Pulau Sibu - activities

 

Diving

Dan's Nasty Dive Base at Sea Gypsy Village Resort

There are approximately 30 dive sites dotted around areas that include Sibu Besar, Sibu Tengah and Pulau Tinggi. The dive sites have a general depth of 15m - 18m but on average visibility is about 10m as according to Linda, the owner of Sea Gypsy Village Resort.

One of the best sites here is Dolly Parton named so for obvious reasons. It was a 20- 25minute speed boat ride to the dive site and a 50minute dive. Upon descending, we found the current pretty strong preventing my dive master, Dave and I from circumnavigating Rock A. That suited me fine as being confined to a smaller area allowed me more time spent on looking into nooks and crannies for interesting lifeforms. Currents normally occur a couple of days before and a couple of days after the full moon - so if you're not too sure about diving in currents, plan your trips accordingly.

Coral formation was good - bommies, sea fans, soft corals were healthy and still thriving. However, perhaps due to the pull of the full moon, visibility was recorded at about 3m. Fish life was surprisingly scarce. A few tiny morays, batfishes, angelfishes, damselfishes, wrasses, triggefishes - perhaps bad vis... Divelog dated : 4th June 2004 . For budding underwater photographers, with so many dive sites around Sibu worth exploring, it may just be the perfect place for you to go micro. If you'd like to write us and tell us your diving experience here, do drop us a line at : pappy@journeymalaysia.com

Below is a list of what you may expect on a dive at Dolly Parton's ,courtesy of Dan's Nasty Dive Base:

Tokong Raket Rock A & B (Dolly Parton)

Ø 25 minutes boat ride from Dan's Nasty Dive Base.

Ø Gentle to moderate, drift dive.

Ø Max depth 20 metres, average depth 14 metres.

Ø Mounded double rock formation, hence the name!

Ø Current is very strong, two days prior and two days after full moon.

Ø Rock A has better visibility and a more abundant fish life than Rock B.

Ø Dolly is one of our favourite dive sites, an absolute must for every diver who visits Dan's Nasty Dive Base.

Marine Life - * Puffer fish, 3 to 4 varieties * Moray eel * Blue Spotted Sting Ray * Fusilier fish * Jackfish * Lion fish * Boxer shrimp * Stone fish * Crayfish * Sweet lips * Sea Bream, 2 to 3 varieties * Goat fish * Angel fish * Squid * Damselfish * Parrot fish * Surgeon fish * Barracuda * Wrasse * Trigger fish * Coral Sea snake * Turtle * Bat fish * Nudibranch * Yellow Strip * Giant clam * Butterfly fish

Mix of hard and soft corals - *Table coral * Stag coral * Fan coral * Bottlebrush coral * Brain coral * Dendronephthya coral * Sea whip * Red sea whip * Sea pen * Knobby cora * Sea Anemone For more information on the corals and fishes found in malaysia, click to journeymalaysia.com's coral reef and fishes page

 

The only dive centre on Pulau Sibu Besar, Dan's Nasty Dive Base provides an efficiently run outfit for divers who prefer a lot more service than the run-of-the-mill, in-out, how deep did you dive? dive centres. The centre offers courses from try scuba to open water to specialties. For first time divers, Pulau Sibu's dive spots offer a great training ground with gentle currents, or moderate drift dives and a healthy variety of coral life and inhabitants. One of the many exciting courses on their list is scuba rangers. This is a course designed by Scuba School International (SSI) specifically for children from the age of 8 to learn about scuba diving and how much fun it can be if it's done right. The programme also empasises on safety routines and this in turn will foster more disciplined diving. 'It offers all of the training and education that a regular Open Water Diver receives on a child's level of understanding. The child will build self confidence, discipline and self esteem. The programme is designed to keep children active and reaching their goals with hard work, commitment and fun. ' (taken from Dan's Nasty Dive Base write-up).

There are four levels of Ranger:

Red Ranger - Objectives:

• Introduce the children to the Scuba Rangers Programme
• Familiarise the children with snorkeling equipment
• Assess the children's swimming skills
• Introduce the children to basic surface helper skills
• Teach the children how to use snorkeling equipment correctly

White Ranger - Objectives

• Introduce the children to scuba diving equipment
• Explain to the children what scuba diving equipment does and why they need it
• Explain to the children how to use scuba diving equipment comfortably and correctly in confined water

Blue Ranger - Objectives

Silver Ranger - Objectives

• Review and practice skills
• Learn underwater self-aid skills
• Practice Deep Water Descents
• Practice for demonstration recital

Two levels of Scuba Ranger can be completed over one weekend: 1st weekend  - Red and White - a log book and sticker will be presented upon completion 2nd weekend - Silver and Blue - a Diploma and Certificate will be presented upon completion

Cost:    Each level of Scuba Ranger costs RM 200. (The cost of Red Ranger includes the Scuba Ranger Kit ie Scuba Ranger manual & workbook - Let the Scuba Ranger Friends help you learn the safety rules of diving, and the rules of being a Scuba Ranger. Length: 60 pages. Scuba Ranger video - Follow a group of real Scuba Rangers as they learn the scuba skills and equipment handling techniques needed to have fun under water. The Scuba Ranger Friends are also there to help you learn. Length: 25 minutes. Scuba Ranger Log - Your Ranger Log is a plastic binder filled with all the special pages needed to record all your diving adventures, club events and Scuba Ranger Specialties, and scuba equipment purchases. Track your progress to Intermediate Ranger, Advanced Ranger and best of all - Master Ranger! Scuba Ranger Training Record - This is kept by your Club as an additional record of your progress. Scuba Ranger Development Program Completion Card - This colorful paper card is awarded as soon as you complete the Development Program. It will prove to people you're a real Ranger until you get your official Scuba Ranger Club membership card. Scuba Ranger Diploma - This colorful and fun diploma marks your official completion of the Scuba Rangers Development Program. There are also cool diplomas for the Intermediate, Advanced and Master Ranger levels. They look great in a frame on your bedroom wall or in your school locker. Mesh bag - Everything in your kit can be stored in the quality mesh bag. It has the Scuba Rangers logo on the front and a place for your name, and a drawstring to keep everything from falling out.

Alternatively all four levels can be completed from Monday to Friday. The Scuba Ranger course will not be conducted in December and January due to the North Easterly Winds bringing in some unpredictable weather conditions.

 

* Information on diving around Sibu courtesy of Sea Gypsy Village Resort.

Snorkelling

The best snorkelling area on Pulau Sibu Besar is on the stretch at Rimba Resort, as mentioned in the previous page. The other area for snorkellers is at Pulau Sibu Kukus.

 

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