Next Stop: Unknown

From everything we’ve read, Sipadan is supposed to be one of the 10 best dive sites in the world. Since we were close in proximity, it would be a shame not to go.  Supposedly the marine life here is unlike anywhere else in the world, both in the number of varied species, and the frequency of seeing them.  We looked around at many different dive shops, and finally settled on Seaventures.  Basically, it’s an old oil rig that was moved from Panama to Malaysia, and then privatized.  The owner originally wanted to make a casino out of it, but that didn’t go over too well. Instead, it is now a fully operational dive shop.  The place is a a bit pricey, but the experience was top notch.  They actually have an elevator/lift that will take you down right into the water to the boat, or to jump into the water for diving under the rig itself.  I’ll save you all the full details and just say we had an amazing time, with amazing food, and met some incredibly fun people.  (Be sure to ask Jenn about the two models that we dove with… sadly for me and the rest of the male dive crew, they were men)

Anyway, on to the pictures!

Sunset from the upper deck of the oil rig.  The whole top level was open to the sun with nice chairs to lay out on and enjoy the views. 

This was a MASSIVE grouper that likes to hang out in some abandoned scrap metal / fake reef they have put out near one of the dive sites.  This thing was nearly as big as Jenn!

Beautiful Nudibranch.  Jenn and I have fallen in love with the little Nudies of the sea.  They are typically hard to spot, even though they are so brightly colored.  They are snails that have decided to evolve into a creature with no shell.  They come in so many shapes and sizes, and the colors are so vivid and bright.  The biggest one we have seen so far is probably about 3 inches long…

Massive school of fish just off “barracuda point” in Sipadan.  The current here was pretty strong, so we found something to hang onto, and just watched the fish swim around us for half an hour.  I’m not sure what this fish is, maybe a Jack fish?  But we also saw thousands of meter long Barracudas as well, and they would get so close… you could reach out and grab one!

This turtle had 3 guys along for the ride!

There were hundreds and hundreds of turtles here… so many in fact that you got bored of seeing them.  I had to restrain myself from settling down on top of one and taking it for a ride… the dive instructor likely would have iced me.  This one I got super close to as he was taking a nap on the ocean floor.  He woke up and gave me a look that was priceless.  I think his head looks a bit alien like, it must be the big eyes!

No story is complete without finding Nemo

These are white tip reef sharks which were lounging around on the ocean floor.  Not dangerous, unless in mating season.  I’m not sure when that is, but they didn’t seem to mind me sneaking up on them.

This is the old oil rig where we stayed.  We had a private room with attached bathroom.  It’s really an awesome place, they even have some “VIP” rooms, but I didn’t get to check them out.  The food here was always buffet style with so much… breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  I ate myself sick at each meal.  The locals who work here also play live music on some nights, and they really jam.