Bigfin Divers
Bigfin Divers
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About
We are the first dive centre in Kota Belud with daily Fun Dives and a full range of PADI dive courses for Introductory to Experienced divers. Based in Kota Belud, Sabah, we offer a close by alternative to the crowded KK marine park. We are in world class dive territory with stunning reefs, wrecks and islands all situated within the coral triangle famous for outstanding marine diversity. Enjoy learning to dive directly off our white sand beach, take a short boat trip to local reefs, submerged pinnacles and picture perfect off shore islands… plus watch out for the seasonal giants that visit annually! We are a small personal dive centre. We dive in small groups lead by experienced qualified instructors to create a safe professional learning experience in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We dive sites in Kota Belud and Mantanai Island. To book diving please contact us in advance. We are open all year however our dive season runs from February through to September
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KotieKingo
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia44 contributions
Feb 2022 • Friends
Big Fin is absolutely everything that your looking for in a rustic beach resort. Spectacular scenery, excellent diving, cozy accommodation & super tasty food! It’s only a sort boat ride from the mainland- but you feel like you’re escaping to a hidden little treasure! The resort is a great place to relax read a book & nap in a hammock or if you’re sporty they provide sea kayaks and SUPs to explore the stunning coastline and surrounding islands with! I’m not a diver, but the snorkel trip was excellent & the other guests on the boat said the diving was the best they’ve done on the west coast! AND when we were there WHALE SHARKS were in the bay & someone in our group saw them 😍😍! The owners are the perfect mix of helpful, friendly and relaxed. I honestly can’t wait to go back!
Written 7 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vikcil
Singapore129 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
2020 is a wonderful experience even though Covid hit us hard. After a long and hard research,
by luck, I managed to come across this gem 1hr plus journey away from KK. Wonderland for
natural lovers and divers who wish to stay away from busy city life for some peace. We spend
4days (wish is longer) and believe me, time flies here. Below are the Pro and Con of this little
lovely family run resort.
Pro
- For diver, the DM here are superb! Friendly and safety 1
st policy, debrief is to carry up
every dive interval to make sure we are aware of the dive site condition and recap important
hand signs. My nephew was doing his OWD and he totally loved the experience here.
Kudos to DM and Instructor!
- The resort is cool! Located in such a wonderful spot that we are spoiled with our own
private beach and every morning, Mt Kinabalu will greet you in front of your doorstep! So
magical feeling.
- Room and bed is comfortable, spacious, clean and you will be surprised if some 5 star
hotel in KK cant match the toilet cleanliness here. Love the hammock! Keep up the good
work!
- Lots of beautiful dive sites nearby. But due to weather/sea conditions, sometime visibility
wont be as good, but that is the beauty of nature.
- Love my organic Chili Padi
- Last but not least, Chief Awie, we love ur FOOD! You will be miss dearly
Con
- Was a bit disappointed on my first dive where we dropped off the wrong dive spot likely due
to GPS.
- Some equipment likely has to make a routine check. Got an issue on my regulator, but
nothing serious though. No issue with other equipment throughout the dive.
- Did 2 dive at Mantanani, didn’t actually enjoy the site (luckily I spot a sea turtle). But I cant
said all dive site are bad there because its only base on my 2 dive experience, visibility is
not as good that day. The Island is as per most review online, a rubbish collection island, full
of plastic! Such a shame that nothing is done here, zero effort for the environment.
by luck, I managed to come across this gem 1hr plus journey away from KK. Wonderland for
natural lovers and divers who wish to stay away from busy city life for some peace. We spend
4days (wish is longer) and believe me, time flies here. Below are the Pro and Con of this little
lovely family run resort.
Pro
- For diver, the DM here are superb! Friendly and safety 1
st policy, debrief is to carry up
every dive interval to make sure we are aware of the dive site condition and recap important
hand signs. My nephew was doing his OWD and he totally loved the experience here.
Kudos to DM and Instructor!
- The resort is cool! Located in such a wonderful spot that we are spoiled with our own
private beach and every morning, Mt Kinabalu will greet you in front of your doorstep! So
magical feeling.
- Room and bed is comfortable, spacious, clean and you will be surprised if some 5 star
hotel in KK cant match the toilet cleanliness here. Love the hammock! Keep up the good
work!
- Lots of beautiful dive sites nearby. But due to weather/sea conditions, sometime visibility
wont be as good, but that is the beauty of nature.
- Love my organic Chili Padi
- Last but not least, Chief Awie, we love ur FOOD! You will be miss dearly
Con
- Was a bit disappointed on my first dive where we dropped off the wrong dive spot likely due
to GPS.
- Some equipment likely has to make a routine check. Got an issue on my regulator, but
nothing serious though. No issue with other equipment throughout the dive.
- Did 2 dive at Mantanani, didn’t actually enjoy the site (luckily I spot a sea turtle). But I cant
said all dive site are bad there because its only base on my 2 dive experience, visibility is
not as good that day. The Island is as per most review online, a rubbish collection island, full
of plastic! Such a shame that nothing is done here, zero effort for the environment.
Written 17 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura Jane
6 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
I did my PADI Open Water and spent 6 nights at this family run resort at the end of a 3 week trip around Sabah. It was the perfect way to end a glorious holiday. You arrive on a small boat to white sandy beaches and are welcomed by home cooked food. The place feels like a warm community which has invited you in, rather than just a resort. You can help yourself to free tea and coffee and you can take other drinks, including beer, from the fridge on a tab basis. The accommodation is perfect. Spotlessly clean, meticulously kept little bungalows with views from your hammock of Mount Kinabalu. The sunrise over the mountain as you open the curtains in the morning is magnificent. I love that they’ve taken great care not to harm the local environment and keep the resort eco-friendly.
The diving instructors are excellent. Fun when they need to be ( ask Maman to sing for you!) and utterly professional In the water. We took my 10 year old niece and 13 year old nephew on a Discover Scuba Dive trip and a day trip to Mantanani island where we saw turtles. The instructors, Steph and Maman, were amazing with them and now both can’t wait to get back under the water. I also noticed that they picked up rubbish from the sea floor. They care about the area. Only tip I would give is to book your dives in early as it does get busy.
I loved doing my PADI Open Water with Maman and he was very patient with me when I made mistakes.
January is out of season for the dive sites and the visibility can be a bit sketchy at that time, but I could see the potential of the sites and would love to go back to see them in all their glory. I still had a lot of fun and we saw lion fish, barracuda, cuttlefish and lots more. In between dives you can simply unwind, read your book on a hammock or watch as the sun sets over the beach.
You can also rent kayaks, paddle boards and snorkels to play in the water.
If you’re looking for somewhere to escape, dive a bit and simply sit back and enjoy life away from busy bustling resorts bursting with tourists, this place is for you.
The diving instructors are excellent. Fun when they need to be ( ask Maman to sing for you!) and utterly professional In the water. We took my 10 year old niece and 13 year old nephew on a Discover Scuba Dive trip and a day trip to Mantanani island where we saw turtles. The instructors, Steph and Maman, were amazing with them and now both can’t wait to get back under the water. I also noticed that they picked up rubbish from the sea floor. They care about the area. Only tip I would give is to book your dives in early as it does get busy.
I loved doing my PADI Open Water with Maman and he was very patient with me when I made mistakes.
January is out of season for the dive sites and the visibility can be a bit sketchy at that time, but I could see the potential of the sites and would love to go back to see them in all their glory. I still had a lot of fun and we saw lion fish, barracuda, cuttlefish and lots more. In between dives you can simply unwind, read your book on a hammock or watch as the sun sets over the beach.
You can also rent kayaks, paddle boards and snorkels to play in the water.
If you’re looking for somewhere to escape, dive a bit and simply sit back and enjoy life away from busy bustling resorts bursting with tourists, this place is for you.
Written 1 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lexi
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia7 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
From the moment you send them an email, until confirming bookings with Ella, Bigfin had been prompt, responsive and accommodating. They even passed our manual books to us so that we can read up prior to our dive courses.
The resort itself was truly one of a kind. I opted to sleep in a tent and I loved the experience. Waking up to a majestic view of Mount Kinabalu and enjoying the breeze on a hammock with a good book, away from the buzz of city life (yes, choppy telecommunications there), and yet surrounded by buzz of insects, chirping birds.
I love the effort they took to be eco-friendly. No aircond, no hairdryer, no water heater, no room kettle, no sales of plastic water bottle. So bear in mind this is those 'no star, yet thousand stars', kind of accommodation!
The food was simply amazing. We loved the chef's cooking and complimented him every meal. His grumpy demeanor added the fun to our stay.
The dives. Highly organized. Somewhat too highly, imo... until we don't get to set up the gears ourselves, or change tanks. Dive coms were provided as part of our course. All BCDs equipped with DSMBs. And i applaud Apex safety dive briefing.
The dive sites. Superb ! Lots to see. Ella adviced on dates and that gave us better vis underwater. Pristine water, much varieties of critters and corals... simply 100 fold better than TARP.
The AOW course. While Apex is a knowledgable and good instructor, I must add there is a somewhat limited adventure dives available. We did Deep, Navi and Peak Buoyancy. Fish ID... and a 'Drift dive' without much drifting, as what other choice we have left? No night dive (new moon, not their fault), no wrecks (again, not their fault), no nitrox.
All in all. Great place to chill and dive.
If you're up for specific dive experience or do certain Adventure dives, choices are limited. But one thing for sure, there is always a highlight/something interesting in every dive, that will keep anyone coming back for more.
The resort itself was truly one of a kind. I opted to sleep in a tent and I loved the experience. Waking up to a majestic view of Mount Kinabalu and enjoying the breeze on a hammock with a good book, away from the buzz of city life (yes, choppy telecommunications there), and yet surrounded by buzz of insects, chirping birds.
I love the effort they took to be eco-friendly. No aircond, no hairdryer, no water heater, no room kettle, no sales of plastic water bottle. So bear in mind this is those 'no star, yet thousand stars', kind of accommodation!
The food was simply amazing. We loved the chef's cooking and complimented him every meal. His grumpy demeanor added the fun to our stay.
The dives. Highly organized. Somewhat too highly, imo... until we don't get to set up the gears ourselves, or change tanks. Dive coms were provided as part of our course. All BCDs equipped with DSMBs. And i applaud Apex safety dive briefing.
The dive sites. Superb ! Lots to see. Ella adviced on dates and that gave us better vis underwater. Pristine water, much varieties of critters and corals... simply 100 fold better than TARP.
The AOW course. While Apex is a knowledgable and good instructor, I must add there is a somewhat limited adventure dives available. We did Deep, Navi and Peak Buoyancy. Fish ID... and a 'Drift dive' without much drifting, as what other choice we have left? No night dive (new moon, not their fault), no wrecks (again, not their fault), no nitrox.
All in all. Great place to chill and dive.
If you're up for specific dive experience or do certain Adventure dives, choices are limited. But one thing for sure, there is always a highlight/something interesting in every dive, that will keep anyone coming back for more.
Written 3 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iris Bootlurn
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia35 contributions
Jul 2019
My family and a few family friends decided to come here for holiday after climbing Mount Kinabalu. We were all sore and exhausted after those harcore 2 days, and this was the perfect place to go. At first, it looks a bit sketchy, as you take a boat from a rundown shack to a small island off the coast fo kota Belud. But the 'manager' of the place took us in to introduce us to the place. The hospitality was unmatched to anything I had ever expereinced. All the food was cooked by the gentleman, and you could ask for whatever you want, adjusting the menu to whatever your diet permits. The beach was extremely relaxing, the rooms were very small, but so cosy, with just a bedroom, a porch & a bathroom. It was quite a climb to get there, but the view from the hill is amazing.
The diving here was unmatched, it is so untouched that the coral is so alive. It looked like a scene out of the little mermaid, with pufferfish sleeping in purple coral 'cups', and octopi swimming around with no worry.
Paddleboards & kayaks are available, as is a snorkelling trip.
There is also a secret little area on the right of the beach, where you climb across the rocks for a few 100 metres for the most amazing sunset. Woul 100% reccomend, it was the best holiday I've ever been on, hands down.
Only negative is a few dogs who can get a bit energetic, so if you're not too keen on dogs, that may effect your decision.
The diving here was unmatched, it is so untouched that the coral is so alive. It looked like a scene out of the little mermaid, with pufferfish sleeping in purple coral 'cups', and octopi swimming around with no worry.
Paddleboards & kayaks are available, as is a snorkelling trip.
There is also a secret little area on the right of the beach, where you climb across the rocks for a few 100 metres for the most amazing sunset. Woul 100% reccomend, it was the best holiday I've ever been on, hands down.
Only negative is a few dogs who can get a bit energetic, so if you're not too keen on dogs, that may effect your decision.
Written 7 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the wonderful review! We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us :)
Written 15 October 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sergiusz Stefanowski
Oborniki Slaskie, Poland27 contributions
Aug 2019
Bigfin is perfectly located away from touristic places. Diving sites are marvelous. Beautiful coral gardens with rich marin life without any other divers boats within sight distance. One feels as in the hidden place.
Diving centre is professional,well organised.Diving takes between 7.30 till 12.30,so second half of the day is still for you and your family to spend together.
Diving sites one of best in SEA. Even experienced divers, which have seen a lot, will achieve high satisfaction.
Diving centre is professional,well organised.Diving takes between 7.30 till 12.30,so second half of the day is still for you and your family to spend together.
Diving sites one of best in SEA. Even experienced divers, which have seen a lot, will achieve high satisfaction.
Written 27 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane N
1 contribution
Aug 2019
Spent two nights at Big Fin in a new wooden chalet overlooking the bay. Simple but very pleasant accommodation. Hammocks on the balconies were a nice touch - lots of guests were using theirs and it was a relaxing way to chill after the morning's dives. Numerous flowering plants make the place attractive. Wholesome food with plenty of veg for the evening meal. The kitchen and shared dining area on the balcony in front are kept clean and tidy.
I went with my adult daughter, both beginners, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Big Fin seemed well-organised and well kitted out, with wetsuits and flippers (fins) in our sizes. We were instructed in the basics on board the speed boat before taking the initial plunge, with further practice underwater, standing on a sand patch. No time wasted! Our second dive was half an hour after the first, at a slightly deeper site. The water was warm. We saw cuttlefish, catfish, numerous iridescent fish, "Nemo" clownfish, starfish and more among the corals, sponges and seaweeds. Exhilarating.
Walked along the beach later and saw a two-foot long monitor lizard. Did our bit and collected five large bags of washed-up plastic bottles etc. The second evening we went the opposite direction and scrambled over and up rocks to view the sunset from the tip of the peninsular. Clear view of Mount Kinabalu across the bay, dominating the distant landscape. Fabulous!
I went with my adult daughter, both beginners, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Big Fin seemed well-organised and well kitted out, with wetsuits and flippers (fins) in our sizes. We were instructed in the basics on board the speed boat before taking the initial plunge, with further practice underwater, standing on a sand patch. No time wasted! Our second dive was half an hour after the first, at a slightly deeper site. The water was warm. We saw cuttlefish, catfish, numerous iridescent fish, "Nemo" clownfish, starfish and more among the corals, sponges and seaweeds. Exhilarating.
Walked along the beach later and saw a two-foot long monitor lizard. Did our bit and collected five large bags of washed-up plastic bottles etc. The second evening we went the opposite direction and scrambled over and up rocks to view the sunset from the tip of the peninsular. Clear view of Mount Kinabalu across the bay, dominating the distant landscape. Fabulous!
Written 26 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grace Y
Kuala Lumpur63 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
Finished off our trip to KK to climb Mount Kinabalu with a diving trip. Chanced upon Bigfin Divers, a true hidden gem nestled amidst nature.
I fell in love the moment I set foot on the beach. It was secluded and quiet, jazz playing on the stereo. Rooms were very clean. And I mean CLEAN. Spotless. Though basic, everything you need is available. Storage space, hangers for clothes, soap, shampoo. It is all very well thought of. I love the eco friendly concept as well. No airconds, just fans. But its cooling in the evenings. Lie on the hammocks and while the afternoons away!
Food was amazing. Homecooked, mostly Iocal dishes. I find it hard to forget that lovely banana pancake we had for breakfast. Beer and soft drinks are available for sale and on an honesty basis. Take a can, write it down. You can also help yourself to coffee and tea available in the kitchen. It’s like a community!!
Do not expect major entertainment as there is nothing on the beach. Bring a book, unwind, relax.
LOVED LOVED LOVED IT
I fell in love the moment I set foot on the beach. It was secluded and quiet, jazz playing on the stereo. Rooms were very clean. And I mean CLEAN. Spotless. Though basic, everything you need is available. Storage space, hangers for clothes, soap, shampoo. It is all very well thought of. I love the eco friendly concept as well. No airconds, just fans. But its cooling in the evenings. Lie on the hammocks and while the afternoons away!
Food was amazing. Homecooked, mostly Iocal dishes. I find it hard to forget that lovely banana pancake we had for breakfast. Beer and soft drinks are available for sale and on an honesty basis. Take a can, write it down. You can also help yourself to coffee and tea available in the kitchen. It’s like a community!!
Do not expect major entertainment as there is nothing on the beach. Bring a book, unwind, relax.
LOVED LOVED LOVED IT
Written 7 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mantababe
kent243 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
we were due to go to Mulu caves but thanks to maylasian airlines canceling our flights meant we had some days spares in our otherwise very busy trip to Borneo, we were at scuba junckies mabul and asked the receptionist if she had any suggestions-great move as she recommended Big Fin divers.
it was perfect, you actually felt as if you were on a desert island-you wasnt but you could only get to the area by boat. it is in a cove surrounded either by water or forest no roads hence the small boat. the huts or tents are on top of a hill so quite a few steps to climb [we had 3 x 20kg bags plus hand baggage ] which is hard work but SO WORTH it the view is amazing.
we stayed in a hunt basic but brilliant, there is a wall fan, lovely mossie net on bed, shower/toilet. there were ants every so often in room so do bring some kind of spray and dont leave snacks open or [as i found] in a plastic bag as they will climb in. the electric goes off during the night and comes back on sometime in the day time [fan stays on though] so take a torch. also try and be careful with water usage as they rely on rainfall and their water is often limited. there are also tents available but we didnt see inside these.
on the hut balcony, there were two hammocks which we used a lot just laying there reading and watching the amazing view of the beach, there were also hammocks dotted around the area and on the beach.
the food ...welll yummmmm. i dont eat meat and i did find that an issue when staying at full board places, but a word with the cook after the first meal and he soon was providing gorgeous non meat alternatives, his curry was one of the best and breakfast do have his banana pancakes [although could i suggest pineapple ones be done?] there is honey to go on them but if we were to go again id take some maple syrup with me.
there is a fridge in the kitchen with soft drinks/beer and you write on the pad what youve taken and pay at the end of the trip. hot drinks are available but you do have to ask, sometimes that meant a wait as the hobs were in use for food, a suggestion any chance of having a flask of hot water ready for when divers come back, dont know about other people but i do like my coffee post dive, if a flask was there we wouldnt have to bother the cook and its just sitting there waiting for us.
so onto the diving....we loved it. weve never seen so many gorgeous coloured corals. we saw a huge shoal of Baracudas that had more fish in the shoal than we saw at sipadan. the water had therms and got quite cold at some points, which we think was why we saw corals that you usually see at deeper depths like the big fan corals under 20mts, couldnt see any Pigma seahorses on them though. one dive we particularly liked had huge boulders [ellas garden], how on earth did they get there? they made for a very interesting dive although the current was strong in that area. another fave dive was fish bowl. on surface intervals, a snack and hot drink would have been nice. we also did a night dive on the island opposite and the last dive was also on this site i would liked more time to dive this area as its the type of diving i like....pottering around with my camera in shallow water which is great for photography.
we used BCD and my OH used their regs which were fine no issues at all, their wetsuits are shorties which my OH used but i had taken my 2.5ml long suit. there were not overly big containers of water for washing kit in and due to water shortage not full of water so i didnt feel kit got a good wash, also can i suggest a camera rinsing one please?
we hired kayak which we paddled over to the island opposite and snorkeled, not much life out there but we had a great time then OH dragged the kayak back whilst we both snorkeled getting nearer to big fin there were more juveniles to see. i also had a go at stand up paddle boarding for the first time, it was beautiful being out there the view was amazing and i often just sat on the board with my leg dangled over the side into the warm water....bliss we didnt do any jungle walks but apparently, these can be arranged.
the staff and ella were very very friendly and it had a great small family feel to the place, we love staying in small local type areas as opposed to the big holiday resorts and this was just perfect. the place was so restful/peaceful and not at all touristy, there was another visiting dive center that has an area of beach next door and they send out snorkeling boats the the island opposite but they didnt interfere with the peace. we loved the diving but i wouldn't recommend this area for interesting snorkeling if you have non diving members. also, bring all you need as you can not buy anything, so snacks etc if you bring snacks to consider some containers to put them in unless they are items that are eaten in one go and not say biscuits.
we really would like to go back to this amazing place one day.
it was perfect, you actually felt as if you were on a desert island-you wasnt but you could only get to the area by boat. it is in a cove surrounded either by water or forest no roads hence the small boat. the huts or tents are on top of a hill so quite a few steps to climb [we had 3 x 20kg bags plus hand baggage ] which is hard work but SO WORTH it the view is amazing.
we stayed in a hunt basic but brilliant, there is a wall fan, lovely mossie net on bed, shower/toilet. there were ants every so often in room so do bring some kind of spray and dont leave snacks open or [as i found] in a plastic bag as they will climb in. the electric goes off during the night and comes back on sometime in the day time [fan stays on though] so take a torch. also try and be careful with water usage as they rely on rainfall and their water is often limited. there are also tents available but we didnt see inside these.
on the hut balcony, there were two hammocks which we used a lot just laying there reading and watching the amazing view of the beach, there were also hammocks dotted around the area and on the beach.
the food ...welll yummmmm. i dont eat meat and i did find that an issue when staying at full board places, but a word with the cook after the first meal and he soon was providing gorgeous non meat alternatives, his curry was one of the best and breakfast do have his banana pancakes [although could i suggest pineapple ones be done?] there is honey to go on them but if we were to go again id take some maple syrup with me.
there is a fridge in the kitchen with soft drinks/beer and you write on the pad what youve taken and pay at the end of the trip. hot drinks are available but you do have to ask, sometimes that meant a wait as the hobs were in use for food, a suggestion any chance of having a flask of hot water ready for when divers come back, dont know about other people but i do like my coffee post dive, if a flask was there we wouldnt have to bother the cook and its just sitting there waiting for us.
so onto the diving....we loved it. weve never seen so many gorgeous coloured corals. we saw a huge shoal of Baracudas that had more fish in the shoal than we saw at sipadan. the water had therms and got quite cold at some points, which we think was why we saw corals that you usually see at deeper depths like the big fan corals under 20mts, couldnt see any Pigma seahorses on them though. one dive we particularly liked had huge boulders [ellas garden], how on earth did they get there? they made for a very interesting dive although the current was strong in that area. another fave dive was fish bowl. on surface intervals, a snack and hot drink would have been nice. we also did a night dive on the island opposite and the last dive was also on this site i would liked more time to dive this area as its the type of diving i like....pottering around with my camera in shallow water which is great for photography.
we used BCD and my OH used their regs which were fine no issues at all, their wetsuits are shorties which my OH used but i had taken my 2.5ml long suit. there were not overly big containers of water for washing kit in and due to water shortage not full of water so i didnt feel kit got a good wash, also can i suggest a camera rinsing one please?
we hired kayak which we paddled over to the island opposite and snorkeled, not much life out there but we had a great time then OH dragged the kayak back whilst we both snorkeled getting nearer to big fin there were more juveniles to see. i also had a go at stand up paddle boarding for the first time, it was beautiful being out there the view was amazing and i often just sat on the board with my leg dangled over the side into the warm water....bliss we didnt do any jungle walks but apparently, these can be arranged.
the staff and ella were very very friendly and it had a great small family feel to the place, we love staying in small local type areas as opposed to the big holiday resorts and this was just perfect. the place was so restful/peaceful and not at all touristy, there was another visiting dive center that has an area of beach next door and they send out snorkeling boats the the island opposite but they didnt interfere with the peace. we loved the diving but i wouldn't recommend this area for interesting snorkeling if you have non diving members. also, bring all you need as you can not buy anything, so snacks etc if you bring snacks to consider some containers to put them in unless they are items that are eaten in one go and not say biscuits.
we really would like to go back to this amazing place one day.
Written 5 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil M
Passy, France12 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
We spent 3 days at Big Fin Divers at the end of a 2 week trip around Borneo, and we felt very privileged to have found this paradise. 5 star luxury it is not (thankfully) so if you need a-c, wifi, TV & macchiatos then steer clear. These guys have created a place where the impact on the planet is minimal.
To get there you need to find a taxi driver who knows where to find the village where a small boat takes you across a bay to the white sand beach next to the Big Fin dive school. Behind the dive school, through a tropical garden, is the guest house with a few minimalist cabins where guests stay. The bedroom has a double bed with mosquito net and fan, a bathroom and a balcony with hammocks and view across the emerald bay, islands and jungle. You’re woken up by birdsong & jungle sounds and sometimes Rocky the dog who comes by for a pat. Then tough decisions - banana pancakes or porridge for breakfast, then snorkel / dive / kayak / finish that book and in which order. You can also look forward to mealtimes, predominantly Malaysian, with plenty of veggie options, and usually fruit to finish.
Due to the remote location, it’s not on the grid or mains water supply, so you’re encouraged to be conscious of the resources you’re using, ie water and electricity. Solar panels combined with a generator provide power, but yes there are occasional power cuts, phone signal is sporadic (bring cash to cover your extra costs rather than rely on the credit card machine).
To us, the appreciation of the planet’s natural beauty, alongside the hospitality of the team running Big Fin Divers overwhelmingly overshadowed any minor inconvenience. On the contrary, it was an excellent opportunity to explain to our kids about consumption and conservation of resources.
We WILL be back... in the meantime, please don’t change a thing!
To get there you need to find a taxi driver who knows where to find the village where a small boat takes you across a bay to the white sand beach next to the Big Fin dive school. Behind the dive school, through a tropical garden, is the guest house with a few minimalist cabins where guests stay. The bedroom has a double bed with mosquito net and fan, a bathroom and a balcony with hammocks and view across the emerald bay, islands and jungle. You’re woken up by birdsong & jungle sounds and sometimes Rocky the dog who comes by for a pat. Then tough decisions - banana pancakes or porridge for breakfast, then snorkel / dive / kayak / finish that book and in which order. You can also look forward to mealtimes, predominantly Malaysian, with plenty of veggie options, and usually fruit to finish.
Due to the remote location, it’s not on the grid or mains water supply, so you’re encouraged to be conscious of the resources you’re using, ie water and electricity. Solar panels combined with a generator provide power, but yes there are occasional power cuts, phone signal is sporadic (bring cash to cover your extra costs rather than rely on the credit card machine).
To us, the appreciation of the planet’s natural beauty, alongside the hospitality of the team running Big Fin Divers overwhelmingly overshadowed any minor inconvenience. On the contrary, it was an excellent opportunity to explain to our kids about consumption and conservation of resources.
We WILL be back... in the meantime, please don’t change a thing!
Written 27 April 2019
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Hi, Is there a camping area on this site?
Aleksander V
Maribor, Slovenia109 contributions
Hello, they have an area where there is possible to put a tent, so the answer would be yes. Enjoy!