Initially I wanted to stay with a different company in one of the water village bungalows on Mabul, or around, but the prices for our non-diver was quite extortionate as my non-diver sister promised to spend time with Sofia to give us the indulgence of 3 days of diving. Furthermore, Scuba Junkies turned out to be much more dive-centric than the other local companies.
Phil and I hadn't been diving since 2007, and I slept really badly the night before having realised that I couldn't even remember how to fit my kit together, let alone the basic skills for diving - what buoyancy?! I needn't worry, we were able to get a refresher as part of the first fundive. Sam, our dive master was absolutely wonderful, and the buddy procedures and basic skills came flooding back.
The arrival to the island wasn't as smooth, sadly. No one was able to locate the baby cot so we had to carry 2 extra bags on top of everything else.
Be also warned that the first dive is straight off the boat! We didn't know this so we had a major faff with finding our swimmers and quickly briefing my sister about Sofia's stuff - and teach her to change a nappy on the jetty...
Within 15 minutes of arrival onto the island we were already fitted, kitted, and reminding ourselves how to clear our masks. Our first dive was rewarded with the first sighting of a green turtle - absolutely brilliant feeling!
Our non-diver was also pleased with the resort, although the the swimming opportunities with a toddler are limited. There is great snorkelling off the Scuba Junkies jetty but the choppy sea scared Sofia a bit so Suvi was resourceful and went swimming to the next resort's yard! Swimming isn't necessarily recommended off the shore as the sea gypsies living next door dump a lot of their rubbish straight into the sea. But the beach is beautifully white and there is enough shade for great sand castle building. And there is a small turtle sanctuary on the beach - if you are lucky you might get a sight of them laying eggs one evening!
Our non-diver was also pleased with the resort, although the the swimming opportunities with a toddler are limited. There is great snorkelling off the Scuba Junkies jetty but the choppy sea scared Sofia a bit so Suvi was resourceful and went swimming to the next resort's yard! Swimming isn't necessarily recommended off the shore as the sea gypsies living next door dump a lot of their rubbish straight into the sea. But the beach is beautifully white and there is enough shade for great sand castle building. And there is a small turtle sanctuary on the beach - if you are lucky you might get a sight of them laying eggs one evening!
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