eat.sleep.dive [Mabul, Sabah]

After 323days of waiting, the excitement can't be kept anymore. After what thought to be like forever, the day has arrived.

The weather was a bit gloomy when we arrived at LCCT during dawn. Did online check-in the night before, dropped our check-in luggage, and yet havent got the time to have breakfast before departing. Went through the security check and get seated in the A320. The flight was delayed for about 20minutes and it was about 70% occupied. Once we are up, the weather was a perfect blue sky with lovely clouds that look alike cotton candy! Since none of us had breakfast, we switched to seat nearer to the pantry (where the food first to be served!). Eat, and sleep through the flight.

Tawau

After 2hours and 30minutes, we landed in Tawau airport. First to do is to go through immigration. Just need to hand them MyKad and they will print a permission slip which you need to hand them when you are leaving Sabah. Freshen up and paid the taxi fare at the counter. Standard price is RM95 per way per taxi. Along the way to Semporna, there is plenty of palm tree plantation. It was another 1 hour ride to reach Semporna.

Uncle Chang office in Semporna was located near Dragon Inn. Settled our bills, had lunch and hop on the speed boat to Mabul.

Mabul

As we are approaching the chalet, the staff entertain us with a song played by the local band. Our room was amongst which having the best view. Open sea with turquoise clear water and plenty of patrick! (starfish).

Night came and party is about to start at Uncle Chang (no idea what was the occasion for). The local band start playing some familiar and ethnic songs. The disco ball keep on spinning and some of us occupy the dance floor. Free drinks on the house and some fire show keep the party going on. By midnight everything slows down.

It was the best experience ever. Waking up to the sound of the waves. Opens the door and the picturesque view come to live. Mabul are actually +1hour from Kuala Lumpur, so dawn is around 4.30am. Mabul is a small island. The locals build their houses by the shore. Walked around the island will took you about 1hour. Plenty of groceries shop, and the price are cheap (compared to Perhentian Island). There's also a school & surau on the island. Most of the chalet have electricity between 6pm - 8am.

Diving

It was raining on the first day, no sun at all only silver lining. We had our first dive in Ray Point, where we spotted a super size moray eel, few small turtles & plenty of fish! Went back to the chalet for lunch and head towards Kapalai House Reef later. Here is where we spotted a super huge turtle (sebesaq meja!), cuttlefish, more nudibranch & lion fish. By the 2nd dive me & my buddy were exhausted due to the strong current, yet it still raining. Talked to the management and she agreed to reschedule our dive to the next day, early in the morning.

On the second day, it was perfect! Blue sky with plenty of sun. Next dive is at seaventure house reef (an abandon oil rig which had a face lift transform into a resort). Beautiful sight underneath, with plenty of colourful fishes. I love them fish!

Checkout 8am, and the next boat to Semporna is at 4pm. Its kinda tiring when you did nothing, waiting for the time to pass by. Luckily we had a good bargain with the locals and had fresh seafood for lunch with the help of Uncle Chang's kitchen crew.

damage done :

RM35 AirAsia return ticket (bought during promotion in August 2010)

RM15 for check-in luggage (split among 4 of us)

RM50 return land transfer (TWU airport to Semporna)

RM460 4D3N + 3dives (Mabul & Kapalai) + 3x meals per day at Uncle Chang