CraigSmith,
I have to cancel my Kapalai resort stay because they want to charge me 1.5X the price of regular diver due to the fact that I must have my own room. I would still dive at Sipadan, but I will be staying at Seaventure instead. Seaventure is a budget diving resort that’s converted from an oil rig. I went there in 2008 and you can see my journal and experience around the area:
http://www.mosesong.com/travel/sipadan_trip08a.htm
The only different between Seaventure and Kapalai is Kapalai is a world class resort the the dining area, the bed furniture etc is nicer. I just can’t justify spending US$1500 for 5 days at Kapalai while I can spend about US$1000 in Seaventure for the same amount of dive and stay. They both serve buffet meals. The boat go out to the same area, Kapalai, Mabul and Sipadan. So the diving itself is not much different, they just hike be price because of the resort facility/view.
I plan to be at Sipadan from Dec 15 - 19.
The journey should be international flight to Sabah, Kota Kinabalu. Then from Kota Kinabalu, you would fly to Tawau/Semporna (East coast of Sabah), then the resort crew will pick you up from the airport and transport you to the boat, from boat they will take you to the resort. You can look up my journal from the boat to the resort and diving part.
From,
Moses