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