24th October 2011 - A long day

We'd checked out of our hotel around 4.30am and then took a taxi to the airport.  Our flight was at 7.10, so had to check in 2hrs before.  Thankfully the roads were quiet and we made good time.

Pushing our cases through the doors, we checked the board for our flight details and then looked at each other  ...DOH!  ..we'd gone to the wrong airport.  So grabbed another taxi and took a 15min ride down the road.  Finally at the correct airport and luggage checked in, we boarded our AirAsia flight to Tawau only to notice that our seat no's were on the opposite sides of the plane. No big drama as I think we both slept most of the flight.

Once at Tawau, we were greated by a 'Seaventures' rep and then boarded a minibus for a further 2hr drive across seas of palm oil plantations to Semporna.  We had the whole minibus to ourselves so space to spread out and snooze.  I just wish the roads would have been  a bit smoother, I felt like a tossed salad by the end of the journey ;-D
Once in Semporna, we clambered out of the minibus and then walked down the pier onto a little speedboat where we were given lovely orange life jackets to wear and jetted off across the water towards our final destination.  SeaVentures Oil rig, the only diving rig in the world.

You might think taking a mini break from diving to go diving is weird but it brings back wonderful memories and just wait for some of our footage to be posted.
Our first dives were just on Mabul and on the rig house reef but the amount of sea life we've seen so far is just amazing and to end the day, we took the boat to Mabul, Borneo Divers (where we honeymooned) to see how things had changed. 

A few more water villages have sprung us and more little touristy shops selling coral, shells, shark jaws which was shocking to see but not surprising.... they still have a lot to learn conservation wise...

But don't blame the locals, blame the tourists that buy this stuff.... supply and demand.... 5am start tomorrow   ..Sipadan here we come!!!!!!!!