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Dive The World Travel Club Newsletter

Trip to Sipadan in Sabah, Malaysia

Last year we had a great group of people who enjoyed the Similan Islands and Phuket area with us. This year we are arranging an excellent programme in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

What makes Sabah a special place to visit is the sheer extent of its natural wonders. North Borneo remains one of the world's last natural havens. To visit here is to see an incredible array of species both in the rainforests and on the coral reefs.

On land you can witness orangutans, proboscis monkeys and various other primates in their natural habitat. In addition there are beautiful birds such as hornbills, rarities like Bornean pygmy elephants, and ancient creatures including crocodiles and snakes. Under the waves you can dive with huge schools of barracuda and bumphead parrotfish, as well as countless turtles and sharks, not to mention the amazing array of critters in the shallows. So don't be satisfied watching nature documentaries, come with us to Sabah and see all these things for yourself while such natural oases still exist.

You can join us for the full trip or part only. Either way you know you will be surrounded by fellow divers and nature-lovers having fun under the guidance of our locally-based Dive The World group leader.

Our travel club is where like-minded divers can come together and dive with fellow divers from around the world, but leave all the organisation to someone else who knows the area. If you love to dive but have trouble getting your friends and buddies to commit to trips, or you want to be part of a group experiencing an unforgettable trip to a great destination, then join us!

• 7 days and 6 nights in Borneo Divers Resort Mabul diving at Sipadan Island
Sipadan should need no introduction. It is without doubt one of the world's top spots and you are almost guaranteed to see lots of sharks, turtles, jacks, bumpheads, barracuda and many many more amazing sights. Staying in Mabul at Borneo Divers Resort also allows you to poke around, looking for the small and the curious making any Sipadan and Mabul trip a great combination.

If you want to join us for the Sipadan section of the trip only then you can fly in and out of Tawau and meet up with the rest of the travel club in Mabul.

• 3 days and 2 nights at Sepilok and Sukau
Sepilok is where the Orangutan rehabilitation centre is found and staying at the Sepilok Nature Resort you will tour the centre and watch the semi wild orangutans coming in from the open jungle to be fed. Sukau is deep in the jungle where you will stay at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge, and on the river cruises you might spot orangutans in the wild as well as lots of proboscis monkeys, macaques, hornbills, crocodiles, snakes and even pygmy elephants!

• 4 days and 3 nights in Lankayan Island
Lankayan is a beautiful little gem of an island less than 2 hours up the coast of Borneo where there is only 1 resort, Lankayan Island Dive Resort The island's shallows are home to baby blacktip sharks, and with several easy dive sites around the island, it is a great introduction to diving in Sabah.

• 2 nights in Kota Kinabalu
Start and end your trip in this lively seaside town, the most happening place in Borneo! Transfer here from the airport, overnight in a 4 star hotel before breakfast and the short domestic flight to Sandakan. Stay your final night here after Sipadan and enjoy a night out on the town before heading home.

• Transfers from the airport to the Hotel
Be met at the airport with your name card held high, before being taken to your hotel.

• Farewell dinner
As a farewell we will all go out to enjoy a meal by the sea, cost on Dive The World, at Kota Kinabalu's waterfont boardwalk and, for those of you who wish to stay out later, our tour leader can bring you to some of the more recommended watering holes in the city.

The trip is open to singles, couples, anyone really. All we ask is that you are fun-loving and respectful people, keen to have a good time and to see the best of what the area has to offer ... and everyone gets a Dive The World T-shirt! Space is limited on this special trip so let us know as soon as possible of your interest.

If you want to join us for the full extravaganza then you are in for the trip of a lifetime. If you want to join us for only part of it then that's OK too! Just let us know.

Price for the 13 night Package is US$ 2,649 per person

Price for the 6 night Sipadan portion only is US$ 1,249 per person

All prices are based on 2 sharing.

Come on - Join us now!

Itinerary

25 October 2008

Arrive Kota Kinabalu International Airport where you will be met by your Dive The World group leader and transferred to your hotel in the town. Settle in and, if you have time do some sightseeing, go for dinner or just relax in the hotel.

26 October - 29 October

Breakfast and transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Sandakan. Transfer to the jetty and take the speedboat to Lankayan (normally around 1½ hours). Stay for 4 days and 3 nights in beautiful beachside chalets enjoying the many interesting dive sites (8 dives) and the tranquil nature of this paradise island.

29 October

Take the speedboat back to Sandakan and transfer to Sepilok Nature Resort, where you will stay for 1 night and visit the world famous Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to witness the orang-utan feeding and enjoy displays and exhibits in the Information Centre. Optional 1 hour long guided walk in the forest trails at night. Dinner at the resort.

30 October

Breakfast and boat transfer to Sukau Rainforest Lodge, along Sabah's longest river the Kinabatangan, taking in the wildlife en route. Late afternoon river cruise through the jungle spotting proboscis monkeys, macaques, hornbills, and maybe even crocodiles and elephants. Candle-lit dinner and naturalist slideshow before overnighting in rainforest lodge.

31 October - 6 November

Boat transfer back to Sandakan and road transfer to Sandakan Airport for domestic flight to Tawau. Pick up in Tawau and transfer to Semporna for boat transfer to Borneo Divers Resort Mabul for a 7 day and 6 night package diving in the Sipadan and Mabul area. Here you will enjoy up to 17 dives around the reefs of Sipadan and the macro-paradise of Mabul and Kapalai.

6 November

Transfer to Tawau Airport for domestic flight to Kota Kinabalu returning mid to late afternoon. Check into hotel and relax on your final evening. Join the rest of the group for a farewell dinner on the Waterfont Boardwalk.

Spaces are limited so send your email now to book your place ask@dive-the-world.com.

Note: Participation is not limited to those flying in and out on the above dates. If you would like to make your own plans in and around Sabah prior to the 25th or after the 6th November, you can still join in all the Dive The World Travel Club activities.

Conditions

Deposit of 30% of the full price must be received before 30 June 2008.

The Balance must be paid prior to 25th August 2007.

Since we have already discounted the Travel Club Offer, no other Dive The World offers (eg returning customer discounts) can be used in conjunction.

All our normal and relevant terms and conditions apply. Please see our Terms.

Inclusions:

Hotel in Kota Kinabalu: bed and breakfast accommodation on twin sharing basis in a standard double or twin room.

Lankayan: Bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Accommodation in twin share beach chalets. Dives, boat rides, unlimited beach and night diving (with a buddy only), marine park fees, experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) for maximum 10 divers (max. 15 divers per boat), refreshments, tanks, weights and weightbelts.

Sepilok/Sukau: Twin sharing accommodation with bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner in both Sepilok Nature resort and Sukau Rainforest Lodge, transfers, a guided jungle night walk, a trip to visit the fascinating and endangered orang-utans at the centre, and river cruise.

Mabul/Sipadan: Bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner, transfers, dives, boat rides, marine park fees, experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) for maximum 6 divers (max. 12 divers per boat), tea / coffee, juice, drinking water, tanks, weights and weightbelts.

Others: Kota Kinabalu Airport transfers, farewell dinner with Dive The World, Dive The World T shirt.

Exclusions:

Hotel in Kota Kinabalu: room service, meals other than breakfast, all drinks and anything not listed as an inclusion above.

Lankayan: soft drinks, dive insurance, alcoholic drinks and anything not listed as an inclusion above. Diving equipment can be rented on arrival.

Sepilok/Sukau: lunches, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks and anything not listed as an inclusion above. Please bring along sun block lotion, personal toiletries, torch light, insect repellent, walking shoes, binoculars, hat & raincoat.

Mabul/Sipadan: soft drinks, dive insurance, alcoholic drinks and anything not listed as an inclusion above. Diving equipment can be rented on arrival.

Others: Drinks during Dive The World Dinner or after(!), any additional transfers or anything not listed as an inclusion above.

Interested?

If you have ever wanted to experience the natural splendour of Sabah or have promised yourself a dive trip to remember then join our 2008 Travel Club trip. Get in touch now!