Alarm goes off at 0530h… A God forsaken hour on holiday.

*In my books at least.

I’m on a holiday and I’m up this early to go diving.

By 0600h I was shoving down a piece for peanut butter toast down my throat, washing it down with coffee and making my way down to the pier, all in a half-asleep-mode. It’s clearly stated on the white board that the boat leaves to Sipadan Island at 0630h and it’s a day trip!

*Packed my gear the night before, as I did do the zombie walk to the pier.

Double check; got everything! And we’re off!

40 minutes later we’re on Sipadan Island and it certainly is a beautiful day to be diving out here. The water looks perfect: calm and clear. First things first, we have to sign up with the marine police on the island before we start diving. It’s mandatory.

*I desperately needed the toilet too!

Right there, on the board, was my name, as requested, added to the list of tomorrow’s divers to Si Amil Island and it’s a day trip!

*After Sipadan, this is the next best place to dive according to all the dive guides I’ve spoken to. 

Si Amil Island lies an hour away from Mabul Island. The only habitants on the island consist of the marine base, which is situated there as a guard post. Next to it is another island that is fairly dense in population known as Danawan Island.

*Before any diving activity can commence, a list of names of divers and their credentials are passed on to the marine’s for documentation purpose. 

Perfect afternoon sunshine, the smell of the sea and the warm afternoon breeze... I've been looking forward to this trip for weeks. Whisked away on a speedboat from Semporna, Mabul Island was just a 40 minutes boat ride away.