Pom Pom Island - Sipadan Pom Pom Resort

Take a short 45 minutes Malaysia Airlines domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau then you will be met and transferred to Semporna Jetty (Harbor) by van (approx. 1-hour drive) and finally, you will be transferred to Sipadan Pom Pom Resort by speedboat (appro. 45 minutes boat ride).

Arrival : 
Book the earliest flight to arrive Tawau, for transfer to resort on same day.
The boat in into Pom Pom Resort is at 12:30 Hrs & 16:00 Hrs daily.

Departure: 
Book any flight from 17:00 Hrs onward. 
First boat will be departing at 09:00 Hrs, second boat will departing from resort at 13:00 Hrs. 

The information below acts as a guideline & subject to change without prior notice.

Arrival Flight Information

Departure Flight Information

MH- Malaysia Airlines     AK- AirAsia     OD - Malindo Air

Remarks:

• Proposed flight times are for reference purposes only and are not updated in real-time. *Please check with the respective airline(s) and their flight schedules for up to date information and booking details.
• If your flight cannot meet our normal schedule, you will be required to wait for the next transfer.
• It is compulsory that you are furnished with a *Reservations confirmation voucher* from us to present at the resort to avoid any inconvenience caused.
• Guest are hereby strongly advised to take morning schedules
• Boat departures are subject to weather conditions
• The company will not hold responsibility for any overnight accommodation due to bad weather.

Tawau/Semporna Pick Up Arrangement: 

• Tawau Town Hotel: Meet at 08:00 Hrs at hotel lobby. We will first go to pick up guest at Tawau Airport, then head to Semporna Jetty for 12:30 Hrs scheduled boat.
• Semporna Town Hotel: Meet at 11:15 Hrs at hotel lobby. We will head to Semporna Jetty for 12:30 Hrs scheduled boat.

DIVING PACKAGES
(Book & Pay at Resort Directly)

DIVE CENTRE POLICY & REGULATIONS

• All diving activities are to be scheduled and paid at the dive resort directly. No last minute divers. Please schedule morning dives at least a night before from the dive desk (7:00pm-8:00pm). Please schedule afternoon dives at least a night before or that morning, before lunch. 
• Divers are responsible to be at the dive center by 8:15am and 2:15pm for morning and afternoon dives respectively or time adviced by dive center staff during registration.
• General Diving Information
  • Two boat dives to other islands nearby Pom Pom Island, with a minimum of 2 divers in the morning.
  • One boat dive around Pom Pom Island in the afternoon, with no minimum.
  • Single diver may only dive around Pom Pom Island but it is always possible to join the snorkelling boat heading to other islands without surcharge or opt for a private boat charter.
  • Dive sites in the surrounding islands* will be organized and subjected to our Dive Instructor / Dive master’s recommendation based on weather and sea conditions.
  • Any out of dive center’s operation hours diving to be charged separately; subjected to availability of boat crew, dive guide/instructor.
  • Private dive guide/instructor can be arranged subjected to availabilityof dive guide/instructor with surcharge.
    *The islands around Pom Pom are: Pulau Boheydulang (Tun Sakaran Marine Park), Pulau Mantabuan (Tun Sakaran Marine Park), Pulau Timba Timba, Pulau Pandanan, Pulau Mataking.
• The diving package is strictly for CERTIFIED DIVERS in good health & fitness. Diver with medical condition should get clearance from medical physician/practitioner. Proof of diving certification must be shown before/during dive booking. Diving licenses must be shown upon reservation, or at the dive centre prior to any dive activity.
• The dive package includes Air Tanks (12 litre), belt and weights, boat transfer to dive site, dive guide.
  Note: FULL SCUBE EQUIPMENT and underwater camera are available to rent at dive center. 
• The Dive Manager and/or Dive Instructors reserve the right to stop any dive activity if the dive centre policy is not respected, especially if divers are standing, sitting, bumping or touching the corals, or other marine animals.
• Each dive package is valid for 1 person only: it may not be shared, and is not transferable. Any booked dive package is not refundable in the event of a “no show” or other surplus dives at the discretion of the Dive Manager.
• Pom Pom PADI Dive Centre adheres to PADI’s established no fly time periods, as seen in your Open water diver manual, the PADI Instructors manual or the RDP.
• The use of personal dive computers is highly recommended, and we do not allow a single dive computer to be shared by multipledivers. If you dive without a computer, you must have a watch + depth gauge + demonstrate the use of the RDP table.
• Prepaid Dive Course & E-learning from PADI WEBSITE: If you wish to do a course, you must obtain a Medical certificate specifically FOR DIVING ACTIVITY before booking or starting the E-learning.
  • Even though you can do your theory before your arrival, online through PADI’s website, you will need to pass a quick review exam before continuing with the course. You only need to do the practical sessions in the water thereafter.
  • Prepaid courses are non-refundable.
• Pom Pom PADI Dive Centre adheres to a 24 hour non diving period prior to flying.
• SELF DIVE WITH A BUDDY FROM THEIR Pier (House reef) is not allowed due to safety reasons.
• SCUBA REVIEW and CHECK OUT DIVE (House Reef)
  • All certified divers must do a Scuba Review if have not been diving for more than 2 years.
  • Certified Diver with less than 50 logged dives abd last dive more than 1 year must do a Scuba Review.
  • Certified diver with over 50 logged dives and last dive more than 1 year may required to do a Check Out Dive.
• Discover SCUBA Diving (DSD)
  • First dive will always be conducted at safe environment on Pom Pom Island. Guests may request boat dive to other islands for additional/subsequent dives if completed SCUBA skills satisfactorily, subjected to approval from conducting SCUBA Instructor and availability of resort's boat.
  • DSD will normally conducted at 08:30-10:30 Hrs or 14:3016:30 Hrs.
  • DSD fees shall not be either fully/partially refunded once the course is started.
  • Underwater camera may be allowed subjected to conduting SCUBA Instructor's approval.
  • Private Scuba Instructor may be ossible for booking at an addtional price and is subjected to availability of SCUBA instructor.

PADI Dive Centre
PomPom resort is situated in Borneo, a place on earth considered to be a paradise for diving. The diving offered is supported by professional services, suitable for all levels of experience.

They are a registered PADI Scuba Diving Centre in 2008, and abide by PADI Standards and Procedures. If you have never tried Scuba Diving before, you can start by maybe trying a discover scuba dive, where you can enjoy your first underwater diving experience with a qualified PADI Dive Instructor. You can become a “SCUBA DIVER” in 3 days, or if you prefer you can become an “OPEN WATER DIVER” in 4 days.

If you dive already, and wish to progress, the dive center can offer you the “ADVANCED COURSE”, “RESCUE” and many others. Their prime goal is to ensure your diving safety, so the friendly and enthusiastic Dive Instructors will assist your every need and are committed to making your diving dreams come true. 

The dive centre have a Briefing Room with DVD facilities, Gear Room for drying and storing your equipment, fresh water showers, Camera Room and Compressor Room. They aim to provide you with the highest service.

SIPADAN is the small island where you can dive and snorkel.  It is a 15-30 minutes boat ride south of Mabul. Sipadan is the tip of a mountain with steep underwater walls all around it.  These walls drop to 300m on the Mabul side of the island and 600m on south side.

Diving on Sipadan is all drift diving, divers drop in and cruise with the current along the walls.  This combination of deep walls and ocean currents provides the ideal environment for pelagic such as sharks and large schools of jacks and barracuda.

SPECIAL RULES FOR PROTECTING TURTLES:
Divers and snorkelers are to refrain from touching, teasing and restraining turtles under water because turtles are air breathers and can be drowned if panicked or cornered.  Anyone riding or restraining turtles will sit out the next dive.

Note: The time restricted by the Government for Diving at Sipadan Island is from 6am to 6pm.

MABUL in contrast to Sipadan is a continuation of the Borneo landmass rather than the top of an underwater mountain.  Because of this, Mabul has more gradually sloping walls around it that bottom out at about 30m.  The attractions on Mabul are of the smaller variety such as lobster, crocodile fish, moray and garden eels.  This makes it an ideal location for macro-photo opportunities.

If you walk around the east of the island at night, be sure to take a flashlight and watch for sea snakes on the beach or amongst the palm trees.

KAPALAI lies to the east of Mabul about 10 minutes away.  It used to be a vegetated island much like Mabul but erosion has turned it into a small sandbar that just breaks the surface of the water.  This is an area that we are exploring for new dive sites.  Like Mabul it is an excellent location for macro-photography and is specially abundant in the rare finds of diving such as mandarin fish, stonefish, leaf fish, pipefish, lionfish, frogfish, cuttlefish, eels, and more.

• All reservation MUST provide the following information: Name as per passport, Passport Number, Nationality, Gender & Flight detail
• Upon arrival at Tawau airport prior to land transfer to the resort, all guests are required to sign a liability release (waiver) form to express an assumption of risk. All guests are to abide all the rules for safety in scuba diving and any other recreational activities provided by the resort.
• Boat journey to the Island may not be suitable for individuals who have any of the following conditions but not limited to: heart or lung conditions, recent surgery, back or spinal surgery, back problems/injury/fracture, arthritis, osteoporosis or other similar spinal/pelvic diseases. Pregnant women are also not recommended as the boat ride may be bumpy depending on the sea condition. If you are having similar issues as above, kindly consult your physician before you enrol in this activity.
• No refund will be made for any part of the Sipadan or Mabul Island diving trip, shorten stay, transfers, side tours, hotels, meals, diving permit etc. not utilized by the guest once the trip has departed from their place of origin.
• After commencement of service, no refund, in part or full, will be given for services included in the package which have not been utilized or due to bad weather
• Weather conditions: We cannot predict the weather conditions these days for scuba diving even for the best season
• Last but not least, tipping is like giving a hug. Although it’s never expected, it’s always very much appreciated.

Disclaimer: Amazing Borneo will use reasonable effort to ensure our website includes accurate, complete and up-to-date information as provided by the hotel. However, in the event that the hotel provides arrangements that differ from the standard provisions due to unique circumstances, Amazing Borneo will not be held accountable.