The end of Sipadan resorts...

Passing it on...
-------------
Just received this from one of the Sipadan dive operators. All resorts
actually ON Sipadan Island will be closed and evacuated as of January 1,
2005. This action had been rumored for some time, but apparently the
decision has been finalized.

"We wish to inform you that the State Government has announced that
effective from 1st January 2005 all Sipadan operators have to move out
from
the island. The Government will take steps to protect and conserve the
island of Sipadan. However the Government will allow day trippers to
dive
around the island."

Hopefully not too little, too late. It certainly was once an
extraordinarily beautiful place.
-----------


Steve Kramer
Chiang Mai, Thailand
http://www.photoenvisions.com
Five years, eight months, four weeks, one day, 16 hours, 29 minutes and
29 seconds. 62990 cigarettes not smoked, saving $15,747.65. Time used
for a better purpose: 31 weeks, 1 day, 17 hours, 10 minutes.


--
"The real voyage of discovery is not in seeking new lands,
but in seeing with new eyes!" Marcel Proust

In article <40ACCF09.C38D460A@seatraveler.com>, Steve Kramer
<steve@seatraveler.com> wrote:

#Passing it on...
#-------------
#Just received this from one of the Sipadan dive operators. All resorts
#actually ON Sipadan Island will be closed and evacuated as of January 1,
#2005. This action had been rumored for some time, but apparently the
#decision has been finalized.
#
#"We wish to inform you that the State Government has announced that
#effective from 1st January 2005 all Sipadan operators have to move out
#from
#the island. The Government will take steps to protect and conserve the
#island of Sipadan. However the Government will allow day trippers to
#dive
#around the island."
#
#Hopefully not too little, too late. It certainly was once an
#extraordinarily beautiful place.
#-----------
#
#

I just read this in the UW Photo list as well, including the last
paragraph. Why too little, too late? Were the reefs being destroyed by
the diving, or was the island itself being damaged by the amount of
people on it?

Alan

In article <qH4rc.543394$oR5.476022@pd7tw3no>, slarson@shaw.canada
(chilly) wrote:

> Mabul, just doesn't compare.

No..........i much prefer Mabul.........

Dave Morgan @ Work in the UK
Take out the "goes diving" bit....
Trip photos on line at www.morg.co.uk

"chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> wrote in message
news:qH4rc.543394$oR5.476022@pd7tw3no...
>
> "Steve Kramer" <steve@seatraveler.com> wrote in message
> news:40ACCF09.C38D460A@seatraveler.com...
> > Passing it on...
> > -------------
> > Just received this from one of the Sipadan dive operators. All resorts
> > actually ON Sipadan Island will be closed and evacuated as of January 1,
> > 2005. This action had been rumored for some time, but apparently the
> > decision has been finalized.
> >
> > "We wish to inform you that the State Government has announced that
> > effective from 1st January 2005 all Sipadan operators have to move out
> > from
> > the island. The Government will take steps to protect and conserve the
> > island of Sipadan. However the Government will allow day trippers to
> > dive
> > around the island."
> >
> > Hopefully not too little, too late. It certainly was once an
> > extraordinarily beautiful place.
>
> It is still quite beautiful. It's a shame that it has come to this. The
> snorkelling off of Mabul, just doesn't compare.
>
>
mebe because of the turtles laying their eggs or rather not laying there
eggs because of the interruptions from the guest. While I stayed there in
Feb a couple of Brits were quite upset
that they were not allowed to go out at night with a torch to look for
turtles laying eggs.
When I tried to explain that it was because the turtles don't like it. These
to guys just shrugged and said " no they wont mind just us ". At this point
I was embarrassed to be British.

I would go to Sipadan tomorrow if I could afford it. Diving is the best. But
Steve was talking about diving Palau now where do you mean.........

David

"Dave Morgan" <morgandgoesdiving@cix.co.uk> wrote in message
news:memo.20040520174141.51863C@morgand.compulink. co.uk...
> In article <qH4rc.543394$oR5.476022@pd7tw3no>, slarson@shaw.canada
> (chilly) wrote:
>
> > Mabul, just doesn't compare.
>
> No..........i much prefer Mabul.........

I agree. While Mabul is not nearly as pretty as Sipidan, the critters don't
need pretty to live. Mabul has one of the finest macro populations
frequented by divers. It's one of the reasons I always stay at SWV.

I imagine Dave, like me, is an UW photog.

"Jess Englewood" <pleasen@spam.com> wrote in message
news:P86rc.74$QZ6.24904@news.uswest.net...
>
> "Dave Morgan" <morgandgoesdiving@cix.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:memo.20040520174141.51863C@morgand.compulink. co.uk...
> > In article <qH4rc.543394$oR5.476022@pd7tw3no>, slarson@shaw.canada
> > (chilly) wrote:
> >
> > > Mabul, just doesn't compare.
> >
> > No..........i much prefer Mabul.........
>
> I agree. While Mabul is not nearly as pretty as Sipidan, the critters
don't
> need pretty to live. Mabul has one of the finest macro populations
> frequented by divers. It's one of the reasons I always stay at SWV.
>
> I imagine Dave, like me, is an UW photog.

Again, I was speaking to the beach and snorkelling only.

In article <P86rc.74$QZ6.24904@news.uswest.net>, pleasen@spam.com (Jess
Englewood) wrote:

> I agree. While Mabul is not nearly as pretty as Sipidan, the critters
> don't
> need pretty to live.

Absolutely.......

> Mabul has one of the finest macro populations
> frequented by divers.

It is something else, there are some photo's on the link below.

> It's one of the reasons I always stay at SWV.

SWV ?
I stay on that "horrible" Rig just off Mabul Island, you have dived under
there have'nt you ????????????? i could dive under there 5 times a day...

> I imagine Dave, like me, is an UW photog.

I take photo's........and thats about it, i like to share what i take but
photograper......no.

Planning my next trip as we speak...
Dave Morgan @ Work in the UK
Take out the "goes diving" bit....
Trip photos on line at www.morg.co.uk

"Dave Morgan" <morgandgoesdiving@cix.co.uk> wrote in message
news:memo.20040521082307.25985A@morgand.compulink. co.uk...
> In article <P86rc.74$QZ6.24904@news.uswest.net>, pleasen@spam.com (Jess
> Englewood) wrote:

> > Mabul has one of the finest macro populations
> > frequented by divers.
>
> It is something else, there are some photo's on the link below.

Ah, very nice Dave. Makes me want to return...tommorrow!

I love shooting the Mandarin Fish. My last visit to Mabul I was shooting
them up in the water column at night. As you know, they seldom swim out
that high unless mating, but for some reason I had 3 that played with me for
quite a while.

Very cool experience. Mabul always manages to provide very cool experiences.

"Jess Englewood" <pleasen@spam.com> wrote in message
news:8Swrc.1257$6j2.95054@news.uswest.net...
>
> "Dave Morgan" <morgandgoesdiving@cix.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:memo.20040521082308.25985B@morgand.compulink. co.uk...
> > In article <yp5rc.515499$Pk3.123552@pd7tw1no>, slarson@shaw.canada
> > (chilly) wrote:
> >
> > > The snorkelling, the beach.
> >
> > Last time my wife did that by the jetty she was attacked by half a dozen
> > red faced Titans.......allthough in March we were feeding a rather large
> > Napoleon from the Jetty.
>
>
> In July of 2001 at a site called Abu Hashish in the Red Sea, I was menaced
> and attacked by a couple nesting Titan Triggers, they chased me all the
way
> back to the boat, they had no "quit" in them. Ya know, I laugh now but my
> head was on a swivel the way those son-of-a-guns were dive-bombing me :^)
>
>
At Barracuda Point in Sipadan last month, I was charged by one that hit me
so hard on the head I had a very sore bump for 3-4 days. It then tried to
bite my fin twice, succeeding only once. I didn't even know what had
happened, I thought my buddy (hubby) had kicked me in the head! Hubby
nearly drowned laughing at me.

Jo

In article <A%wrc.5718$SQ2.2976@edtnps89>, jimini@telus.net (Jimini)
wrote:

> nearly drowned laughing at me.

It aint funny......they are capable of putting you in hospital.

Dave Morgan @ Work in the UK
Take out the "goes diving" bit....
Trip photos on line at www.morg.co.uk