Semporna Things to Do

We arrived in Semporna having booked into the City Inn Hotel (50 MR per night with air con and private bathroom, 8 minute walk from main diving outlets). We shopped around for diving in Sipidan and found that anything in the Lonely Planet was booked for days. We therefore went to a Malay diving company called Blue Sea Divers to see if they had anything. Surprisingly they did. We were a little worried about why this was but went with them anyway. They provided a very high quality of service, great equipment (no full foot flippers - if you want those they don't have any). We got unlimited water, fresh fruits, towels, great lunch etc all included in the price. The price was perhaps 20 MR more than Scuba junkies who we went out with the next day. In comparison Scuba Junkie was horrible. They were the bulk standard back packers budget diving company run by westerners for westerners who wished to cream as much money and give as little back as possible. If you think you can stretch the 20MR do, you will not regret it one bit. Also, we went back 2 days later and they gave us a discount. Wondferful, fun people who have a maximum of 7 to the boat (we saw 12 on another) who will give you the best experience of Sipidan.

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There is practically nothing much to do in Semporna. But you should go to the islands close by like Sipadan (famous for the wall diving) which is about 45 mins on a boat. You should definitely scuba dive or snorkel in the islands. It's worth every penny. You will not miss a thing. Make sure if you want to dive in Sipadan especially, you should book early. It's a very hard place to get into. The dive shops have to book a permit in advance before anyone can dive around the island.

However, there are other islands and they are just worth going as much. Depends on what you like to see. In sipadan you see lots of huge turtles, sharks. In other islands such as Mabul, Kapalai, Sibuan... you will see lots more of the macrolife in the sea. But turtles are everywhere. So you are bound to see them in most of the islands.

There is nothing in Semporna, except coming here for scuba diving or snorkelling. There is a fish markt and a mosque.