Diving in Borneo (Sipadan/Kapalai)

On 26 Jan 2006 06:20:46 -0800, the cup of
"richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com" <richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com>
overfloweth with the following:

> Hi all,
> Off on honeymoon to Borneo in May & thought I'd learn to scuba dive
> first. Signed up with SVAC (Glos) end of last year and will hopefully
> qualify as Ocean Diver in a month or so.
> Am about to book 4 days at Sipadan/Kapalai Dive Resort and will have to
> hire 95% of kit from them to avoid karting it all over Borneo for the
> rest of the holiday.
> Has anyone dived there before? Does anyone have any useful tips for a
> new diver? This'll be my first resort dive away from the security of my
> club and frankly, I'm anxious!!
> Any general response welcome - doesn't have to be Borneo-related!
> Cheers,
> Richard Baker

Good plan to learn to dive first - it'd be an incredible shame to be
there and not dive, as that's about all there is to do over on
Sipadan/Mabul/Kapalai. Make sure you're both happy with the way each
other dives and can communicate reasonably effectively, and dive within
the limits of the more nervous one. Stick reasonably close to the guides
so you see the best of everything. Be prepared to be amazed - it's one
of the best times of year over there. Don't forget to look at the small
stuff - Kapalai's very good for that.
Most of all...enjoy!

For a little taster of what you may find:
http://www.snaq.net/PhotoAlbum/SMK/

Stan

On 26 Jan 2006 06:20:46 -0800, the cup of
"richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com" <richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com>
overfloweth with the following:

> Hi all,
> Off on honeymoon to Borneo in May & thought I'd learn to scuba dive
> first. Signed up with SVAC (Glos) end of last year and will hopefully
> qualify as Ocean Diver in a month or so.
> Am about to book 4 days at Sipadan/Kapalai Dive Resort and will have to
> hire 95% of kit from them to avoid karting it all over Borneo for the
> rest of the holiday.
> Has anyone dived there before? Does anyone have any useful tips for a
> new diver? This'll be my first resort dive away from the security of my
> club and frankly, I'm anxious!!
> Any general response welcome - doesn't have to be Borneo-related!
> Cheers,
> Richard Baker

Good plan to learn to dive first - it'd be an incredible shame to be
there and not dive, as that's about all there is to do over on
Sipadan/Mabul/Kapalai. Make sure you're both happy with the way each
other dives and can communicate reasonably effectively, and dive within
the limits of the more nervous one. Stick reasonably close to the guides
so you see the best of everything. Be prepared to be amazed - it's one
of the best times of year over there. Don't forget to look at the small
stuff - Kapalai's very good for that.
Most of all...enjoy!

For a little taster of what you may find:
http://www.snaq.net/PhotoAlbum/SMK/

Stan

On 26 Jan 2006 06:20:46 -0800, the cup of
"richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com" <richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com>
overfloweth with the following:

> Hi all,
> Off on honeymoon to Borneo in May & thought I'd learn to scuba dive
> first. Signed up with SVAC (Glos) end of last year and will hopefully
> qualify as Ocean Diver in a month or so.
> Am about to book 4 days at Sipadan/Kapalai Dive Resort and will have to
> hire 95% of kit from them to avoid karting it all over Borneo for the
> rest of the holiday.
> Has anyone dived there before? Does anyone have any useful tips for a
> new diver? This'll be my first resort dive away from the security of my
> club and frankly, I'm anxious!!
> Any general response welcome - doesn't have to be Borneo-related!
> Cheers,
> Richard Baker

Good plan to learn to dive first - it'd be an incredible shame to be
there and not dive, as that's about all there is to do over on
Sipadan/Mabul/Kapalai. Make sure you're both happy with the way each
other dives and can communicate reasonably effectively, and dive within
the limits of the more nervous one. Stick reasonably close to the guides
so you see the best of everything. Be prepared to be amazed - it's one
of the best times of year over there. Don't forget to look at the small
stuff - Kapalai's very good for that.
Most of all...enjoy!

For a little taster of what you may find:
http://www.snaq.net/PhotoAlbum/SMK/

Stan

On 26 Jan 2006 06:20:46 -0800, the cup of
"richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com" <richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com>
overfloweth with the following:

> Hi all,
> Off on honeymoon to Borneo in May & thought I'd learn to scuba dive
> first. Signed up with SVAC (Glos) end of last year and will hopefully
> qualify as Ocean Diver in a month or so.
> Am about to book 4 days at Sipadan/Kapalai Dive Resort and will have to
> hire 95% of kit from them to avoid karting it all over Borneo for the
> rest of the holiday.
> Has anyone dived there before? Does anyone have any useful tips for a
> new diver? This'll be my first resort dive away from the security of my
> club and frankly, I'm anxious!!
> Any general response welcome - doesn't have to be Borneo-related!
> Cheers,
> Richard Baker

Good plan to learn to dive first - it'd be an incredible shame to be
there and not dive, as that's about all there is to do over on
Sipadan/Mabul/Kapalai. Make sure you're both happy with the way each
other dives and can communicate reasonably effectively, and dive within
the limits of the more nervous one. Stick reasonably close to the guides
so you see the best of everything. Be prepared to be amazed - it's one
of the best times of year over there. Don't forget to look at the small
stuff - Kapalai's very good for that.
Most of all...enjoy!

For a little taster of what you may find:
http://www.snaq.net/PhotoAlbum/SMK/

Stan

On 26 Jan 2006 06:20:46 -0800, the cup of
"richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com" <richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com>
overfloweth with the following:

> Hi all,
> Off on honeymoon to Borneo in May & thought I'd learn to scuba dive
> first. Signed up with SVAC (Glos) end of last year and will hopefully
> qualify as Ocean Diver in a month or so.
> Am about to book 4 days at Sipadan/Kapalai Dive Resort and will have to
> hire 95% of kit from them to avoid karting it all over Borneo for the
> rest of the holiday.
> Has anyone dived there before? Does anyone have any useful tips for a
> new diver? This'll be my first resort dive away from the security of my
> club and frankly, I'm anxious!!
> Any general response welcome - doesn't have to be Borneo-related!
> Cheers,
> Richard Baker

Good plan to learn to dive first - it'd be an incredible shame to be
there and not dive, as that's about all there is to do over on
Sipadan/Mabul/Kapalai. Make sure you're both happy with the way each
other dives and can communicate reasonably effectively, and dive within
the limits of the more nervous one. Stick reasonably close to the guides
so you see the best of everything. Be prepared to be amazed - it's one
of the best times of year over there. Don't forget to look at the small
stuff - Kapalai's very good for that.
Most of all...enjoy!

For a little taster of what you may find:
http://www.snaq.net/PhotoAlbum/SMK/

Stan

On 26 Jan 2006 06:20:46 -0800, the cup of
"richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com" <richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com>
overfloweth with the following:

> Hi all,
> Off on honeymoon to Borneo in May & thought I'd learn to scuba dive
> first. Signed up with SVAC (Glos) end of last year and will hopefully
> qualify as Ocean Diver in a month or so.
> Am about to book 4 days at Sipadan/Kapalai Dive Resort and will have to
> hire 95% of kit from them to avoid karting it all over Borneo for the
> rest of the holiday.
> Has anyone dived there before? Does anyone have any useful tips for a
> new diver? This'll be my first resort dive away from the security of my
> club and frankly, I'm anxious!!
> Any general response welcome - doesn't have to be Borneo-related!
> Cheers,
> Richard Baker

Good plan to learn to dive first - it'd be an incredible shame to be
there and not dive, as that's about all there is to do over on
Sipadan/Mabul/Kapalai. Make sure you're both happy with the way each
other dives and can communicate reasonably effectively, and dive within
the limits of the more nervous one. Stick reasonably close to the guides
so you see the best of everything. Be prepared to be amazed - it's one
of the best times of year over there. Don't forget to look at the small
stuff - Kapalai's very good for that.
Most of all...enjoy!

For a little taster of what you may find:
http://www.snaq.net/PhotoAlbum/SMK/

Stan

On 26 Jan 2006 06:20:46 -0800, the cup of
"richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com" <richard.baker@onebrandgroup.com>
overfloweth with the following:

> Hi all,
> Off on honeymoon to Borneo in May & thought I'd learn to scuba dive
> first. Signed up with SVAC (Glos) end of last year and will hopefully
> qualify as Ocean Diver in a month or so.
> Am about to book 4 days at Sipadan/Kapalai Dive Resort and will have to
> hire 95% of kit from them to avoid karting it all over Borneo for the
> rest of the holiday.
> Has anyone dived there before? Does anyone have any useful tips for a
> new diver? This'll be my first resort dive away from the security of my
> club and frankly, I'm anxious!!
> Any general response welcome - doesn't have to be Borneo-related!
> Cheers,
> Richard Baker

Good plan to learn to dive first - it'd be an incredible shame to be
there and not dive, as that's about all there is to do over on
Sipadan/Mabul/Kapalai. Make sure you're both happy with the way each
other dives and can communicate reasonably effectively, and dive within
the limits of the more nervous one. Stick reasonably close to the guides
so you see the best of everything. Be prepared to be amazed - it's one
of the best times of year over there. Don't forget to look at the small
stuff - Kapalai's very good for that.
Most of all...enjoy!

For a little taster of what you may find:
http://www.snaq.net/PhotoAlbum/SMK/

Stan

Hi Stan,
Unfortunately I can't persuade my fiancee to learn to dive, so she'll
be snorkelling. I'm sure she'll still see some great stuff. Talking of
which, what fantastic photos in the link! I've looked at quite a few in
the last few months but yours are the best I've ever seen! If I can get
results half as good I'll be delighted. Bearing in mind that I'll be
taking just a small "compact" digital camera in a housing, what's the
best way of making the most of it? I guess lighting is the main thing,
so photographing up near the surface is going to be better than down
deeper without a huge lighting rig!
Thanks for the advice - I'll stick to the guides till I find my feet!
Cheers,
Richard

Hi Stan,
Unfortunately I can't persuade my fiancee to learn to dive, so she'll
be snorkelling. I'm sure she'll still see some great stuff. Talking of
which, what fantastic photos in the link! I've looked at quite a few in
the last few months but yours are the best I've ever seen! If I can get
results half as good I'll be delighted. Bearing in mind that I'll be
taking just a small "compact" digital camera in a housing, what's the
best way of making the most of it? I guess lighting is the main thing,
so photographing up near the surface is going to be better than down
deeper without a huge lighting rig!
Thanks for the advice - I'll stick to the guides till I find my feet!
Cheers,
Richard

Hi Stan,
Unfortunately I can't persuade my fiancee to learn to dive, so she'll
be snorkelling. I'm sure she'll still see some great stuff. Talking of
which, what fantastic photos in the link! I've looked at quite a few in
the last few months but yours are the best I've ever seen! If I can get
results half as good I'll be delighted. Bearing in mind that I'll be
taking just a small "compact" digital camera in a housing, what's the
best way of making the most of it? I guess lighting is the main thing,
so photographing up near the surface is going to be better than down
deeper without a huge lighting rig!
Thanks for the advice - I'll stick to the guides till I find my feet!
Cheers,
Richard