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Malaysia
Malaysia is a country
of extraordinary beauty and contrasts. Geographically Malaysia is two places
- the peninsula of Malaysia and the north-western area of Borneo made up
of the states of Sabah and Sarawak. It has friendly people, long empty
sandy beaches, coral reefs, islands, mountains and hill resorts and an
underwater world second to none.
Malaysia Airlines fly
daily ex East Coast Australia. Travel ex the USA is on Malaysia Airlines
four times a week.
Experience the marine
life of Layang Layang and the exquisite reefs of Sipadan Island. Malaysia
has it all and will leave the most discerning diver with unforgettable
memories.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
CLIMATE: Although
near the equator, Malaysia does not suffer extremes of heat. Days are sunny
and humid, the nights balmy. Monsoon weather affects most of the country
during the winter; Sarawak and Sabah can be very wet between November and
January. The best time to visit is March to October. Average temperature
is around 28 degrees Celsius.
CURRENCY: The Malaysian ringgit
is the unit of currency. One Australian dollar is worth approximately
2.00 Ringgits. One US dollar is worth approximately 3.00 Ringgits.
DRESS:
Light, casual attire is recommended. Women should dress modestly in
public places.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Australian & US passengers travelling to Malaysia
require a valid passport which must be valid for six months beyond your
intended stay. Visas are not required for Australian citizens and US citizens
may stay up to 3 months without a visa, so long as they are not working.
Visitors’ permits issued on entry to Peninsular Malaysia are not
automatically valid for entry into Sabah and Sarawak. Visitors have to
go through immigration again, even though the flight is an internal one.
HEALTH
REQUIREMENTS: Refer to your doctor for the latest health
and inoculations required for this destination.
ELECTRICITY: Electricity is
220 volts.
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KOTA
KINABALU
Kota
Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah and the main port for passengers travelling
to the outer islands. Sepilok Orang Utang Reserve, or trekking Mount Kinabalu
are just a few of the excursions this town offers. The local restaurants
are excellent and well worth trying.
HYATT HOTEL ( 4 star property)
Superior first class hotel, situated beside the South China Sea, overlooking
coral islands. All rooms have climate control, bathroom, hair dryer, telephone,
radio, colour cable T.V., minibar, tea/coffee making facilities and balcony.
Facilities include 24 hour room service, two restaurants, cafe, bar, atrium
lounge, outside pool with bar and children’s pool.
TANJUNG ARU RESORT (5 Star)
This hotel features 495 guestrooms and 52 suites, all of which include a minibar
with complimentary mineral water. Bathrooms have separate showers and tubs.
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LAYANG
LAYANG
Layang
Layang is a coral atoll in the middle of the South China Sea. A sheer
drop of 2000 metres around the rim of the atoll provides exhilarating
wall diving. Soft and hard coral of all types and sizes with excellent
visibility of 50-60 metres afford a majestic view of this gigantic
hanging garden. Famous residents and regular visitors include Napolean
wrasse, Manta rays, Hawk bill turtles, Dog Tooth Tuna, White Tip Reef
Sharks and the awesome schools of Hammerhead sharks. The resort is open
from March - November and closed for the months between January and February.
LAYANG LAYANG RESORT (4 star property)
The resort consists of seventy-eight air-conditioned rooms with private
facilities and individual verandas. THe resort also boasts a comfortable
lounge bar, fully serviced dive centre and a free form swimming pool.
The restaurant specialises in Asian and Continental cuisine, complimented
by exotic cocktails from the bar
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SIPADAN / MABUL
Rated
among the top five diving sites in the world, Sipadan’s reefs are
exquisite and the abundant marine life is vibrant. This oceanic island
has been called the turtle capital of the world. Nearly every night,
turtles make their way up the beach to lay their eggs. The diving program
provides you with three boat dives per day and unlimited shore dives. Most
of the diving is a combination of wall and drift diving. There is no longer any accommodation on Sipadan itself, with Mabul the home of the array of resorts available.
MABUL WATER BUNGALOWS
Mabul Water Bungalows is a new floating dive resort, and is wholly owned by Sipadan-Mabul Resort. The resort offers fourteen (14) wooden-type bungalows built entirely over water. Mabul Water Bungalows is the perfect place for those who like to holiday in sheer comfort.
BORNEO DIVERS
Accommodation at Borneo Divers is set up as chalets, all with views of the beach and the Borneo main land in the distance. The chalets are attractive , comfortable and are constructed of beautiful hardwoods in a local style. All units have twin size beds, ceiling fans and also importantly, air conditioning. Meals are served in the large restaurant and entertainment area.
REEF DIVE RESORT, MATAKING ISLAND
The Reef Dive Resort at Mataking Island is located just 40 minutes boat ride from Semporna, on the East Coast of Sabah in Malaysia. An exclusive diving destination in the Celebes Sea, Mataking Resort offers romantic, comfortable accommodation.
SIPADAN WATER VILLAGE
Sipadan Water Village is a resort beautifully constructed with Bajau architectural design. Part of the Mabul Island is also home to groups of local (known as Bajau) fishermen who have built their traditional palm thatched houses.
The entire resort is built over water on stilts.
KAPALAI DIVE RESORT
A few minutes by boat from the islands of Sipadan and Mabul, but a full world away from it, lays the exhilarating Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort. Sitting atop its sturdy stilts on the shallow sandbanks of the Ligitan Reefs, the Kapalai Dive Resort is one resort you have to experience to appreciate the absolute luxury it exudes.
MV CELEBES EXPLORER
Dive the world-renowned Celebes Sea, including the exotic islands of Semporna
Marine Park and the famous Sipadan Island, from the luxurious, custom-built
MV Celebes Explorer. The Celebes Explorer caters to divers' every needs and
is furnished with a spacious salon, sun deck, dive deck with showers and
equipment storage; whilst accommodation is in eight en-suite cabins with
individually adjustable air-conditioners
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BORNEO
LANKAYAN ISLAND RESORT
A jewel- like tiny island in the Sulu Sea an hour and
a half boat ride north of Sandakan, Lankayan is soon to be declared
part of an immense Marine Protected Area. Unpopulated and covered by
thick tropical island vegetation, this peaceful, untouched
slice of paradise is ringed by an endless pure white sandy beach.
The resort offers simply elegant and exquisite accommodation
in a handful of wooden, roomy and perfectly appointed seafront double-occupancy
chalets.Meals are informally served at the central open building, which
boasts at amazingly beautiful open-air wooden terrace, the ideal spot
for after dinner relaxation and chatting, all the while admiring the
dozens of juvenile blacktip sharks swimming leisurely a few feet beneath.
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