25th October 2011 - Day 1 at Sipadan!!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggg...

That was the alarm going off at 5am.... Terrible nights sleep, either too hot or told cold.... and up super early for some dives at Sipadan...

Sipadan is a special reserve, needing permits from the navy to dive. You are allocated a dive permit if you are lucky enough! Today, it was our day to enjoy the wonders of the island.

Leaving at 6am, we jumped into the speedboat for a 20 minute journey to the island, where we landed and registered our names to the military. Then it was straight to the first dive spot.. Jumping in the water, the coral was a sight to behold.. beautiful, healthy, and almost total coverage of the whole reef... amazing...

We spent 50 odd minutes, diving the coral, and the wall of the reef which descends to over 600m... seeing turtles, sharks, lionfish, bumphead parrotfish, maori wrasse... you name it... we saw it... awesome..

Then, breakfast time, at the island, which has changed slightly.. In 2002, all resorts were forced to dismantle their buildings and get off the island as the government decided they were causing too much damage to the environment. We first came here in 2006, on our honeymoon... not much has changed... slightly more organised instead of ramshackle buildings left over from the evictions... very good.

After breakfast, it was out for another couple of dives.... more of the same cool stuff... great!! I put a quick vid together after the dives... I think, maybe we saw about 30 turtles today.... they are everywhere!!

Arriving back at the oil rig, we chilled for a couple of hours and then went for a dive underneath the oil rig.... yet more cool stuff.... bumpheads, great barracuda, scorpion fish.... great... We returned to find our names on the list for Sipadan the next day!! BONUS!! We get to do it all again.... hopefully, I can get a sight of the reclusive Hammerhead Shark....

Another early night....

Much Love...