We contacted down below last minute for diving via whatsapp and they were very accommodating. The... read more
We contacted down below last minute for diving via whatsapp and they were very accommodating. The... read more
Fantastic dive centre. The setup is so professionally organised, the staff are all amazing... read more
Not at all acomadating, only interested in making a quick dollar off their customers. I have been on two dive trips, both times should have been cancelled due to weather conditions but they insisted. and they turned out to be some of the worst dives I have ever been on. I spoke to a representative before the pick up and told them that the weather conditions were not good, they said I would not get a refund. Went because I didnt want to waste nearly 200usd and it would have been better if i through dive gear on and jumped in the pool at the resort
Hi Ejhair, we are surprised by your review - as this was your second booking with us. For the first day you gave us excellent feedback on our questionnaire and there was certainly no mention of the dives being “some of the worst”. Surely if you thought that the diving and our service was that bad then you wouldn’t have booked a second time with us?
To address your comments over “bad weather”. Kota Kinabalu is located in a tropical rainforest & ocean environment, 90% of the time we wake up to clear perfect blue skies. We often see torrential rain for a short period later in the day. Bad weather on the day of your diving meant no blue skies and it was over-cast with light rain. Most of the time when we experience this in the early morning, soon as the sun has had chance to warm up the land we see the blue skies come back, we have been conducting outdoor activities here in Sabah for 15 years and we know the pattern well. We would never hesitate about our safety measures and certainly would not put anyone at risk for money.
We adhere strictly to PADI standards and procedures and British HSE diving at work guidelines, our safety standards are so thorough that we are in fact British Ministry Of Defence approved as a commercial diving operator for the British forces. One of only two centres world-wide outside of the UK. The other 9 are located in the UK.
As you know from your first day diving with us, we limit the number of people that we take out every day to ensure maximum enjoyment and less divers. This means we turn a lot of people away to reserve pre-booked spots. When you cancel on pick up its impossible for us to re-sell your spot.
We also pride ourselves as an honest tour operator, you agreed to our booking policy as well as our terms and conditions for last minute cancellations these were presented to you at the time of booking. You cancelled your booking when our driver was there to pick you up for the day trip which was a 45 minute drive away from Kota Kinabalu.
We would have been happy to reschedule your diving if you would have contacted us earlier. Instead of talking to us, you jumped online and wrote this review.
I hope this answers your comments and clears up your misunderstanding, wishing you safe travels ahead!
Good and Friendly Company, support again next time
Is good for someone want to join course like Open Water Diving.
Hi Carlosw748, cheers and thank you for your review!
Congratulations and welcome to the underwater world.
This is my go-to diving company in KK! Why? 3 reasons: 1. they have their own base/dive resort on an island just few minutes boat ride from the KK marina. 2. Well maintained/good equipment. 3. Responsible and pleasant team - I feel more relaxed and safe knowing they have my back. THANK YOU DownBelow!
Hi Borderless_chef, thank you for your continuous support! Your trust and confidence in us truly means a lot to the team. Know that our fun loving and professional team is always looking forward to your next diving day with us.
Wishing you lovely days ahead!
While I was in Kota Kinabalu, I really wanted to get out for a dive, my wife unfortunately doesn’t dive, so I knew I was going to be on my own. After some research for local dive companies and reading many great reviews, I ended up selecting Down Below Diving . They met and exceeded all expectations I had for the day. I was picked up promptly from the hotel, and taken by boat transfer to Gaya island, where their dive centre is located. I met up with a couple people who were also solo diving and made quick friends. They had also being diving the previous couple of days with Down Below, so they set my mind at ease for how things where going to proceed. Once I showed up, I was given a detailed orientation of the facility as well as setup with all the gear I needed for the dives. I selected the fun dive, which included 3 varieties of dives on the beautiful coral reefs just off the shoreline on Gaya.
Jack the dive master was very helpful during the dives to point out animals of interest, and keep a great watch on all the divers he was in charge of. I felt extremely safe, and they had a very calm approach to their tours, which made me feel very at ease. I knew I was in the hands of experienced divers, who knew these waters well. With all three dives complete, a great lunch, coffee, and snacks, it was a great way to spend a day doing something I love to do. I would highly recommend anyone of any level of diver to check out Down Below Diving. I only wish I had more time in Kota to be able to do more dives with them. Thanks again for the great experience, will definitely come back again!
Hi Mackenzie, we’re so glad you found us! Thank you for your lovely comments - Jack and our island teams are definitely a fun loving unit who make sure everybody can enjoy diving in the beautiful reefs and safe environments. We hope to welcome you back to our island paradise soon!
We had a few days with Downbelow in KK. We had an enjoyable multi activity day sea kayaking and snorkelling as a family of 4 with our own guide. The weather was questionable but our guide was able to switch things around to make it work. All new experiences for our younger teen. The second day it was the discovery scuba diving for the two teens, all new for our younger one who really enjoyed the whole experience, I believe a new diver in the making. I think the experience of Downbelow and the friendliness of the whole team from the front desk to our guide and even those not directly involved with us made all the difference.
This was my second time with these guys hence the reason to bring my younger one along feeling confident from my past experience, I and my family weren’t disappointed. If we have the chance we’ll be back again.
Hi T0mS, thank you so much for your trust and choosing us again for your island activities!
Here at Downbelow Adventures we pride ourselves on small group instruction ensuring our clients get the very best of attention from the instructor. We’re happy that you and your family had a great time - especially your children, its great for families to enjoy such activities together. Hope to welcome you again soon!
My husband and I completed our PADI Rescue Diver, Divemaster, and Instructor Development Course from December 2018 to February 2019 and had an amazing experience. Everyone at Downbelow is so professional, friendly, and helpful. The quality of the courses, especially the IDC, was top notch. The curriculum is well explained and all the IDC staff was so thorough, making sure all the IDC candidates would be prepared for the Instructor Examination and for a career as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. Our class was small so we really got personal attention to help us improve on an any area that we were struggling on. They also fostered a community feel among the IDC candidates and encouraged us to learn from and help each other where we could. The training facilities were also fantastic. Gaya Island is just a 10 minute boat ride from KK, but it feels so secluded. And the bay at the island is perfect for conducting confined and open water sessions. They've really thought of everything. I highly recommend Downbelow for any PADI training. Special thanks to Richard, Imane, Pablo, Chrizz, Lulu, and Clarence for all their expert training and Melissa in the Downbelow office for allowing the whole process to run so seamlessly for the 10 weeks we were in KK.
Hi acarlisle1, wow thank you for your comments and congratulations on successfully completing your IDC course! We are always committed to delivering the best services to our clients and we’re glad that you experienced the professionalism of our team first hand. It is always wonderful to be able to welcome fellow PADI professionals like yourselves, until next time!