers very good lodging places for Sipadan Resort visitors.

What can you do?

Diving is, obviously, the activity that the island is known for and the purpose of most of its visitors. For a much lighter fun, snorkeling is the second most practiced activity on the island, usually preferred by beginners.

The reef is close to the beach and easily accessible – but if you want to go further, a boat can also easily take you to the less accessible sites. If diving doesn’t attract you, you can find amazing things to see on land and the beaches are magnificent. Whichever option you choose, the time spent on the Sipadan Resort will be an experience you will not forget.

Sipadan Resort Diving – An Experience to Try at Least Once

Posted on August 19, 2012 by webmaster

Divers everywhere will attest to the fact that the Sipadan Resort offers the best diving experience that exists at the moment. A short Internet search and forum browsing will prove that. The island has the advantage of not being inhabited – therefore allowing the nature to develop slowly and uninterrupted in a manner that very few places on Earth can compare with. You will see that the extra two hours a day you have to spend getting to and leaving the island will totally be worth it when experiencing the amazing underwater life.

You might be tempted to ask: how come? It’s very simple: mankind interferes with the environment, even when it has good intentions. But, left to on its own, the environment will develop just like in the Sipadan Resort: more than 3000 fish species will be swimming metres away from you. Since no more than 120 divers are allowed per day, the sea animals will not spend their time running away from you and other divers, but are more likely to accept you as a non-interfering oddity. You will bless the rules that had you waiting in line to dive when you understand what exactly they are protecting.

Now, of course, there are certain issues that you need to be careful about. As mentioned above, the Sipadan resort offers only 120 diving permits per day – so the chances of you just going there and diving are not that high if you don’t book in advance.

It’s recommended that you hire a diving operator – even more, it is recommended that, when you do the hiring, you run a check to make sure that he has his permits in order. It’s even better if you’ve had friends who have been diving in Sipadan – they can recommend you someone they liked best.

Generally speaking, the islands will be a great place to spend time and will do more to unwind you in a day than any spa can do in a week.

For those of you where relaxing on the beach and diving is not enough, the locations around the Sipadan Resort will be happy to provide entertainment. Plenty of resorts were built to attract the tourists that flock to the area every day – you will find bars, restaurants, great hotels and other tourists to socialize with, without any difficulty, no matter what your tastes are on any of these matters. Nights can be just as entertaining as the days – with the glaring difference that you will not be able to spend the nights on the Sipadan Island.

In short, if you are even a little passionate about diving, this is one place that you must mark on your to-go map. From a diver’s perspective, but also from the point of view of an average tourist, the location will be the perfect place to one of the best holidays ever. The Sipadan Resort welcomes its tourists all year round – and you will find that nobody left without wanting to come back the next year.

The Sipadan Resort – Tropical Paradise and Perfect Diving Location, All in One

Posted on August 17, 2012 by webmaster

Sipadan Resort is a name that is very familiar to divers everywhere: Jacques Cousteau has made it famous and millions of divers have confirmed it. And, yes, from a diver’s point of view, the island is an ideal place: the living corals that surround it, the thousands of fish species that have made this place their home make for a terrific under-water landscape. But although the island is mostly famous in the diver communities, more and more non-divers come every year to experience the wonder of a literally untouched environment.

The wonderful and, at the same time, difficult aspect about the island is the fact that no-one is actually allowed to stay there – the island can be visited, but not inhabited. So any “Sipadan resort” you will find is actually located on the island.

Traces of previous inhabitants still exist, but time is slowly removing them. This is wonderful, because the silence and the authenticity of the environment will relax you and will charm you. It makes things difficult, though, because that means extra effort to get from the Sipadan resort you will be staying in to the island, extra transportation costs and extra time spent. The closest inhabited places are an hour away by boat – which means that, for each day you want to spend on the islands, you have to spend two hours on a boat.

Is it worth it? Definitely! One of the richest environments in terms of flora and fauna, the Sipadan Island is going to offer you the best diving experience possible on this planet. In fact, the place has been declared the best diving site on the planet by many divers. Unfortunately, only 120 dives are allowed per day (usually offered by the Sipadan resort you will be lodging in) – which may occasionally frustrate you if there are many people waiting in line. On the other hand, the fact that the island is not inhabited and fact that there are not many divers will guarantee you a relatively untouched environment and many fish and sea animals behaving naturally – which could not be guaranteed in a place crawling with divers.

Sipadan can offer you beautiful memories even if you don’t dive. Snorkeling is also a great alternative, but even if you do not want to get into the water, you will still be pleasantly impressed by the sandy beaches and the beautiful landscape. You will spend some of the most relaxing days of your life, away from the busy life of the city, into one of the most natural environments currently existing on Earth.

So, whether you like to dive, you like to do snorkeling, you like to walk in the sun or you simply would like some peace and quiet away from your busy job, this place is bound to please you. Whether you are in Malaysia or in the vicinities, or when you are planning a holiday and you are at difficulty finding some new place to visit, give the island a chance. The Sipadan Resort will not disappoint you – in fact, you are quite likely to never want to leave.

Things You Need To Know If You Want To Visit Pulau Sipadan

Posted on August 15, 2012 by webmaster

If you want to go to a peaceful and relaxing vacation and leave behind the problems of everyday life, then Pulau Sipadan is the perfect destination. Most of the people who visit the island claim that this is one of the most beautiful vacation sites in the entire world. Read the lines below to find out the main facts about this amazing island whose natural beauty will leave you speechless.

Location

The Sipadan Island lies in East Malaysia and rises approximately 600 meters above the sea level. The island has come into existence during thousands of years with the help of living corals. Marine specialists claim that Pulau Sipadan hosts a large number of rare species of fish, sea turtles as well as many coral species and this makes it one of the richest marine habitats in the world. The island is also ideal for diving activities.

Climate

The climate on this island is truly a blessing since the sun is shining brightly the entire year and temperatures range from 21 to 31 degrees. The humidity level is quite high, namely 90 percent. Even though the island welcomes divers all year round, the perfect season for diving starts in July and ends in August.

Travel details

In order to get to the Sipadan Island, you need to fly into Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. Alternatively, you can book a flight directly towards Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, on the island of Borneo. Once you get there, you can fly to Tawau or take the bus. From there, you don’t have much more to travel. All you have to do is take a taxi or a minivan to Semporna. From Semporna, you can easily get to Sipadan by boat.

Diving on the Sipadan Island

The fame of Pulau Sipadan has been boosted by Jacques Cousteau, a French adventurer and ecologist. He has made a documentary on the spectacular marine life existing on the island, which triggered the curiosity of thousands of divers. It is really worth to explore the waters on this island, since it offers the best and rarest diving experiences. Here, you will be able to spot hawksbill turtles, barracudas, hammerhead sharks as well as manta and eagle rays. You will also have the chance to explore a unique underwater limestone cave which features many tunnels, chambers and a turtle tomb.

How to make the best of your adventure

It is important to know that you will need a permit to be able to dive in the waters of the Sipadan Island. The Malaysian government allows a restricted number of divers to explore Pulau Sipadan, mainly because they want to preserve the island’s ecosystem in a good shape. There are just 120 diving permits issued per day and they are offered on a “first come – first served” basis.

Taking this matter into account, it is advisable that you book your trip to Pulau Sipadan well in advance – so start looking for vacation packages as soon as possible!

Discover the Luxuriant Tropical Pom Pom Island

Posted on August 13, 2012 by webmaster

Malaysia is one of the most luxuriant tropical places in the world and one of the top choices from the area is the Pom Pom Island. The name of the island comes from the pom pom tree that is overabundant in the region and has become the symbol of the island.

The Pom Pom Island is a great choice for a honeymoon or for an unforgettable vacation with your family. The luxuriant trees and the atmosphere here will definitely make you forget about all your troubles back home and it will surely be a place that, once you’ve seen it, you will never want to leave.

The Island is located in the province of Sabah and it is known to be a great snorkeling spot, praised by divers all around the world. The astonishing white sand beaches, the luxuriant green trees and all the beautiful diving spots will surely have you hypnotized by this special corner of paradise and will definitely get you talking about your great adventures here for many years.

Pom Pom Island is one of the few islands that you can find in the South China Sea and it is located at about 45 minutes by boat from the Borneo coast. In order to have a well-planned trip and enjoy the boat ride, you will have to do a little research in advance or ask a guide to tell you when the boat leaves the coast.

The region of Sabah is known to be extremely beautiful and every amateur or expert diver will consider it a superb place to explore. Also, if you are lucky enough, you will see baby turtles swimming near you and hatching turtle eggs in the sand.

The exquisite tropical climate will ensure temperatures between 25 and 33 degrees Celsius all year round. The climate of Pom Pom offers hot and sunny days and sea-breezed nights. In December, July and August, there may be some rain showers that will probably keep you in a picturesque sea bar, having some of the most “fruitilicious” cocktails you have ever had.

The accommodation facilities on the Pom Pom Island are exquisite and will amaze even the pickiest visitors. The island has beachfront villas, garden-view villas and water villas built in a traditional architectural style that blends perfectly within the island’s surroundings and that will offer visitors the time of their life.

The water villas are truly an experience everyone must discover at least once in their life. They are amazingly built over the water and offer a unique view of the sea. If, by any chance, you will choose to stay near the beach area, the palm trees will provide the exotic little corner that you have been dreaming of. The rooms and chalets are absolutely astonishing, cozy and most welcoming for any family vacation or a couple’s retreat.

The traditional Malay food served here will definitely enchant you; however, if you are not into trying new things, you can find many places that serve European dishes to suit all tastes.
If you feel the need to spend your vacation in a tropical, exotic, calm and refreshing place, you should start planning your trip to the Pom Pom Island – you will surely enjoy your stay and you will find beautiful and astonishing places that will take your breath away.