Scuba Diving Internships - Kota Kinablau

Scuba Diving internships are great way to spend the summer months, between university holidays, gap years or sabbaticals from work !!!

Pictured left: Tom (aka: Rambo) a KK dive club member joins our scuba diving internship candidates, Gabriel, Simon & Joe for the PADI Rescue Diver portion of their program.

Our Internship program has become very popular and successful. Please take a look at our FACEBOOK account to see up to date information on Gaya Island happenings and see how the scuba diving internship candidates are progressing with their training.

The internships represent great value for money, provide exceptional experiences and training and at the same time they are great fun.

On all our internships you receive UNLIMITED scuba diving. We can offer this because our PADI 5 Star Dive Centre is based within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park with direct access to our training lagoon & house reef.

Based only 10 minutes from the City of Kota Kinabalu, we dive everyday !

Annually we run a minimum of two Instructor Development Courses (IDC) to co-inside with these two IDC courses we run 1 month - 1 year internship programs, which can be joined at any time throughout the year.

Our internship programs cater for people who are complete beginners to the sport of diving and those more experienced.

We include very affordable accommodation to participants.

Continuing education is offered to the already certified PADI Instructor as Emergency First Response Instructor, Master Scuba Diver Trainer and IDC Staff Instructor.

Anyone can apply to join our program, for more information please see our Professional PADI Internship Program dedicated web pages or contact us.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Promotion Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort & Scuba Diving or Snorkeling Pacakge

Shangri La Rasa Ria & Scuba Diving Promotional Package

Stay at the Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort for 4 nights, Scuba Dive for 2 days (6 Dives).

What a perfect way to spend your holiday in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah !!!

Promotional Rate - based on 2 people sharing NETT .

Garden Wing
Garden View: MYR 1,950.00 per person

Ocean Wing
Ocean View: MYR 2,735.00 per person



Includes:
4 Nights Room with Buffet Breakfast for Two People
2 Days Scuba Diving in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park from Gaya Island with Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures.
Hotel - Island return transfers, all park fees, jetty fees, refreshments, lunch, equipment rental included. Qualified Divers enjoy 6 boat dives, non qualified divers enjoy first morning Discover Scuba Diving Program followed by 4 Boat dives.
Non divers enjoy fully guided snorkeling or relaxing on the beach or trekking the rainforest trails of Gaya Island.

NO HIDDEN CHARGES !!!!

Only - additional peak season surcharges apply to accommodation during:
From 15th July to 31st August 2010 (Summer Holidays)
From 21nd December 2010 to 4th January 2011 (Christmas, New Year)
From 1 – 7 February 2011 (Chinese New Year 2011)
Please contact us for peak season rates !

For more information and to see images of the Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort please peruse the website.
 
Feel free to call us on +6 012 866 1935 or Email Us with your enquiry.

Pulau Tiga Resort Overnight Trip, Guided Snorkeling & BBQ Dinner & Snake Island

We recently conducted an overnight trip to Pulau Tiga for a group of 21 guests and what a fabulous trip it was !!

We have the fastest dive boats in Kota Kinabalu, able to transfer 21 and more in one group to P Tiga in less than 1 hour ;) which makes a trip to Tiga very comfortable and quick.

This was put to the test again last week when we arrived at Pulau Tiga in 40 minutes from the Sutera Harbour Marina - our mainland departure location.

Quick transfer times means more time to spend diving, playing in the mud volcano and enjoying the delicious cuisine of Tiga resorts buffet lunch - resort style !

Our guests enjoyed a morning of guided snorkeling, a buffet lunch then off to the mud volcano. In the evening we organized a BBQ dinner with overnight accommodation on the island then a boat trip to snake island the following day, lunch then back to Kota Kinabalu.

This paradise island surrounded by pristine tropical waters is located 6 miles offshore Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. 

Formed on September 21st 1897 when an earthquake on the Philippine island of Mindanao triggered a volcanic eruption just north of Borneo.

The eruption of mud and rock formed a new island 20 meters wide.

The last eruption of the volcano was in 1941 but to this day warm mud continues to ooze from geometric vents on the island.

These mud baths are safe to bath in and although not proved by science the mud bath is claimed to improve the complexion, relieve joint and muscle pain and remove toxins.

If nothing else they are great fun and very relaxing !!

Day Trip Itinerary

0730 hrs: Depart Sutera Harbour Marina
0830 hrs: Tea/ Coffee on Pulau TIGA Island
0900 hrs: 1st Boat Dive / Guided Snorkelling / Free & Easy Relaxation
1015 hrs: Tea/ Coffee on Pulau TIGA Island (time to relax)
11:00 hrs: 2nd Boat Dive / Guided Snorkelling / Free & Easy Relaxation
1230 hrs: Buffet Lunch & Free & Easy Relaxation
1400 hrs: Guided Trip to the Mud Volcano (fabulous fun for all)
1500 hrs: Frolic in the Ocean washing off all that Mud !!
1530 hrs: Depart for Kota Kinabalu OR evening BBQ and overnight stay. Trip to Snake Island on day 2, lunch and transfer back to Kota Kinabalu !

To discover more about this fascinating island and great day trip please visit our Pulau Tiga pages.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Jeredong International School complete PADI Open Water Course, Kota Kinabalu

Congratulations and thanks goes out the kids and teachers at Jeredong International School in Brunei for completing their PADI Open Water Diver Course, Scuba and Snorkeling experience in TARP, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

The group of 11 lead by Wendy & Stewart completed PADI openwater courses while others improved their diving and snorkeling skills with pleasure dives & guided snorkeling.

Before coming to our Gaya Island PADI 5 Star IDC Dive & Adventure centre the group joined the Downbelow Bus for a day of KK sightseeing with Humpfrey our registered guide.

The day trip included visiting the Orangutans and Cultural village.


At Downbelow we specialize in Group Events, Schools, Colleges, University, Clubs and Organizations.

Taking the brief from the client and formulating itineraries to suit group size and duration.

For more information on Adventure Training and Corporate Events please see our dedicated webpages or contact our International Events Organizers Richard or Joanne

Lots more images from the event can be found on our FACEBOOK

PADI Divemaster Internship Gaya Island Sabah Malaysia

Two years ago we began a Professional Scuba Diving Internship Scholarship Program for local people in Sabah Malaysia.

Local people who would like a professional career in the scuba diving industry are invited to apply for this 1 year program to become PADI Divemasters, an education that would otherwise be too expensive for them to achieve.

Our company Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures Sdn Bhd, provides the financial support for such training within our PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center on Gaya Island and the Internship Trainees also receive a monthly allowance.

We are very proud to welcome Fidelis, Lester and Alvin to the professional world of diving. All three of them have successfully achieved their goal of becoming a PADI Divemaster with us.

Now they have their sights on becoming a PADI Scuba Instructor, the next stage of the their diving career

They serve as a great example to others who have enrolled on this rewarding program. One of Downbelow's missions is to bring local people up to this professional level within the diving industry and help them become among the best diving professionals in Sabah enabling them to earn a respectable income and provide a better quality of life for themselves and their families.

Our local Professional Scuba Diving Internship Scholarship Program complements our International Internship Program. Should you be interested to join either the Local or International Internship Program, please Contact Us.

Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off for Island Day Trips

We have added a van to our fleet of vehicles providing comfort & service to our guests joining us on Gaya Island for the day scuba diving, snorkeling, trekking & sea kayaking.

We offer free hotel pick up and drop offs from KK & Tanjung Aru for all confirmed bookings which makes a day on Gaya Island within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park very easy to organize.

Gaya Island is only 5-8 minutes by speedboat from Kota Kinabalu.

We are an authorized commercial operator at Sutera Harbour Marina which is our mainland departure point where guests join our boats bringing them to our PADI 5 Star IDC Dive & Adventure Centre nestled in Hornbill Bay - Gaya Island. Surrounded by primary jungle rainforest and tropical ocean this paradise island is draped in history and so full of life - a perfect getaway from the city.

Offering daily scuba diving to 49 surrounding reefs and wrecks, PADI scuba diving courses from beginner to master instructor, snorkeling, sea kayaking and guided trekking.

A day or multiple day trip to Gaya Island should not be missed when visiting Sabah, Borneo.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Springs Day Trip from Kota Kinabalu

Kinabalu Park Day Trip – “A Walk In The Park”
“Offering Great Flexibility – so much to see in One Day !!”

The ecosystems of Mt Kinabalu are very special with climatic zones ranging from tropical lowland forests to polar type summit zones.

This great mountain has become an icon of natural history and successful conservation whilst maintaining its position as the most accessible of high mountains to climb and explore.

This private day trip to Mt Kinabalu offers great flexibility – whether you wish to take relaxed walks along the river and through mountain trails, enjoy the beautiful and rare flowers of the Botanical garden, see the rainforest from a different perspective at 45m above the canopy floor, take a dip into sulfur springs or try your luck at searching for the Raflessia Flower – all this can be experienced on a one day trip from Kota Kinabalu.

For the more adventurous you can climb HALF WAY to the summit !!!

This 8 KM return climb follows the same route that climbers of Mt Kinabalu take but instead of continuing to Laban Rata you will turn around at Layang Layang (2700m) and return to the comfort of your car and driver It’s a very physical climb and can get a little cold at 2700m but well worth the views.

For more information on this fabulous day trip from Kota Kinabalu please CONTACT US.

Please contact us should you wish to come and spend the day on Gaya Island, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking or just relaxing.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition & guiding providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

PADI IDC Course OWSI Scuba Instructor Asia

IDC - Instructor Development Course, AI, OWSI & EFRI Course - Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo Malaysia.

If you are hoping to become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor we have 2 great programs that you can join.

We are offering an IDC 1 month Internship which offers exceptional value for money, you enjoy UMLIMITED Scuba Diving from our island based PADI 5 Star IDC Centre and free IDC prep. OR if you are short on time you can join us for your IDC Course which also includes free IDC Prep.

Dates:

AI & OWSI (IDC) & EFRI Course
Dates: 27th August - 10th September 2010
IE: 11th & 12th September in KK 

1 month IDC Internship with Unlimited Scuba Diving & OWSI (IDC) & EFRI Course
Dates: 11th August - 10th September 2010
IE: 11th & 12th September in KK 

With our staff team of Course Director, Master Instructor and 2 Staff Instructors our staff to candidate ratio is very high which helps to ensure 100 % success !!!!

Covering areas as diverse as risk management, teaching children, the business of diving and PADI standards and procedures, the IDC is designed to develop a rounded diving educator who can work anywhere in the world.

The IDC begins and encompasses two PADI programs: The Assistant Instructor Course and The Open Water Scuba Instructor Course.

Together these two programs make up the full IDC.

Certification as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor is by successful completion of the PADI Instructor Examination scheduled at the end of the IDC, confirmed for 11th & 12th September 2010 also in Kota Kinabalu.

This is where PADI Instructor Examiners fly from Sydney Australia to assess and examine the IDC Candidates.

More information on our courses and internships can be found at our IDC Course Asia website.

TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Learn to Scuba Dive, PADI Scuba Diver Course TARP Kota Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia

Short of time but still want to join a Scuba Diving course, learn how to scuba dive and experience the beauty of the Underwater World ?

Then we have the perfect solution for you - The PADI Scuba Diver Course which takes 2 days to complete.

PADI Scuba Diver Course - 2 days

The PADI Scuba Diver program is a pre-entry level certification that is perfect for vacationers or people who only plan to dive a couple times a year.

As a subprogram of the PADI Open Water Diver program, the PADI Scuba Diver rating allows you to get certified quickly and easily by minimizing time constraints.

With the PADI Scuba Diver certification you can dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Instructor or higher professional on your next vacation or dive trip to a maximum of 12m. 

What do I need to start?

Virtually anyone who is in good health, reasonably fit, and comfortable in the water can earn a Scuba Diver certification. If you are between 10 and 14 or have a child between these ages, there is a PADI Junior Scuba Diver program available

What will I do?

Throughout the course, you’ll learn fundamentals of scuba diving, including dive equipment and techniques.

You earn this rating by completing confined water dives in our lagoon in front of our island based dive centre (pictured below). You will also complete knowledge development sessions which take place at our island paradise below, plus you will make two open water dives in the surrounding tropical ocean.



How long will it take?

PADI programs are performance based. You proceed as you demonstrate mastery of the course skills. This allows you to work at a pace that is comfortable for you, we allocate 2 days for this course.

Where can I go from here?
After completing the Scuba Diver program, you can at anytime continue your diving education by completing the PADI Open Water Course with any PADI Dive Center which will take an additional 2 days. 

How do I book my place ?

Please send us an email with your preferred dates and we'll schedule your course.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Painted Clownfish, The Best Dive Sites, Reef Clean Ups, PADI Courses and Leisure Diving

New scuba diving sites, reef & fishing net clean ups, lots of new divers, budding underwater photographers and an abundance of critters are just some of what’s been happening at Downbelows PADI 5 Star Dive & Adventure Centre on Gaya Island over the past couple of weeks !!

Scuba diving with us at Downbelow is very exciting because we have some of the very best dive guides in the region. With many years of local knowledge and experience we know exactly where to look for the beautifully ugly creature critters of the reef !!!

This week causing much excitement has been the discovery of 2 - yes TWO juvenile painted frog fish on one of the reefs close to our dive centre. We hope that these shy and sensitive creatures will stay in the area for a long while.

We found a fishing net washed up on North Sulug, one of our favorite dive sites, the very next day Richard, a few members of staff and our Divemaster trainees spent almost the whole day cutting it away, fish were saved and the reef was left with only a little damage.

Lots of guests have enjoyed leisure diving to some of the best dive sites at TARP offshore to Usukan Bay WW2 Wrecks, The Rock and Mayne Rock.

The visibility has been great too this week, surface waters were a little low at times due to some heavy rain but still very enjoyable.

Should you wish to come and visit us at our island based dive & adventure center located on the beach with a resort like feel it is a fun place to spend the day, enjoying the tropical surroundings and chatting about all the wonderful creatures you will have spotted.  

For more information on scuba diving Gaya Island, TARP and Sabah’s West Coast please peruse our links to the left, starting with the Dive Trip section.

For more information on the marine creatures you are likely to see please peruse our Marine Biology Section of the website. All information and photography is the work of Richard and Joanne, Directors of Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures.

TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

FIND US ON GOOGLE MAPS !

Promotion Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort & Scuba Diving or Snorkeling Pacakge

Shangri La Rasa Ria & Scuba Diving Promotional Package

Stay at the Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort for 4 nights, Scuba Dive for 2 days (6 Dives).

What a perfect way to spend your holiday in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah !!!

Promotional Rate - based on 2 people sharing NETT .

Garden Wing
Garden View: MYR 1,950.00 per person

Ocean Wing
Ocean View: MYR 2,735.00 per person
Save more $$$ with extra days & nights !

Includes:
4 Nights Room with Buffet Breakfast for Two People
2 Days Scuba Diving in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park from Gaya Island with Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures.
Hotel - Island return transfers, all park fees, jetty fees, refreshments, lunch, equipment rental included. Qualified Divers enjoy 6 boat dives, non qualified divers enjoy first morning Discover Scuba Diving Program followed by 4 Boat dives.
Non divers enjoy fully guided snorkeling or relaxing on the beach or trekking the rainforest trails of Gaya Island.
Pre-payment is required.

NO HIDDEN CHARGES !!!!

Only - additional peak season surcharges apply to accommodation during:
From 15th July to 31st August 2010 (Summer Holidays)
From 21nd December 2010 to 4th January 2011 (Christmas, New Year)
From 1 – 7 February 2011 (Chinese New Year 2011)
Please contact us for peak season rates !

For more information and to see images of the Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort please peruse the website.
 
Feel free to call us on +6 012 866 1935 or Email Us with your enquiry.

Kota Kinabalu’s Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP) sees Conservation Dividends.

Ghostpipefish – a prize find in any location haven’t been this plentiful for long while and we believe the return of fantastical creatures to Kota Kinabalu’s Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP) is pure conservation dividends.

Like many marine creature Ghostpipefish are seasonal and now is their peak season but its been years since they were in such abundance.

TARP has historically been shunned by divers thinking anywhere in Sabah other than Sipadan is boring.

However with marine life returning to the reefs and rare creature encounters frequent, Downbelow is convinced that conservation efforts are rejuvenating the park.

We see something wonderful on every dive - vibrant corals, unusual Nudibranches, Marble & Eagle Rays, Schools of Chevron Barracuda, Orang Utan Crabs, Pajama Cardinals; they’re all here within sight of the city.

Gaya Island & TARP have enjoyed increased protection from Sabah Parks and it’s the reduction of illegal fishing practices that’s a major contributor to the return of marine life.

To discover more about diving Borneo and to dive Gaya Island & TARP, please peruse our website.

For more information on the marine creatures you are likely to see please peruse our Marine Biology Section of the website. All information and photography is the work of Richard and Joanne, Directors of Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

FIND US ON GOOGLE MAPS !

Hartpury College enjoy Discover Scuba Diving on Gaya Island TARP

Downbelow hosted 19 students and their teacher from Hartpury College in UK for a fabulous day of Scuba Diving from Gaya Island.

It was a mental day on the island with 36 people in total enjoying the activities - 21 of them were Discover Scuba Divers !! But everyone split into their small groups with their instructors - even with this many people we maintain our very personnel attention to instruction and safety - the more the merrier - and this day sure was !!!!

As usual the whole Downbelow team did a top job well done guys you made us very proud !

The group from Hartpury College in the UK and all our other divers and snorkelers had a great time on the island today discovering scuba and enjoying our little piece of paradise with their Downbelow Instructors (not sure who had the most fun ;)

At Downbelow we specialize in Group Events, Schools, Colleges, University, Clubs and Organizations.

Taking the brief from the client and formulating itineraries to suit group size and duration.

For more information on Adventure Training and Corporate Events please see our dedicated webpages or contact our International Events Organizers Richard or Joanne

Lots more images from the event can be found on our FACEBOOK

Holiday Promotion ! Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort & Lankayan Dive Resort, Discounts & Special Rates & Packages, Sabah Malaysia

We are very pleased to offer a special holiday promotion with additional discounts for bookings at Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort and Lankayan island Resort from 1st November to 15th December 2010.

Further discounts are available if you book TWO Centre Packages with us at Gaya Island !!!

We are taking bookings NOW for these dates.



We are offering an additional 10% discount to our already discounted rates which make staying at these beautiful resorts a must when visiting Sabah !!

Please see our dedicated web pages of Celebes Sea Accommodation and Lankayan Island to learn more about these tropical destinations and see some stunning images.

Both resorts are protected under our "Price Promise".

Please email us for more information and to check availability.

Why not start begin your holiday in Kota Kinabalu and Scuba Dive, Snorkel or come Trekking with us on Gaya Island within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

Our Dive and Adventure Center offers Marine & Wildlife lovers an unforgettable day trip in paradise !

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Why Scuba Dive Borneo with Dive Downbelow !!

Dive Borneo - Dive Downbelow - What makes Downbelow Different ?

There are only two Dive Centres actually based in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park - we are one of those two !!!

We also have our Head Office in KK Times Square offering tailor-made Travel in Sabah. 

Our island based dive & adventure center provides a very special experience. Located on the beach with a resort like feel it is a fun place to spend the day, enjoying the tropical surroundings and chatting about all the wonderful creatures you will have spotted.  

Plus .... 


Safety & Equipment 
New and maintained Dive Equipment with Documented Service History 
Boats equipped with Sounders, GPS and Marine Radios for Complete Safety and Enjoyment 
Marine Radio & Handheld Radio Communication links the Team & Dive Centre
DAN Emergency Oxygen Kit and First Aid Kits on Boats and at Dive Centre
Emergency Assistant Plan & Risk Assessment Updated and Displayed
All staff members trained in Emergency First Response with 7 in house EFR Instructors

Enjoyment 
Offering the widest range of Scuba Diving Courses - Try Dives to Staff Instructor - in house !
Offering the widest range of Scuba Diving Day Trips on comfortable, fast dive boats.
37ft, 35ft & 32ft Comfortable Powerful Dive Boats – plenty of space with cover from the Sun & Rain !
Small Groups & Personal treatment - No Crowds !
Fresh Water Showers and Toilets !
Marine Biology Information & Enthusiastic Staff 
Over 50 dive sites within easy reach of our Dive Centre 
Only 5 minutes by Speedboat from Kota Kinabalu City

Experience 
Authorized PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive & Adventure Centre 
PADI Professionals in Active Teaching Status 
International Team - British, Malaysian, Chinese 
7 x PADI Instructors, 2 x PADI Assistant Instructors, 2 x PADI Divemasters, 4 x Snorkel Guides and 24 members in the Downbelow Team resulting in an Exception Level of Service 
Underwater Photography Experts - in House 
Fully Licensed through the Ministry of Culture, Arts & Tourism 

FIND US ON GOOGLE MAPS !

For bookings please call or email us

TEL: +6 012 867 7375
www.divedownbelow.com

Criptic Critters ! Ghostpipefish, Gaya Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Kota Kinabalu

Ornate or Harlequin Ghostpipefish - Solenostomus paradoxus

Closely related to the family Syngnathidae - Seahorses and Pipefish they are from same order and share the long tube like snout.

Easily identified and arguably the most elaborate of Syngnathiformes, the Ornate or Harlequin Ghostpipefish is a highly prized discovery among divers and underwater photographers and we have several pairs around Gaya Island and within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

The fins of the Ornate Ghostpipefish are well developed, large and as the name suggests ornately decorated.

Spending most of its time in a head down position, drifting or slowly swimming in gentle surge and currents. In our image to the left, photographed by Richard just a couple of minutes from our PADI 5 Star IDC Centre on Gaya Island, you can see a pair of Ghostpipefish cryptically nestled among the branches of a feather star.

Their coloration is variable and the female has much larger ventral fins to store her eggs. Males are generally smaller in size than females, who grow to approximately 10cm in length. If undisturbed they will remain in the same host fauna for many weeks allowing us to revisit and respectfully show our divers !!!

Gaya Island and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park - TARP offers some fabulous scuba diving possibilities, teeming with marine life it should not be missed by divers coming to Sabah.

For more information on scuba diving Gaya Island, TARP and Sabah’s West Coast please peruse our links to the left, starting with the Dive Trip section.

For more information on the marine creatures you are likely to see please peruse our Marine Biology Section of the website. All information and photography is the work of Richard and Joanne, Directors of Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Downbelow Travel Centre Girls go Scuba Diving - Gaya Island

Downbelow’s Travel Centre girls took to the reefs last weekend and spend the day Scuba Diving on Gaya Island.

PADI Staff Instructor Joanne conducted a Discover Scuba Diving program with Azlina & Shiau Lee - already a qualified diver joined for a Scuba Review as its been a while since her last.

The water was stunning and we saw schools of fish, some beautiful coral reef and had a fabulous day all round !!!

More information on our courses, day trips and travel packages please peruse our links to the right.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

Project Aware - Dive for Earth Day Awareness on Gaya Island

REVERSING THE TIDE – CLEANING UP GAYA ISLAND

Last Sunday, dive operator Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures invited 40 volunteers, both local and foreign, to lead by example and clean up the rubbish choking the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

Working from 9am till 2pm on the shores near Sabah Parks Headquarters & Downbelows PADI 5 Star IDC Centre, the trekking trail and in the mangrove swamps, Downbelow staff and the volunteers managed to rid the environment of the TAR Park of a staggering amount of rubbish, which included
• 180kg of glass bottles (mostly discarded beer bottles);
• 50kg of plastic items (plastic bags and drinks bottles the main culprits); and
• 40kg of aluminium and tin cans.

The clean-up is to help raise awareness for Dive for Earth Day coming up in April, a PADI Project AWARE initiative that encourages the conservation of our oceans, be it below the surface or on the shorelines.

“Every year we sponsor several clean-up operations to collect rubbish on Gaya Island”, said Evelyn Bernadinus, Downbelow’s Regional Manager. “We transport participants to the island and provide refreshments and lunch in exchange for trash collected”, she said.

Sabah Parks, as well as Sutera Harbour Resort, contributed to the initiative by waiving their respective jetty fees for the volunteers.

“As part of the clean-up initiative, we also donated RM888, and collected an additional RM310 from participants,” added Bernadinus, “which is for the PADI Project AWARE Foundation in support of their mission to conserve underwater environments through education, advocacy and action.”

Bernadinus hopes that more dive operators would step up to support awareness of Dive for Earth Day and contribute to keeping Kota Kinabalu’s national marine park clean, as both local and foreign volunteers expressed their satisfaction with the results of the cleanup.

Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures heavily promotes the TAR Park’s diverse and vibrant underwater life and, when not on a mission to clean it, conducts daily diving and island activities to explore it.

Feel free to call us on +6 012 866 1935 or Email Us with your enquiry or peruse our links to the right.

Check out our Hammerhead Shark Underwater Video from Sipadan, Borneo

Videographer Richard Swann from Downbelow managed to capture some of our Hammerhead Shark encounter on film, we were deep and it was dark but you can still see the school of Hammerhead Sharks at Sipadan, there were more than 100 sharks in total - AWESOME !!!!

We offer TWO Centre Scuba Diving Packages to Sipadan - Kapalai Dive Resort & Gaya Island with very generous discounts.

Feel free to call us on +6 012 866 1935 or Email Us with your enquiry.

Underwater Camera Rental & Sale - Canon Powershot G11 Camera & Underwater Housing.

NEW in the Downbelow KK Dive Shop - The Canon Powershot G11 Camera & Underwater Housing.

In stock now at our Scuba Dive Shop and Dive Centre - Kota Kinabalu.

Advanced amateurs who have overwhelmingly embraced the G Series will be delighted with the PowerShot G11, which features RAW mode for unlimited editing options, a 28mm wide-angle lens, and a 2.8-inch Vari-Angle PureColor System LCD.

Add to that Canon's new High Sensitivity System and high-speed ISO for incredible image quality, and Canon's top-range compact digital camera is a truly groundbreaking successor.



This is a camera that supports and nurtures creativity, with a full range of shooting and recording modes and compatibility with exciting accessories including Speedlite flashes.

Includes:
Canon Underwater Housing
Toshiba 4 GB SDHC Card
Leather Camera Case
Moisture Alarm

When in Kota Kinabalu please visit our Dive Shop and Travel Centre - its is a place for existing and potential clients to visit and discover what Sabah has to offer both on land and Downbelow !

Reservations for Adventure Travel, Sepilok and Kinabatangan Wildlife Packages, Lankayan, Kapalai and Layang Layang among others can also be explored and booked at our Travel Centre.

Our Dive Shop & Travel Centre is a hive of activity and information.

We are resellers for Suunto, Atomic Aquatics, BARE Wetsuits, Sherwood Scuba, AKONA, Unidive, Dive Rite and more. We sell a selection of clothing and cool boxes plus many diving accessories.

For more information please visit our dedicated Dive Shop section of the website or Contact US.

Please find us at KK TIMES SQUARE, Block B, 3rd Floor, Lot 12 (above and left of MOTHERCARE)

www.divedownbelow.com

Telephone Hotline: +6 012 866 1935

Magellan Sutera Resort Hotel & Manukan Beach Resort, Scuba Diving Package, Manukan & Gaya Island - Kota Kinabalu

Resort & Island Accommodation & Scuba Diving Promotional Package

Stay in the Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort - for 4 nights, Scuba Dive for 3 days (9 Dives) then relax in a Beach Chalet on Manukan Island for 2 nights !!!

What a perfect way to spend your holiday in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah !!!

MYR 2,650.00 per person. Promotional Rate - based on 2 people sharing NETT

Includes:
4 Nights Sea View Room with Buffet Breakfast for Two People
3 Days Scuba Diving in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park from Gaya Island.
Hotel - Island return transfers, all park fees, jetty fees, refreshments, lunch, equipment rental included. Qualified Divers enjoy 9 boat dives, non qualified divers enjoy first morning Discover Scuba Diving Program followed by 7 Boat dives.
2 Nights Beach Chalet on Manukan Island including Breakfast for two and boat transfers on arrival and departure days.

Peak season surcharges apply to accommodation during:
From 15th July to 31st August 2010 (Summer Holidays)
From 21nd December 2010 to 4th January 2011 (Christmas, New Year)
From 1 – 7 February 2011 (Chinese New Year 2011)

Extra beds at RM 150 nett inclusive of breakfast
Peak season surcharge at RM 140 nett per room per night

For more information and to see images of the Magellan Sutera Harour Resort & Manukan Island - Beach Chalets please peruse the website.
 
Feel free to call us on +6 012 866 1935 or Email Us with your enquiry.

Super Macro Critters on Gaya Island - Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

Richard has been in Macro heaven recently armed with his 105mm lens he has been diving with Underwater Photography enthusiasts to photograph some of the little critters of the reef.

This beautiful Seahorse can be seen on one of Gaya Islands nearby reefs, shot full frame with a 105mm lens, we will no doubt print it and add it to the gallery of images at our Dive Shop & Travel Centre in KK City.

Check out our FACEBOOK and see “Super Macro Fun in the TAR Park by Richard Swann” - the images are stunning, so too is Richards Nudibranch Album.

You can learn the art of Underwater Photography with us at our PADI 5 Star Dive & Adventure Island on Gaya Island, we have the perfect location, facilities and critters. Our staff team led by Richard have a wealth of knowledge that goes beyond standard courses.

Richard has many many years of experience in Underwater Photography and is more than happy to share this with friends & guests of Downbelow.

Enjoy UNLIMITED scuba diving where you can spend as long as you like (bottom time and air permitting) underwater getting that perfect shot !!

PADI Underwater Digital Photography Speciality Courses are available as well as Photography Clinics and underwater camera rental.

Feel free to call us on +6 012 866 1935 or Email Us with your enquiry.

PADI Courses & What can we see Scuba Diving at Gaya Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

We have been so busy recently in the Travel Centre & on Gaya Island that we have not had time to keep every body updated.

The dive sites around Gaya Island and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park are teaming with Marine Life right now, Seahorses, facinating Nudibranchs, Turtles, White Tip Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays, Lobsters and more - we have been posting a lot of finds on FACEBOOK

We have been running lots of PADI Dive Courses from Try Dives, PADI Open Water Courses, Advanced Open Water Courses, Rescue Courses, Divemaster Courses and now the IDC Preparation sessions where the IDC Candidates prepare for the upcoming IDC Course later this month.

Congratulations to Fidelis Lester and Alvin (AKA Bob) for passing their rescue program and have now officially started the Divemaster course !

All three trainees are part of Downbelows long term staff training program for local team members.

More information on our courses and internships can be found at our IDC Course Asia website.

Our international staff team provide premier 5 Star service which it to be expected from a 5 Star Instructor Training Centre.

We pride ourselves on very small group tuition providing a very personal service.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop and Classroom located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com

WINNER of The Project AWARE Conservation Award- Asia Pacific 2010

Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures are the proud winners of The Project AWARE Conservation Award- Asia Pacific 2010

“To better recognize the achievements of those PADI Dive Centres and Resorts who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of diving.

PADI Asia Pacific is pleased to announce the finalists and winners of this year’s PADI Asia Pacific Member Awards program which recognizes their efforts from 2009.

The PADI Member Awards program was based on nine separate Asia Pacific regions; a system that ensured PADI Members compete with other PADI Members within their own geographical region for one of five Awards.

All PADI Dive Centres and Resorts within each of the nine regions were considered for nomination by a specially convened selection panel, who selected up to three finalists for each of the awards.

A panel of PADI judges then considered all of the finalists within each region and we are very pleased to announce the following finalists and winners of this year’s awards.

PADI congratulates all of our Members on the outstanding job you do training divers and we wish you the best of success for the remainder of 2010”

Project AWARE Conservation Award 2010

WINNER: Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures S-36441

Canon Powershot G10 Camera & Underwater Housing for Sale & Rental - Scuba Dive Shop and Dive Centre, Kota Kinabalu

The Canon Powershot G10 Camera & Underwater Housing is proving to be a fabulous unit for Underwater Photographers.

We have it for Sale & Rental at our Scuba Dive Shop and Dive Centre - Kota Kinabalu.

Advanced amateur photographers are a discerning group, and they've flocked to Canon's G-Series for its ability to meet and exceed their demands.



The third-generation PowerShot G10 is a stunning successor, loaded with uncompromising specs like 14.7 megapixels, a 28mm wide-angle lens, and Canon's new DIGIC 4 Image Processor for notably improved face and motion detection.

This is a camera that supports and nurtures creativity, with a full range of shooting and recording modes and compatibility with exciting accessories including Speedlite flashes.

Includes:
Canon Underwater Housing
Toshiba 4 GB SDHC Card
Leather Camera Case
Moisture Alarm

When in Kota Kinabalu please visit our Dive Shop and Travel Centre - its is a place for existing and potential clients to visit and discover what Sabah has to offer both on land and Downbelow !

Reservations for Adventure Travel, Sepilok and Kinabatangan Wildlife Packages, Lankayan, Kapalai and Layang Layang among others can also be explored and booked at our Travel Centre.

Our Dive Shop & Travel Centre is a hive of activity and information.



Run by experienced marine and wildlife enthusiasts who love to explore, research and photograph the surrounding rainforest & reefs of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park , Pulau Tiga and beyond!

There are books and posters to help identify your latest underwater discoveries and helpful friendly staff to assist and inform you of the activities, courses and programs we run.

We are resellers for Suunto, Atomic Aquatics, BARE Wetsuits, Sherwood Scuba, AKONA, Unidive, Dive Rite and more. We sell a selection of clothing and cool boxes plus many diving accessories.

For more information please visit our dedicated Dive Shop section of the website or Contact US.

Please find us at KK TIMES SQUARE, Block B, 3rd Floor, Lot 12 (above and left of MOTHERCARE)

www.divedownbelow.com

Telephone Hotline: +6 012 866 1935

Borneo Scuba Diving Day Trip to Pulau Tiga Sabah Malaysia

Borneo Scuba Diving Day Trips & Packages TARP, Kota Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia

Due to popular demand and a number of requests we have published a collection of images from our day trips to Pulau Tiga on our company Facebook.

Please following the link below to have a look at this popular day trip from TARP and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.

To read more about the day please visit our dedicated Pulau Tiga pages within our website.

Please peruse our company Facebook here.

Should you wish to join us for a day at Pulau Tiga, at our PADI 5 Star Dive & Adventure Centre on Gaya Island or for a days Scuba Diving to the Wrecks, Mantanani, The Rock or elsewhere -

Feel free to call us on +6 012 866 1935 or Email Us with your enquiry.

Scuba Diving Package - Gaya Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Downbelow were pleased once again to accommodate Malaysian Underwater Group Members for a 3 day - 10 dive package which included sunset & a night dives.

Visibility is reduced at the moment - which has its positives because this makes us focus on the reefs smaller critters, Nudibranchs, Seahorses, Cuttlefish, Scorpionfish, Orang Utan Crabs among others we abundant.

There is also the excitement this time of year in perhaps seeing a Whale Shark - although its still a little too early but there has been one sighting so far.

Scuba Diving is becoming more and more popular and this year has seen a busy start to the year. We can offer Scuba Divers a very enjoyable day out and provide the best facilities available on the West Coast of Sabah.

We own 3 speedboats that take our divers to different dive sites within the TAR Park and offshore daily.

We choose the best dive sites to suit our divers that day - operating very small groups with their own Divemasters and Instructors ensuring a very personal and safe service.

Between dives we return to our paradise dive & adventure centre located on Gaya Island for refreshments, buffet or BBQ lunch.

Our island based dive & snorkel center provides a very special experience, with a resort like feel it is a fun place to spend the day, enjoying the tropical surroundings and chatting about all the wonderful creatures you will have spotted.  

We're only 10 minutes speedboat ride from the mainland of Kota Kinabalu so less time is wasted on boat trips leaving more time for Scuba Diving ! Our International staff team are highly skilled with many years of experience in their field, we pride ourselves on an exceptional level of service and safety.

We have an ALL INCLUSIVE POLICY with NO HIDDEN EXTRA CHARGES. 

Please contact us should you wish to come and spend the day on Gaya Island, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Trekking, Sea Kayaking or just relaxing.

We have extremely high safety standards and procedures and follow British HSE Guidelines. 

We have a Dive Shop & Travel Centre located on the KK mainland, please feel free to drop in, we offer free wireless internet, tea,coffee and biscuits !!!


TEL: +6 012 866 1935
www.divedownbelow.com