Far East & Australia - Liveaboards

Australia and the Far East is home to some of the world’s most exciting and sought after scuba diving and perfect diving holiday locations. Visit sites that haven’t changed since the dawn of diving to glide along some of the most picturesque and impressive walls and distant coral seas - dive holidays dreams are made of.

Visit one of the seven wonders of the world – The Great Barrier Reef which runs some 2000 miles along the north western coast of Australia. From here you can explore the Coral Sea, visit the famous Cod Hole and dive with Minke whales. The excellent Mike Ball Liveaboards offer a range of intineraries and you can extend your holiday with a tour of Australia's sites.

Manado and Wakatobi off the north and south east of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Manado's Bunaken Marine park is within 30 minutes of the authentic and unassuming accomodation. Wakatobi offers the best of luxury accommodation & liveaboards. Both are world class diving locations. Photographers will enjoy diving in Lembeh where there are specialist led diving weeks for underwater photographers with excellent quality facilities for your equipment.

Layang, Layang off the coast of Saba is largely unexplored with 50m visibility and famous for hammerheads. This reclaimed 50 acre island offers spectacular wall diving plus giant mantas and morays.

Offering excellent value in the Far East is in the Philippines with some of the best diving in all asia. dive sites. It has the widest choice of dive sites from deep dives, drift dives, wreck sites and many more. Our latest edition to the programme is our choice of liveaboard to Sipadan, Borneo, Raja Ampat and Komodo and the Coral Triangle. See 1000s of schooling pelagics, visit world class muck, reef and wall dive sites - some of the best in the world. Bali and, Thailand ideal for critters,  leisurely diving, stunning beaches and perfect for non-divers too.

Sipadan Liveaboard - Sipadan, Far East & Australia

For your diving & liveaboard holiday to Sipadan (Borneo) - Far East, Sipaden Liveaboard is a monohull 29m/99ft liveaboard offering 8 double and twin air-conditioned ensuite cabins with a maximum of 16 divers onboard. Explore the legendary diving location of Sipadan Marine park and it's neighbouring islands of Mabul, Kapala and Siamil to see patrolling hammerhead sharks, abundant, technicoloured fish and dozens of sea turtles. Itineraries include 4 to 5 dives per day with visit nearby islands and famous barracuda point with 1000s of barracuda, schools of bumphead and flashing silver jackfish.

Location
Based at Semporna on the south east coast of Sabah. Transfer from local Tawau airport to Semporna approximately 1 hour 15-30 minutes by land. If boat is not at Semporna then boat transfer 30-50 minutes.

Accommodation
M/V Celebes Explorer features 8 Guest rooms with private ensuite and all rooms have air-conditioning. 2 x Queen-bed cabins & 6 x Double/twin bunk bed cabin with one single bed on upper level & queen bed on lower level) Comfortable Sofa Lounge with TV, Audio System and Mini Bar, Asian & local style buffet meals, Mini bar inlcudes drinking water, coffee, tea, biscuits and bread available on a 24 hour self service basis. Wine, beer, mineral water and soft drinks are chargeable locally. Spacious Sun Deck for relaxation, partially covered with canvas, with tables, chairs. Dive Deck with convenience of showers and baskets and lockers for equipment storage, hangers for drying wetsuits and space for cameras in the boat. There is limited WiFi internet access - sometimes around Semporna and Mabul island only.

Diving
Sample Itinerary
6 days/7 nights in Semporna Marine Park with 4 or 5 day dives (except for arrival/departure days). The following is a sample itinerary which includes Sipadan Island, Mabul Island & Kapalai Island, which will be subject to weather and sea condition locally and may change.

Sunday: Morning transfer to MV Celebes Explore from Semporna jetty. Diving on Mabul islands. Lunch and dinner onboard.

Monday & Tuesday: Sipadan Island and local dive sites.

Wednesday: Si Amil Island.

Thursday: Kapalai Island.

Friday & Saturday: Sipadan Island (3 dives scheduled for the Saturday). Return to Semporna jetty late Saturday afternoon.

This liveaboard is suitable for those with minimum PADI Open Water certification with good bouyancy and be able confident in current. Itinerary and diving schedule is subject to change depending on local conditions. Nitrox & equipment is available (pre-booking is required) and payable locally on arrival.